Brewing at Lane Head

Brewing is an old industry that goes back millennia to the ancient Sumarians and Egyptians. At Lane Head, Shepley, the Sovereign Inn (formerly "The Royal Sovereign Inn") was the original site of Seth Senior's brewery, established in 1829. Seth started his working life as a stone mason and lived in one of the cottages above the inn. He was said to have established the business, in his own cottage at first, with a single gold sovereign he had borrowed. The resulting beers were called "Sovereign Ales" and were awarded many prizes through the years. Another brew was known as " Senior's Stingo".

A most fortunate business

Seth had taken advantage of several timely opportunities in order to start his business. Firstly, the recently built turnpike roads from Greenfield, Barnsley, Sheffield and Huddersfield all converged at Shepley Lane Head, now known as the 'Sovereign Crossroads'. A great location to set up a hostelry for weary travellers to stop off, eat, drink, and stay the night. Secondly, the brewing industry was enjoying a reduction in taxation during the 1820s and 1830s. Thirdly, he had recognised that the local water used in the brewing process was soft, sweet and in abundance. Seth had free access to a local well. Finally, masons from the local stone quarries also provided a 'bread and butter' source of revenue for beer sales.

The cask beers were delivered by horse and dray. With expansion, the brewery was moved a short distance to Highfield Brewery, Piper Wells, just off the Holmfirth road.

Senior Family

Seth Senior was born in 1799, the illegitimate son of Elizabeth (Betty) Senior of Lower Carr, Shepley. He was baptised at St Nicolas Church, Upper Cumberworth on 16th June 1799. He married Martha Wood on 25 December 1828 at All Hallows, Kirkburton. He had eight known children with Martha:

• Henry Senior (c.1821-1846)
• Paul Senior (c.1826-1863)
• Jane Senior (1830-?)
• Reuben Senior (1833-1888)
• Guy Senior (c.1836-1898)
• Eliza Senior (1838-?)
• James Senior (1841-1915)
• Elizabeth Senior (1844-)

Seth's sons, Reuben and James, joined the business and were gradually taken into partnership. Eventually, the brewery owned 134 public houses in the area, including "The Farmer's Boy" in Shepley. The company also owned its own gasworks, maltings (see image at right), bore hole for its water supply and its own railway siding at Shepley Station. After Reuben's death, his sons Henry and Thomas became partners. The Senior family built Cliffe House in the village and also owned a shooting lodge and acres of moorland.

Fatal accident

On 17 February 1846, Henry Senior was returning from the wedding of his brother-in-law (George Hirst) with his wife Sarah and their friends when the cart they were travelling overturned on Shelley Bank. After they picked themselves up, they found Henry laying motionless by the side of the road and carried him to a nearby toll-bar house, where he "breathed twice heavily" and died. He was buried on 21 February at St. Nicolas.

Census return

The 1861 Census recorded Seth Senior as a "brewer and farmer of 80 acres, coal proprietor, employing 28 men and 10 boys."

Martha Senior died in 1871, aged 70.

Seth Senior died on 27 December 1873, aged 73, and was buried alongside Martha on 31 December at St. Nicolas.

Sovereign Anthem

In 1929 the famous "Sovereign Anthem" was written to celebrate the brewery's centenary, and the much praised "Century Ales" produced, at which time the Roebuck family were tenants at "The Sovereign". In November 1946 the brewery was taken over by Hammonds Brewery of Lockwood. At that time it had 99 tied public houses. This ended the connection between the Senior family and Shepley, although Seth and other members of the family are buried in the churchyard of St Nicholas Church, Upper Cumberworth.

Stone carving curiosity

A stone carving of a stonemason's face can be found on the eastern gable of the Sovereign Inn, relocated from above the doorway of a now-demolished warehouse which stood to the east of the inn.

Some claim that it is the face of Seth Senior himself. Others suggest the carving reflects an old Yorkshire tradition to commemorate any builder killed during construction in this way. Interestingly, the left cheek on the face looks to have the mark of a bullet hole.

Accidents and attempted murder

Two dramatic incidents involving the Sovereign Inn took place in November 1864. On the 10th an employee of the brewery, a middle aged man named Allen Hirst was accidentally thrown from his cart and died two days later of his injuries.

Just a few days later, a frenzied attempt was made on the life of the owner, Mr Seth Senior, by a disgruntled man named Alfred Ives. Two years previously Mr Senior had employed Ives during harvest time, but, not being satisfied with his work, had dismissed him. There followed a dispute about wages, with Mr Senior refusing to pay, and Ives had borne a grudge ever since. Seeing Mr Senior at the inn, Ives suddenly grabbed a knife and tried to stab him. There was much commotion and someone managed to knock the knife from Ives' hand with a poker. Ives then produced a second knife and made a further attempt to stab Senior. Ives was again disarmed and restrained until P.C. Chappell arrived to convey him to the Skelmanthorpe lock-up. Ives continued to issue threats against Senior as he left.

In April 1866 another accident occurred at Seth Senior's brewery nearby when Matthew Booth, a brewer and long time employee, climbed a ladder to put a strap on an engine drive. His apron caught around the shaft pulling him in. His clothing was badly torn but he managed to escape with his life. He was taken home and attended by Mr Whitehead, surgeon. He suffered a cut to his forehead, a broken right arm and bruised ribs.

During the 1960s a customer mistakenly opened the door to the cellars of the Sovereign Inn and fell down the stone staircase to his death.

Sovereign ghosts

It has been said that this customer is one of two ghosts that haunt the Sovereign Inn, the other being a former tenant. However, the grandson of Sarah Jane Roebuck, a former licensee who lived at the inn has dismissed both ghost stories as "complete nonsense."