The Grouse Inn

The Grouse Inn is at least 170 years old, and possibly as much as 250 years old, as it lies on an ancient 'pack-horse' route. Local farmers would supplement their income by brewing ale from some of their own produce and selling it to the passing travellers. The popularity of the Grouse Inn dramatically increased, when the Toller Lane, Haworth and B... lue Bell Turnpike Trust was established in the middle of the 18th century to improve the road connecting Bradford & Colne: it ran from Heaton in Bradford to the Blue Bell Inn in Two Laws near Colne. The Toller Lane, Haworth and Blue Bell Turnpike Trust was founded in 1755 by John Field of Heaton Hall (1701-1772) along with Abraham Balme (1706-1796), John Hustler (1715-1790) and Thomas Hardcastle. This Turnpike (toll) road is the road that runs along the front of the Grouse Inn, which must have benefited from the increased traffic. The Grouse Inn is clearly marked on an old map from 1852, and so was clearly an established tavern at that time. Click on the image opposite to see if you can spot The Grouse Inn. It is therefore quite probable that it was in the late 18th century the farmer who brewed a little ale to supplement his income, became a publican who did a little farming to supplement his income. It was from these ancient roots that the current Grouse Inn developed. The 1841 census shows Samuel Heaton (and his wife Hannah) employed as Publican in Harehill, and as far as we know he is the earliest known landlord of the Grouse Inn. Samuel was born in Laverock Hall, Oldfield, Keighley in March 1789, one of several children born to Joseph Heaton and his wife Martha (nee Tatham). The 'Heaton' family has strong local links with the Harehills area, and many of Samuel's close neighbours in 1841 were his brothers, and other relations. When Samuel Heaton died in 1843, local Weaver Joseph Butterfield took over from him as the new Publican of the Grouse Inn. Joseph Butterfield, who was born at 'Two Laws', Harehills in 1817, and was another early and long-serving landlord. ...Read More