Royal Oak

Drop-Down Navigation Menu

Royal Oak (Candlestick) Park Hall Mapperley

Sign The Harvey family continued as landlords of the Royal Oak for a total of almost 70 years.

In 1861 John Harvey is listed as a beer retailer and shoe-maker. By 1876 Henry Harvey had taken over the families two businesses.

But it was Joseph Harvey landlord by 1895 who was well known by the miners. Ten minutes before the pit blower sounded for the end of the shift. He started pulling pints of beer, lining them along the bar. Ready for the rush of thirsty miners. Allowing them to wash down the coal dust from the shift. Sales of beer was entered in the "tally book", ready for settling up on the next pay- day.

For a short period another Harvey, Samuel was also landlord at the Black Horse. The only time when members from the same family were landlords at both pubs. In 1912 Mary Harvey was the landlady with son John following in 1925.

Between 1941 1957, Harry and Jane Monks were in charge. Throughout their time the pub was still lit by gas-light.

It was of course before these gas-light days and under the tenancy of the Harvey's that the Royal Oak was given the name Candle Sticks.

When the Candelabra on the counter, the only source of light in the bar, was removed when the landlady moved to another room taking the light source with her. Leaving the customers sitting in the dark.

Always a pub that was known to be open all hours with little regard of any licensing hours.

Since the acquisition of oil lamps followed by Calor gas and subsequently the installation of Electricity the famous candlestick has become a museum piece.

Luther Martin and his wife became landlord in 1957/8 and lived there with daughter Diane

The actual age of The Candlestick pub is not known but is thought to be 16 century. Major alterations and additions were carried out in 1850 and more recently in 1963.

The last landlord and landlady before the pub closed in October 1984 due to methane gas seeping into the building was Terry and Freda Underwood.

Royal Oak Name

A celebration that always took place at the pub to celebrate the pubs name was "Royal Oak day" or "Oak Apple Day"

Remembering when the future King Charles II escaped the roundheads army in September 1651. By hiding in a Oak tree at Boscobel in the grounds of the Penderalls in Shropshire.

Following this event many inns took the name "Royal Oak".

Visitors to the pub on this day had to wear a sprig of Oak leaves. Representing the King. Those not wearing "The Oak" would be stung by stinging nettles on leaving the pub, (by the Roundheads). A custom enjoyed by many of the local children. This tradition was even carried out by the pupils at Scargill School in West Hallam in the 1950's

Roger Wood 2011

Reg

Reginald Harvey outside the Royal Oak owned by William Harvey

The Candlestick (Royal Oak) Park Hall Mapperley

In 1979 Terry and myself moved to the then Royal Oak.

When we had been there for a while we had alterations done. We then applied for it to be named ‘The Candlestick’ as everyone knew it as that.

The history of the name came from years before, when the miners came in from work and the old lady called Jane ran the pub by candlelight.

We had many happy days there.

Our customers were great and we made many friends there.

We had a good relationship with the village of Mapperley; we also had our own football team.

One of our best times was when we had a joint celebration in the village with games and tug of war was part of the games, which was a day to be remembered.

Sadly after the alterations it had caused CO2 to get into the pub. We then had submarine equipment put under the bar to alert us when it was there, as there was no smell with it.

Sadly there came a day when we found methane. We then had to close the pub as it was too dangerous. Our customers did their best to help us keep it open but to no avail.

The customers from the village were fantastic helping us to pack everything up, as we only had days to move out.

Little Joan from the village still has our old union jack and I think Nigel Hubbard has the old candlestick.

The building still stands today as a private house.

We had, and I still have very happy memories living there. We were very sorry to leave. But we still kept in touch with the locals to this day.

Freda Underwood - July 2016

October 1984

Candlestick

ONE of the oldest pubs in the area — the 16th century The Candlesticks, at Mapperley, near Ilkeston, closes tomorrow night because of methane gas which is seeping into the building.

But the owners, Bass Charrington, say they will re-open it if specialist work to cure the problem is feasible.

It was only on Wednesday that the licensee, Mr Terry Underwood, was informed that the pub would close tomorrow.

Regulars, some of whom have been drinking there for 50 years, are up in arms, and a campaign is being mounted to get the pub reopened.

The methane gas, which has been present for four years, is assumed to be escaping into the cellars from old coal mine workings, although the National Coal Board will not accept liability.

Mr Paul Smith, of 9 The Crescent, Stanley Common, spokesman for the Save-The-Candlestick campaign says the gas is monitored, claims there has been no increase in it and points that public health people have never suggested that the pub should close.

"The problem can be cured. We understand it would cost about £10,000 which to a brewery like Bass is nothing."

Mr Smith says customers suspect that the reason for the closure is that the brewery has an option to build a new pub in the leisure complex being provided at nearby Shipley Country Park.

Mr Underwood and his wife, Freda, have been running the pub for five-and-a-half years. He said when he was told of the closure it made him feel ill and knocked him for six.

“The customers have been very upset. It is like splitting up a family.”

Safety aspect

A Bass spokesman said they had had a problem for a number of years.

"There is a considerable escape of methane gas into the pub. We have been monitoring it for the last four years and since May this year."

"The levels had increased and from a safety angle the brewery had to close the pub."

"We do not like closing pubs and we regret it as much as anybody. He added that a firm of construction engineers were now to carry out a site survey to see if it was feasible to insert an impervious membrane under the pub and then ventilate the gas externally away from the premises, in the hope that it can be re-opened"

Goo

Disclaimer - Copyright - Is this page correct? Something wrong or missing? Please let me know. Also contributions very welcome