A Pint with History, The Fountain Head Inn, Halifax

Nestled in the heart of Pellon on the outskirts of Halifax, West Yorkshire, lies The Fountain Head Inn. With a rich history dating back to the 1790s, this watering hole offers a unique blend of traditional charm and contemporary comfort.

Step inside The Fountain Head, and you're stepping back in time. Originally built as Fountain Head Farm in 1792, the building itself is a testament to Halifax's heritage. But the most interesting connection comes in the form of Samuel Webster, who was born here in 1813. Yes, the founder of Webster's Brewery! The very first Websters ales were brewed on this very site in 1838, making The Fountain Head a cornerstone of Halifax's brewing legacy. The brewery would eventually move a short distance along the valley and continue to brew Websters ales until 1996, when it was finally closed by the then owners, Scottish Courage.

The Fountain Head Inn, with its distinct Websters livery, is all that now remains in the Pellon area as a nod to its famous brewing past, and it is the remains of a once-thriving pub community that included the nearby Pellon Social Club, The Halfway House, Golden Pheasant, New Street, and The Wheatsheaf, a number of which have closed in recent years as drinking habits have changed.

I took these images of the outside of the pub on the 27th April 2024 with a Nikon D3300; they can also be seen on Clickasnap in a higher resolution.

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Lord Nelson Inn, Luddenden (2013)

The Lord Nelson Inn can be found on High Street in the centre of the village of Luddenden, West Yorkshire. It is the only remaining pub in the village centre making it quite popular with the locals and quite well known and regarded further afield.

The building was built has a house in 1634 for Gregory Patchett, a prominent local landowner and was known as Newhouse, it may have also be used as a dairy around this time but by the middle of the following century the building had become a public house known as the White Swan. In 1805 shortly after the Battle of Trafalgar the pub was renamed the Lord Nelson in tribute to the great British Naval Hero and has kept the name since.

The Lord Nelson was home to Luddenden Library from 1776 until the collection was moved to Sowerby Bridge Library in 1917, a prominent member of the library being Branwell Bronte, brother of the famous sisters who when employed at nearby Luddendenfoot Railway Station was often found in the pub. The Inn has also stood in for the nearby St Mary's Church for various functions when it has been unavailable.

The 2 pictures below are all that remains of a set of 6 I took around the pub, they were taken on the 13th October 2013 with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

I took this from the garden - seating area at the junction of Old Lane and High Street.

I took this picture from the churchyard of St Mary's, the high building directly behind the Lord Nelson used to be the village school known as St Mary's Old School, it was closed in 1993 and is now a private residence.

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Halifax Pubs Volume 5

I have recently posted on a few occasions about the pictures I took of the pubs of Halifax Town Centre in May 2018, this is to be my final post of this collection and I have now included the video of the entire set of 32 pictures which I have uploaded to YouTube.

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The Old Post Office

The first Post Office in Halifax was sighted here in 1790, the pub was known as the Bowling Green until 2008 when it closed for a spell before re-opening in 2010 with it's current name.

The Royal Oak

Rebuilt in 1929 using timber from HMS Newcastle the pub has had a number of different names in recent years including Tap & Spile and Dirty Dicks. It as here that Olive Smelt had been drinking on the 15th August 1975, the night she was attacked by the Yorkshire Ripper to become his 2nd victim. Happily she survived the attack and although she struggled to get over what happened that night lived to the age of 82.

The Westgate

Originally built as an house it became a pub some time after 1843 when the owner John Oldfield Bates had died. Despite plans to refurbish the building and it's good central location near to the Piece Hall and Borough Market it has remained closed for several years now.

Union Cross Hotel

The Oldest Inn in Halifax, it was renamed the Union Cross in 1745 to show support for the crown during the Jacobite Rebellion. Daniel Defoe and John Wesley have both stayed here, and like most old pubs within Halifax there is said to be tunnels from the cellars to the Parish Church. The building is Grade II listed. Webster's Brewery opened an in the adjoining Union Cross Yard.

