10 St John Street

▪ Unlisted building formerly the location of the Marquis of Granby pub

▪ The pub dates to the 18th century but closed in the late 1860s

▪ The building was probably rebuilt at this time and named Granby House

▪ It was a draper’s shop for more than 70 years (until 1941)

▪ Became part of the Green Man 1960s(?)

▪ It has been Young Ideas since 2009

Number 10, the location of the former Marquis of Granby tavern/public house, is on the south side of the street towards its western end adjacent to the Green Man and Black’s Head Royal Hotel.

It isn amed after The Marquis/Marquess of Granby, Lieutenant-General John Manners, eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland, who become famous fighting in Germany during the 7 Years War (1756-63) and then the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in 1766. He was well known for his generosity and concern for the welfare of his men and assisted some soldiers in setting up as publicans after they left the Army.

The Building

The building probably dates from the late 1860s when there appears to be a gap between the Marquis of Granby tavern/public house and the appearance of Granby House. It is of red brick and has three storeys with three windows on the first and second floors with painted panelled lintels and shelf-like sills, and sashes with glazing bars. The ground floor has a shop front that probably dates to the late 19^th / early 20^th century.

The History of its Occupation and Use

The first explicit mention of the Marquis of Granby tavern/public house thus farfound is 1773 although the proprietor, Robert Whiston, is mentioned in advertisements as early as 1770 (see below). John Manners passed away in 1770 and the naming of the Marquis of Granby tavern/public house probably dates from the early-1770s. It may be that Robert Whiston was one of the Marquis of Granby’s soldiers. As a tavern/public house, it may have had a different name prior to 1770.

It was a regular venue for auctions advertised in the Derby Mercury and it also hosted meetings of the trustees of two turnpike (toll) roads:

1)    Ashbourne to Leek to Congleton: 1770-1837. Ashbourne to Leek is the present day A52/A523 and Leek/Ryecroft Gate to Congleton is largely minor roads.

2)    Ashbourne to Belper Openwood Gate & Belper to Ripley: 1830-61. Ashbourne to Belper is the present day A517.

Long time proprietors were Robert Whiston (from no later than 1770 until 1795), the Hemsworth family (Thomas and then his wife Ann from 1807 until 1835) and Edward Wibberley (1853 until the mid-late 1860s).

By mid-late 1860s, the Marquis of Granby tavern/public house had closed and was replaced by Granby House occupied by tailors, first Samuel Bagshaw, and then in 1872 by Henry Hood (& Son) who occupied the premises until 1910. One of Ashbourne’s famous yards, Hood’s Yard, is named after the tailor, and is on the east side of Granby House between 12 and 14 St John St.

In 1910, Hood’s were succeeded by Thomas Moult who appear to have gone into liquidation in late 1941.

Occupying the building in the late 1940s were Allport Opticians and in the 1950s-60s, it became the Granby Milk Bar & Restaurant.

It then became part of the Green Man as a restaurant in the 1960s(?). The current occupiers, Young Ideas, have been there since 2009.