Woodman Inn

Name Woodman Address Dewsbury Road Built Rebuilt in the 1930s Closed 26 August 2013 Demolished Yes in 2013 Notes F: Baines 1822. Licensee 1905 – William E Scott. Marked as an inn, not named, on the 1854 6” O.S. map. Brewery owner 1970 – Tetley’s. The inn was also known as the Mary McCree and a sign outside proclaimed the jingle: “This is the Woodman Inn as you can see but some know it best as the Mary McCree. Light refreshments we always keep here, also good spirits and glass of good beer” (R.Dennis). Site is now occupied by Starbucks Coffee and a Petrol Station

According to R. Dennis: 

The Woodman Inn on Dewsbury Road was also known as the Mary McCree, a sign outside proclaimed the jingle:-

This is the Woodman Inn as you can see

But some know it best as Mary McCree

Light refreshments we always keep here

Also good spirits and glass of good beer

As the name implies, this inn would be frequented by forest workers, woodcutters and the like.  Extensive forests of oak, beech and birch covered much of Yorkshire in older times.

The premises were rebuilt in the late 1930’s

Reference to the pub appears in F:Baines 1822

Rod Kaye, a pub historian, has provided the following information with reference  to Photocopy of Woodman estate and Deed Vol 81 page 1104 year 1924 as the sources:

To let Woodman Inn, Dewsbury Road by Morley Corporation August 1902

Alderman James Marsden on behalf of the Corporation of Morley asked the Bench to pass the plans of alterations to the Woodman Inn - passed August 1902

The Woodman Inn was put up for sale at the Queen Hotel Morley on Monday Eve 23 October 1922.  The Woodman took takings of £100 per week in the summer months - the pub was sold for £5,075.

The English Concertina band gave a concert on Sunday Eve 11 July 1926

In the Morley Corporation Minutes Volume 28, November 1922 to November 1923 on page 20 under The Sewage Purification Committee minutes of 23 November 1922 the following entry was recorded:-

It was reported that the sale of the Woodman Inn has now been completed and that the Corporation have received the purchase money from John Henry East, the new landlord of the Woodman.  The committee had an interview with him and resolved that the plot of land which formerly formed part of the Woodman Inn estate, containing about 600 sq Yards be sold to him at  3 shillings a yard ------there would be no right or claim for damage arising in connection with the sewage disposal works or smallpox hospital.

The land in front of the inn to be let to Mr Ernest Stones of the Bar House, Dewsbury Road at a rental of £2 per acre and a condition that the land to be ploughed up and is not to be used for rhubarb or as a market garden.