The White Horse

Built in 1899 as a replacement for the earlier White Horse that opened in 1819 and stood nearby. The rebuilding was due to Southgate being widened.

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Halifax Pubs Volume 4

Batch number 4 is another set of 6 pubs / clubs from the centre of Halifax, West Yorkshire. All were taken in May 2018 using a Nikon d3300 SLR camera.

Atik & Vinyl

Starting life in 1913 as the The Picture House until 1960, when it was closed for 2 years before becoming a bingo hall. Opened again as a cinema in 1973 it continued until closure in 1982. Again the building was unused for a few years before becoming the Coliseum Nightclub and Maine Street bar in 1987. In recent years it has been known as Liquid, Atik and Maine Street has become Vinyl. The building is Grade II listed.

Bar Rouge

There are actually 3 different pubs/clubs housed in this building, Bar Rouge, Fusion and Panacea. Originally the site of the Globe public house the building was the head office of the Halifax Equitable Bank until it was taken over by Martins Bank in 1927. It then became a branch of Barclays Bank in 1969 until closure in 1985. In the early 1990's the building was converted at great cost by Mansfield Brewery in to the Coiners Bar. It has since had a number of names and owners and is currently up for sale.

Cat & Fiddle

Originally the Golden Lion housed in the all white washed building next to Bon Marche, the pub extended in to the nearer building in 1987. It adopted it's popular nickname the Brass Cat in 1981 and has been known as the Cat & Fiddle in 2014.

The Plummet Line


Built in 1897 as a replacement for the earlier Plummet Line Hotel which was to be demolished during the Bull Green redevelopment. Both were open alongside each other until 1898 as it is said there must always be a Plummet Line in this area of Halifax. I was once told that this was were Halifax RLFC's coaching team and senior players mapped out the tactics for their successful 1987 Challenge Cup run which resulted in Halifax beating St Helens 19-18 in the final at Wembley. Apparently the get togethers were known as the Monday night club.

Railway Hotel


The Railway is a former Ramsden Brewery pub within site of Halifax Railway Station. The hotel was the place where Janet Currie spent the night before drowning her child in the Calder & Hebble Navigation Canal. Despite people seeing her throw a bundle in to the canal, a child's body being found and being charged with the killing of a child on a couple of other occasions, the jury found her not guilty.

The Courtyard


Built in 1755 as Holly House it did not become a pub until the 1980's when it opened as Carrington's. It's most popular era was the 1990's through to early 2000's when it was known as the Bass House.

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Halifax Pubs Volume 2

Volume 2 of Halifax pubs is another set taken in May 2018 featuring 5 nightspots on this post.

The Barum Top

Opened in 2000, the Barum Top is a JD Wetherspoons pub, purpose built on the site of a former car garage and carpet store.

Ring O'Bells

Rebuilt in 1720, a pub has occupied the site since the 13th century. The pub is said to have a tunnel connecting the cellar with the nearby Halifax Parish Church.

Old Cock Inn

The Old Cock was built in 1580 as a town house by William Saville. It became an inn in 1668 and is thought to be amongst the oldest in Halifax. It is where the meeting to form the Halifax Permanent Building Society took place and the meeting place of the notorious Cragg Vale Coiners gang.

Inn-Cognito Restaurant

Closed in 2018 so the owner could retire, Inn-Cognito had been a fixture of the Halifax dining scene for over 35 years. The building was originally a Whitaker's pub called the Hope Inn which closed in 1971.

Acapulco Nightclub and Gourmet Restaurant

There's not much to add about the Gourmet Restaurant, it started life as the Broadway Supermarket and has had many users over the years until a few years ago when it became a Chinese restaurant, now been closed for several years.

The Acapulco Nightclub is said to be the UK's longest running club, opened in 1962 it is still a popular nightspot today.

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Halifax Pubs Volume 1

Set 1 of my Halifax pubs is 9 pictures that were taken in May 2018 around the centre of Halifax, West Yorkshire. Halifax is known for it's large amount of pubs within a short distance and is a popular night destination amongst the drinkers of West Yorkshire and beyond.

