Photo above: the Golden Ball, which was once the Old Unicorn.
Bakehouse Lane was in the heart of the city, close to the St Nicolas circle development. Previously called Hot Lane, as the public baking ovens were situated here.
An 1818 directory named the pub as Old Unicorn with James Taylor as licensee. In 1828, during James Taylor’s tenure, a man named Sam Muddyman obtained a bed for the night, had ½ pint of ale, went to bed promising to pay for the room in the morning. The following morning, Muddyman vanished and so did the sheet off his bed. He was eventually apprehended in the street and taken to the Exchange where he was examined and the sheet was found wrapped around him. He was taken to gaol and charged. The following month he was brought before the Recorder who viewed this as a ‘very serious case’ under consideration that he had already spent a month in gaol, he gave him a further month in the House of Correction.
In February 1833, the Unicorn was put up for sale, it having been late in the occupation of John Metcalf. It was sold together with a half interest in one share in the Saint Georges Building Club.
The only other record to date in a deed of 1844 (CJ).
GOLDEN BALL
Around the 1834 the Unicorn changed its name to the Golden Ball. It was auctioned in April 1840 as the Old Unicorn, together with brew house, and advertised with hard and soft water pump.
The Golden Ball brewed its own ale, until c.1870. Phipps brewery owned it towards the end of the century. Although the Brewery History Society has the Golden Ball tied to Beeston Brewery
Amongst the licensees were:
1835 Robert Finch, Finch was assaulted when a game of cards became quarrelsome, a man named Ireland struck landlord Finch when he intervened. Ireland was fined 2/6 with 10/6 costs or one week in prison in default.
1848 Mary Finch
1848 John Arnold
1850 Robert Topps. During his tenure an interesting court case was reported in 1860 when a fight ensued, the weapon involved being a spittoon.
Mrs Lucy Topps followed Robert until 1872, John Buckley became licensee around this time when pub & brewery was auctioned off by owner John Clarke, Phipps Brewery became the new owners,
In 1877, another auction took place with Enoch Steven victualler (JR has in 1872 John Bickley as victualler).
1881 William Billson
1890 Joseph Ford
1902 William Judkins
1904 Austin Hill, and for the last year of its existence, George Veasey.
The Golden Ball was closed under the Compensation Act on 13 June 1907, £1,739 being paid to the brewery and £239 to the tenant.
Ah, that ole Muddyman. Always a bugger indeed.