I see this place is up for sale by auction at a guide price of just over half a million.....to turn into FLATS of course!!!!

I dont understand why it has failed as a pub over the last 5 years.....managed to survive as a popular Inn for the previous 300 years............

Actually not as long as that It was only built in 1832. And not even a pub but as a 5 story house.

Reading between the lines it may have only been a pub in the 20th century

Really? As new as that? WHere am I thinking of that s been a pub , or a pub site, for 300 years then around that area...........

"The Bell Hagg Inn is a well known landmark on the western outskirts of Sheffield and is a familiar site when coming into Crosspool on the A57 Manchester Road. The property was built into the side of the Rivelin Valley and enjoys a striking aspect over its neighbouring countryside. Local history has it that the property was built by a successful gambler in Victorian times a Dr Hodgson and originally the building was known as Hodgsons Choice and subsequently became Hodgsons Folly. In more recent times the property has traded as The Bell Hagg Inn and recently planning consent has been granted to convert the accommodation into five self-contained apartments with car parking from Manchester Road. In addition there is a separate access from Manchester Road to the rear of the property where there is an attractive barn conversion providing spacious accommodation on four levels."




http://www.markjenkinson.co.uk/

Here's a little more..

Built in 1832 it was erected as a five storey house for a certain Dr Hodgeson, who had built it to antagonise the Vicar of Stannington after he turned down a generous donation because he had made much of his fortune from gambling...

The original pub Sign read Belhaye, the old English word "bel" meaning fire or beacon, while haye means enclosure

mmm, no such thing as a 'Vicar of Stannington' in 1832. Stannington was part of the chapelry of Bradfield within the much larger Parish of Ecclesfield. And of course the Bell Hagg isn't in Stannington anyway ;)

I'm not sure about the derivation of the name either. 'Hagg' is an element in a lot of place and road names in that area and elsewhere in Sheffield. It means a place where holly is exploited (for fodder for example).


Hugh

Originally posted by HughW
mmm, no such thing as a 'Vicar of Stannington' in 1832. Stannington was part of the chapelry of Bradfield within the much larger Parish of Ecclesfield. And of course the Bell Hagg isn't in Stannington anyway ;)

I'm not sure about the derivation of the name either. 'Hagg' is an element in a lot of place and road names in that area and elsewhere in Sheffield. It means a place where holly is exploited (for fodder for example).


Hugh

Isn't holly a bit prickly to be used as fodder? I thought that was why the bush grew prickly leaves? - so it was unappealing for animals to eat?

Having looked for information in Mel Jones's book, Sheffield's Woodland Heritage, I see I was slightly wrong :D

Hagg (or Hags) do not necessarily contain holly: "A hag is an old name for a coppice compartment".

But this is in a section called "Holly hags" and holly was indeed used for fodder:

"The use of holly as winter fodder was recorded in the Sheffield area as early as 1442 when the Lord of Hallamshire's forester at Bradfield noted in his accounts a payment for holly sold for the fodder of animals in winter. John Harrison, in his survey of the Manor of Sheffield in 1637, recorded 27 separate 'Hollin Hagges' that were rented by farm tenants from the Earl of Arundel." (page 20)

Hugh

Originally posted by SHsheff
Isn't holly a bit prickly to be used as fodder? I thought that was why the bush grew prickly leaves? - so it was unappealing for animals to eat?

The young shoots of holly were used as winter feed for sheep.and in earlier times for deer. Holly is a 'cut-and-come-again crop' and many areas of coppiced woodland had special areas devoted to holly, - known as 'holly hags'.

Oops - I was a bit slow off the mark there Hugh :D

Interestingly there was a farm called "The Haggs" inFir Vale. It was demolished to make way for the workhouse buidling than ran alongside Smilter Lane.

There isn't a great deal of car paking for the pub is there? So that may have something to do with it, drink driving laws will have had an impact I would have thought. Also has there management change or something like that? Don't know anything about where it's name came from though.

Musey is right. My sister ran this pub its too far out for people to walk to and isolated, she only survived because of the B&B they used to do. Also lots of pubs have closed down recently. I think that most of the people who comment on pubs closing never actually go in any of them

Originally posted by melissalil
. Also lots of pubs have closed down recently. I think that most of the people who comment on pubs closing never actually go in any of them

NOT GUILTY!

I'm always sorry to see pubs close down and the Bell Hagg's demise is a sad one. It is an interesting building with a fascinating history and has recently served some nice beer.

I always thought it a shame that they couldn't make more of the magnificent views across Rivelin Valley with a huge picture window. No doubt that would have been against planning permission.

However, the drink-driving argument seems pretty thin to me. Other pubs in more far out places still manage to survive and I still take my family out to pubs in the countryside in the summer.

I shall miss the Bell Hagg.

I saw in the add for it that it had planning permission for 5 dwellings. Now, try as I might, I cannot find anything on the council planning website for anything other than re-building the retaining wall and remedial work on outbuildings. I'm also close to a member of the north planning board and she has no re-collection of this having come up either.

Is this false advertising or have I missed it?

Originally posted by melissalil
Musey is right. My sister ran this pub its too far out for people to walk to and isolated, she only survived because of the B&B they used to do. Also lots of pubs have closed down recently. I think that most of the people who comment on pubs closing never actually go in any of them
I did go in a few times last year, there was about 4 people in who probably actually lived there anyway. Beer was good though....

Used to drink here a lot back in the mid 80's when I walked down from Lodge Moor.......was famous in the area for its late night lock ins until 2 or 3 in the morning if you were a 'regular'.


It used to have a big car park but that has vanished......

Originally posted by goldenfleece


Used to drink here a lot back in the mid 80's when I walked down from Lodge Moor.......was famous in the area for its late night lock ins until 2 or 3 in the morning if you were a 'regular'.


It used to have a big car park but that has vanished......

Maybe our paths crossed, goldenfleece.

I recall heading for the Bell Hagg in 1987 after all the other pubs had closed for a bit of AB. Got well and truly wrecked and recall the staggering walk home down Tom Lane that followed.

And the crappy little pool table downstairs - well, through the hatch! Not get away with that these days, Health and Safety and all that.

And you're right about the carpark. Didn't leave much room to park on a road more dangerous than Brands Hatch unless ofcause you popped across the road to buy some Baby Bio and left your car there.

When I was a student, I occasionally went along to the Bell Hagg to play pool in the secret room downstairs, with some mates who were brought up local to it and were from that area. You sort of went through the beer cellar which had locked cupboards either side with all the gubbins in.

There was a huge poster on the wall which said "brick is beautiful"

Must have been around 1988

Ah yes the pool table, remember it well......was always too drunk to hold a cue straight........

Originally posted by melissalil
Musey is right. My sister ran this pub its too far out for people to walk to and isolated, she only survived because of the B&B they used to do. Also lots of pubs have closed down recently. I think that most of the people who comment on pubs closing never actually go in any of them
My Mum and Dad used to 'keep' the Bell Hagg. Lived there from about '59 to '63. Remember playing in the woods and the stables underneath. There was a quarry accross the road. Went to Lydgate Lane Infants, Crosspool - anyone there then?

The venue of my first date with my wife back in 1982, an illicit rendevouz. I remember sitting outside under the wall, hopefully out of sight!
I suspect it has gone down hill since drink/driving as there is no regular bus service. I remember it changing its name to the John Thomas though I think that was short-lived but it never picked up in recent years.