Renamed the Cat & Fiddle in 2014 the pub is more commonly known in Halifax as the Brass Cat, the pubs former nickname being formerly adopted in 1981, when it was changed from the Golden Lion. It can be found on Cheapside.

Bow Legged with Brass has been known as the following over the years, Pitchers Sports Bar, Griffs, The Griffin.

The Salvation, which is housed underneath a car park started life as a branch of Comet Electrical Stores, before being converted to a bar in 2002 known as Barracuda. It has also been known as Barcentro during it's life as a pub.

Housed in the former Arcade Royal, home of the Halifax Co-operative society until 2001 when the shopping arcade was divided up in to smaller units with the pub being the main part of the development. When opened the pub was known as the Goose at the Arcade and renamed as the Duke of Wellington in 2012.

Koko's to the near left of the picture has the honour of being Halifax's most renamed pub. Some of the pub's names have been The Crown & Anchor, Heaths, The Adega, Scratcherd's, and The Continental amongst many others. In the background of the picture is the Bull,

Rebuilt and opened in 1940 as the Bull's Head, this pub has also had it's share of names including The Manhattan, Xess, and Brasserie at the Bull.

Lewin's named after the family that ran it for over 60 years until sometime during the 2nd world war is one of the oldest remaining pubs in Halifax. Built in 1769 and known as the Hare & Hounds for much of it's history. Other names have included The Last Drop and O'Neil's. The pub was a men only drinking establishment until the late 1960's.

The Imperial Crown lies opposite the entrance to Halifax Railway Station. Opened as the Greece House and then the Crown Hotel.

One of Halifax's newer bars-pubs I must confess having never been in the Middle Bar.

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The Puzzle Hall Inn - Awaiting its Next Chapter

In the heart of our community, standing silent yet full of untold stories, lies the Puzzle Hall Inn. More than just bricks and mortar, this familiar landmark has witnessed generations of laughter, camaraderie, and the clinking of tankards. For those of us who call this place home, the sight of its weathered facade evokes a sense of history, a tangible link to the past.

Opening its doors in the late 1700s, the Puzzle Hall Inn quickly became a fixture in local life. Imagine the bustling conversations that echoed within its walls, the warmth of the hearth on a cold evening, and the lively atmosphere fueled by its very own brews. Yes, for a significant period after its inception, this wasn't just a place to drink beer, it was a place where beer was born. The very air would have carried the malty aroma of fermentation, a testament to a truly local enterprise.

That era of independent brewing came to a close in 1935 when Ward's of Sheffield took the reins. While the brewery taps may have changed, the Puzzle Hall Inn continued its role as a social hub, a place where friendships were forged and local tales were shared over a pint. For decades, it stood as a reliable cornerstone of our community, a place you could always count on.

Then, in the early 2010s, a hush fell over the Puzzle Hall. The doors closed, the laughter faded, and the familiar glow from its windows was extinguished. For many, it felt like a piece of our local identity had gone quiet. The building stood as a poignant reminder of times past, a puzzle indeed, waiting for its missing pieces to be found.

Fast forward to today, and a spark of hope has ignited. A dedicated community group has stepped forward, their vision set on breathing new life into this beloved landmark. The prospect of the Puzzle Hall Inn once again echoing with conversation and cheer is a truly exciting one. It speaks volumes about the enduring spirit of our community and the deep affection we hold for our local heritage.

These glimpses into the Puzzle Hall's silent slumber were captured on a crisp autumn day, the 2nd of November 2013. Taken with a humble Samsung Galaxy, these photographs offer a snapshot in time, a visual testament to the building's stoic presence during its period of quiet contemplation. They serve as a reminder of what was, and perhaps more importantly, what could be once again.

As the community group works towards their goal, we can all look forward to the day when the Puzzle Hall Inn's doors swing open once more, ready to welcome a new chapter in its long and fascinating history. The puzzle may have been still for a while, but the pieces are being gathered, and the picture of a vibrant future is beginning to take shape. Keep an eye out, this local legend may soon be ready to share its stories once again.

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