The Lord Nelson Inn in Luddenden has a long and fascinating history, serving not only as the social heart of the village but also as one of the earliest lending libraries in England. The library was founded around 1776, thanks to the bequest of a local 18th-century vicar who left his personal collection of mainly theological books to the pub after his death. His intention was to encourage ongoing discussion and learning among the local community—perhaps continuing the same lively debates he had enjoyed by the pub’s fireside.

A group of villagers purchased shares in the venture and drew up formal rules for the library’s management. The Lord Nelson soon became a gathering place for intellectuals, artists, and thinkers. Among its most famous patrons was Branwell Brontë, who frequented the inn while serving as the station master at nearby Luddenden Foot. Other notable figures associated with the library included William Dearden, the poet, schoolmaster, and politician, as well as the Leyland brothers—one a historian and the other a sculptor.

Membership to the library was highly restricted, often being passed down through families. Surviving records reveal that, while funds were used to maintain the library, expenditures on candles and ale sometimes took precedence over acquiring new books. The library continued for nearly 150 years before being disbanded around 1925. Many of its books were transferred to Sowerby Bridge Library’s historical section, and later moved to the Halifax archives, preserving part of the collection for posterity.

The Lord Nelson also became known for its eccentric traditions. In 1861, a group of locals humorously declared that Luddenden deserved its own mayor, just like Halifax. They elected one, commissioned an ornate chain—said to have arrived by special train from Birmingham—and even held an elaborate inauguration ceremony attended by local dignitaries. A parchment accompanying the chain stated that it was “bought of Ornole and Golsmid, dealers to His Highness Duc de Maloverne.” A “mayoral chair” was also created, and anyone who sat in it could be proclaimed Mayor—usually at the cost of buying everyone drinks. This playful tradition continued until around 1971.

The pub itself dates back to 1634, when it was purchased by Gregory Patchett from John Farrar for £35. That same year, Patchett rebuilt it as a private residence called Newhouse and added the façade, inscribed with his initials and the date, which still survives today. The Patchett family owned the property for 130 years before converting it into a public house called The White Swan. Following Admiral Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in 1805, the pub was renamed The Lord Nelson.

In 1865, ownership passed to Joseph Stocks & Co. Ltd of Shibden Head Brewery, which later merged with Samuel Webster’s in 1935. During restoration work in 1920, several old gravestones were discovered inside the chimney breast, linking the building’s long history to the nearby church.

Throughout its history, The Lord Nelson Inn has been central to village life—serving as a library, a meeting place for scholars and eccentrics alike, and a living monument to Luddenden’s rich heritage.

Adapted from Luddenden Conservation Society Newsletter NL 009 May 1977
Written by Veronica O'Brien