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It is difficult to ascertain exactly when the Old English Gentleman was built, but it could date back to the early 19th century or possibly before. The earliest documented date may be in a newspaper auction notice of 1833, although the name of the inn was noted as the “Horse Shoes”. The details describe a large building with several outhouses containing a blacksmiths shop, shoeing shed and brewhouse, and confirm that it was located on the Alfreton-Nottingham Turnpike. There has, as far as can be determined, been no inn with the name of the “Horse Shoes” on the turnpike road in Somercotes, and given that the building must have been situated in Lower Somercotes (as Somercotes Common had not yet been developed), it seems likely that the building described is the Old English Gentleman.  

The owner of the property at the time of the auction was noted as John Cartledge. John was listed in Pigot’s Directory for 1829 as a blacksmith, which would fit with the description of the premises having a blacksmith’s shop. By the directory of 1831, John is described as a “beer retailer”, which is also consistent with the auction details. Sadly, directories at this time gave little information, but the fact that John was a blacksmith and the premises were called the “Horse Shoes” cannot have been a coincidence.

A transcription of the auction article from the Derby Mercury published on 17th April 1833 follows: “TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION by Mr. Webster - At the house of John Cartledge, the sign of the Horse Shoes at Somercotes, near Alfreton, in the county of Derby, on Tuesday, the 30th day of April instant, at 6 o’clock in the evening, subject to conditions there to be exhibited, unless previously disposed of   by private contract, whereof early notice will be given: ALL that the said Messuage, House or Tenement, situate at Somercotes aforesaid, known by the sign of the HORSE SHOES, comprising four rooms on the ground floor, with large cellaring, and five good lodging rooms; also a Dwelling House attached to the same, together with a Blacksmith’s Shop, Shoeing Shed, and Brewhouse and the gardens adjoining and therewith respectively occupied, containing 460 square yards, in the possession of the said Mr John Cartledge and his tenant. The above premises are in excellent repair, well accustomed, situated in a populous farming and manufacturing district, near several extensive Collieries of hard and soft coal and adjoin the Nottingham Turnpike Road. The Purchaser will be expected to take the Fixtures and may be accommodated with the Blacksmith’s Stock, Tools and Utensils, Brewing Vessels, Barrels, &c. at a valuation;  as also the choice of the Household Furniture, &c. and the immediate possession of the premises. For further particulars, and to treat for the same by private contract, application to be made to the said Mr John Cartledge, on the premises; and other information may be had of the Auctioneer, or at the Office of Messrs. Rickards and Son, Solicitors, in Alfreton. Alfreton, 15th April, 1833.”

John Cartledge was listed as a landlord in trade directories of 1828 and 1831.

In 1857 a further auction took place, this time for a public house named the “New Inn”. Although the evidence for the “Horse Shoes” is circumstantial it is certain that the “New Inn” is the same premises as the Old English Gentleman. By 1857 the inn was owned by a man named John Baguley, who also owned land and other property in Somercotes. He was listed as a baker by trade, and the buildings included in the sale of the inn comprised of a bakery and other associated outbuildings. It is possible that the former blacksmith’s shop was converted for reuse as a bake house. The description in the action details of the main building and its setting exactly matches that of the Old English Gentleman.

A part transcription of the auction notice from the Nottinghamshire Guardian, published on 15th January 1857, follows: “FREEHOLD PROPERTY to be SOLD by AUCTION, at SOMERCOTES, in the Parish of Alfreton, in the County of Derby. J. WALTERS has been honoured with directions from Mr. John Baguley… The Sale will take place on Monday, the 26th day of January instant, at Four O’clock prompt, in the large Room of the New Inn, on the premises in the occupation of Mr. Baguley the owner… Lot 1: Comprises the NEW INN aforesaid, which is a noble Double-roofed Building, fronting the Alfreton and Nottingham Turnpike Road, but most judiciously withdrawn some twenty yards from the said Turnpike by a beautiful Square Grass Plot lying in the front; also, in this Lot, will be included the New Bakehouse, Sale Room, Counting-house, spacious Yard, and large Garden at the back…” 

When the inn became called the Old English Gentleman is not known, but there is anecdotal evidence that suggested it may have gone under this name some years prior to the auction of 1857, although if this is the case why it was sold as the “New Inn” is unclear. Unlike today, when breweries change the names of public houses for commercial reasons, it was very unusual for the name to be changed in times past.

The Old English Gentleman was well sited for passing trade, but no doubt relied more on the steady and more reliable trade from local miners and ironworkers.

Samuel Lycitt seems to have been the licensee for many years. In Reginald Johnson’s book “The History of Alfreton” he wrote that “…The late Mr Sam Lycitt, who had kept the ‘Old English Gentleman’ stated that he could hear the miners at work in ‘Rachel’ from his beer cellar…”. Here Reginald Johnson is referring to the Rachel Colliery, situated on Birchwood Lane, which worked from 1870 to around 1875.

In fact there are old shafts marked on official colliery plans that are nearer to the public house than the Rachel Pit, but the building has a deep cellar and the workings in old collieries were often very shallow. The story is probably not without foundation. 

In 1876, the Post Office Directory lists the proprietor as Samuel Lycitt, a brewer and beer retailer. Mr Lycitt is also mentioned as the proprietor in Kelly’s Directory of 1895.

In its long history the Old English Gentleman has held many events and meetings. From flower and vegetable shows to union meetings for both the mining and ironworking industries. It was the home to an annual Vegetable Show which was run by the Somercotes Horticultural Society. It was certainly running by 1876, and the Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald in 1903 reported that “… the vegetable show held annually at the Old English Gentleman is the best in the area and well attended…”. The edition dated 20th September 1910 read “… The old established Somercotes Horticultural Society held its annual show on Saturday and maintained its reputation. The exhibition was held in a large marquee near the Old English Gentleman and the produce staged, particularly the vegetables, were of a most excellent character…” This event seems to have lapsed in the 1920s, but was revived in 1932 and seems to have continued for several years.

In 1882, the inn held several meetings of colliers who were dissatisfied with pay and working conditions. The Nottingham Guardian reported on 6th October: “MINERS' AGITATION AT SOMERCOTES, On Thursday evening another miners' meeting was held at the Old English Gentleman, Somercotes, to receive the report of the deputation which had been elected to have an interview with the manager of Messrs. Oake's colliery…” The report went into great detail and stated that the room was “inconveniently” crowded. The inn seems to have held many such meetings over the years, probably boosting its turnover of beer considerably!

The Old English Gentleman has also seen its fair share of wedding breakfasts, wedding anniversaries and birthday parties, reports of which fill the pages of local newspapers.

Despite troubling times for the industry, the Old English Gentleman seems to have survived the financial strains better than others in the district. Of the many public houses in Somercotes and Pye Bridge that existed at the turn of the 20th century, the Old English Gentleman is now one of the very few still remaining open (2020).