22 St John Street

▪ Grade II listed former Horse & Jockey pub

▪ It was built in the 18th century

▪ It was the Horse & Jockey pub for more than 125 years

▪ From 1902 it was Bradley’s clothiers for about 70 years

▪ It has been a grocer’s shop for perhaps 20 years

Number 22 is on the south side of the street adjacent to Horse & Jockey yard.

The Building

Grade II listed building which in the 19th century was the Horse & Jockey tavern/public house. It lies on the south side of St John St adjacent/east of the Horse & Jockey Yard.

It was built in the 18^th century, is stuccoed/rendered with gable ends, has a double pitched roof (see below) and an old tiled roof. Three stories high with two boxed framed windows on the first and second floors; those on the first floor are larger with lintels and glazing bars, while those on the second floor are smaller. The shop front is modern.

The History of its Occupation and Use

Although no documentary evidence has been found, the Horse & Jockey may have had the prior names, the King’s Head, and the Queen’s Head. The earliest mention of theHorse & Jockey thus far found in the Derby Mercury is in 1774. Joseph Burton could well have been the owner and occupier of the Horse & Jockey at this time as he was, according to Land Tax records, in 1780.

Joseph Burton passed away in 1782 and then his wife, Sarah, continued at the Horse & Jockey until she passed away in 1810. That year, Land Tax records show William Burton, the son of Joseph and Sarah, as the owner and John Williams as the occupier and landlord of the Horse & Jockey.

The Horse & Jockey was a regular venue for auction and as perhaps might be expected from its name, it was also a venue for stallions to cover/serve mares (available for stud; see advertisement below).

Both No. 22 and No. 24 were put up for sale by auction in 1815 (see below) but it is not clear whether No. 22 was in fact sold. The Horse & Jockey is described as follows:

“Inn…with yard, garden, stabling for 30 horses. Buildings and other appurtenances to the same belonging and now occupied therewith, and in the possession of the said Mr. Williams; with the pew, seats or sitting placed in Ashbourne Church appurtenant thereto.”

John Williams, followed by his wife, continued as landlords until 1824 after which the Horse & Jockey was put up to be let, in 1825 and 1827, and to be sold in 1826 (see advertisements below) which perhaps indicates it was not proving tobe very profitable for either tenant or owner.

From 1827 Samuel Kynnersley was the occupier/landlord and no later than 1831 he or his wife, Ann, had become the owner.

The Kynnersleys remained at the Horse & Jockey until 1851. After almost 15 years in which there were several proprietors, the Gallimores (Thomas followed by his wife Sarah), then ran the Horse & Jockey for more than 20 years from c1865 to 1888.

In 1888, the Horse & Jockey was put up for sale by auction (see below) and the substantial premises are described as follows:

“The house contains 6 bedrooms, dining-room, front parlour, back parlour, tap-room, larder, two beer cellars, and wine cellar. The outbuildings comprise kitchen, brewing shed (with large clubroom over the same), brewhouse, working and racking-room, store-house, stabling for about 30 horses (including 3 looseboxes), coach-house and piggery, with spacious yard and bowling alley.

And also all that yard adjoining the Horse and Jockey called the Black’s Head Yard, and the workshops, warehouses, and outbuildings erected thereon, comprising two photographic studios in the occupation of Mr. Simpson and Mr. Davis, large warehouse with store-room over the same, stable, boiling house with yard in the occupation of Mr. J. Slater, car shed and stable in the occupation of Mr. G. Holmes, stable and yard in the occupation of Mrs.Gallimore, blacksmith’s forge with tinman’s shop over in the occupation of Mr. J. Turner, slaughter house and piggery in the occupation of Mr. J. Gallimore, mason’s shop with carpenter’s shop over, in the occupation of Mr R. Doxey, and stable and coach-house in the occupation of Mr. W. Holyoak.”

A memorandum of agreement dated 1900 highlights the substantial premises associated with the Horse & Jockey and the yard is annotated “Black’s Head Yard” (see below).

Commercial directories show two further Landlords of the Horse & Jockey 1891-1899 but it had closed its doors by 1900. In 1902, Bradley’s (Chester) Limited opened their clothier’s shop and they would remain at 22 St John St until about 1971 when they were taken over by Foster Brothers.

Foster Brothers continued until about 1978 and were followed by another clothier named Your Price Men’s Wear (Sears) until 1992. From then on it became a deli (Fine Foods) and butcher’s (Mather) and then a green grocer’s shop (Smylie’s until 2005 and currently Fresh Choice).

© PaulThompson 2025