The Sportsman - Scots Hill
The Sportsman
(© Watford Observer) The Sportsman, February 1972
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(© Rays Photo Collection) The Sportsman sign c2010 before it fell into disrepair. The image appears to be a version of James Northcote's Hunters with Dogs an 18th century Oil painting
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AI Enhance and Colourised version of the image above
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AI Enhance and Colourised version of the image above
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The Sportsman Public House is at the top of Scots Hill (number 2). The history of its beginnings and location has been taken from The Rickmansworth Historian No 7 Spring 1964, by F. L. Paddick.
The area at the top of Scots Hill previously known as the Smoakey Hall Estate is recorded as early as 1731. A Terrier of the land belonging to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge shows it existed then, and not improbable it could have been there several hundred years earlier?
On the 13th March 1843 Thomas Blackwell purchased the estate for the sum of £940. The conveyance describing it as ‘ a freehold messuage or tenement with barns, stables, orchards, gardens, yards and lands called Smoakey Hall.
Borrowing £500, four years later on 20th January 1847 Thomas built four cottages, and subsequently sold them the following year. Two were purchased by Henry Stone. (see map)
The area at the top of Scots Hill previously known as the Smoakey Hall Estate is recorded as early as 1731. A Terrier of the land belonging to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge shows it existed then, and not improbable it could have been there several hundred years earlier?
On the 13th March 1843 Thomas Blackwell purchased the estate for the sum of £940. The conveyance describing it as ‘ a freehold messuage or tenement with barns, stables, orchards, gardens, yards and lands called Smoakey Hall.
Borrowing £500, four years later on 20th January 1847 Thomas built four cottages, and subsequently sold them the following year. Two were purchased by Henry Stone. (see map)
Smoakey Hall Estate shaded dark.
The same year 1848 Thomas Blackwell also sold part of the estate, on which The Windmill now stands. Interestingly the Title Deed, documents in 1964,from the then owner, of the Windmill confirms it was part of the Smoakey Hall Estate. They were dated 6th December 1793
However, the day after Henry Stone purchased the cottages in 1848, he obtained a £450 loan from Edmond Brown, Malster, of Uxbridge and converted one of the messuage cottages or tenements into a Beer House. This was later to become The Sportsman.
However, the day after Henry Stone purchased the cottages in 1848, he obtained a £450 loan from Edmond Brown, Malster, of Uxbridge and converted one of the messuage cottages or tenements into a Beer House. This was later to become The Sportsman.
1852 Herts Advertiser - Stealing Bricks
An Interesting article in the 30th October 1852 edition of the Herts Guardian (Hertford) relates the following story and The Sportsman.
Henry Child, bricklayer and Joseph Watkins beer shopkeeper, were charged with stealing sixty brick-bats, the property of William Stone.
Mr Lydekker appearing for the prosecutor and Mr Codd for the prisoners.
William Stone, the prosecutor said, that he was engaged to build some cottages at Croxley Green. Childs was employed there. There was a quantity of bricks lying in front of the houses he was building. He missed some bricks from the heap.
Cross-examined by Mr Codd:
I had not missed any “brick-bats” at the time I missed the bricks. I am the landlord of The Sportsman public house as well as a bricklayer. Watkins is also a publican. He keeps “The Black Man and the Monkey” public house. He lives about 50yds from me.
William Burgess, a lad of about ten years of age, said that Childs told him the brick-bats were of no use, and told him to put some in a barrow and take them to Watkin’s orchard. He did so and Watkin’s told him to fetch more.
John Evans saw the last witness wheeling some brick-bats towards Watkins house.
Mr Codd, addressing the jury, said that the prisoners were charged by the prosecutor with stealing bricks to the value of 2s 6d, but evidence shewed they had only taken a few brick-bats.
It was he said, a trumpery charge preferred by one beer shopkeeper against a rival in trade- “The Sportsman” was probably going down while “The Black man and Monkey” was getting up in the world and therefore the charges was brought against Watkins.
The jury convicted both prisoners, Childs was sentence to three and Watkins to four, months imprisonment.
(When a brick is cut across the width, the resulting piece is called bat. Thus a bat is smaller than the full brick.)
Henry Child, bricklayer and Joseph Watkins beer shopkeeper, were charged with stealing sixty brick-bats, the property of William Stone.
Mr Lydekker appearing for the prosecutor and Mr Codd for the prisoners.
William Stone, the prosecutor said, that he was engaged to build some cottages at Croxley Green. Childs was employed there. There was a quantity of bricks lying in front of the houses he was building. He missed some bricks from the heap.
Cross-examined by Mr Codd:
I had not missed any “brick-bats” at the time I missed the bricks. I am the landlord of The Sportsman public house as well as a bricklayer. Watkins is also a publican. He keeps “The Black Man and the Monkey” public house. He lives about 50yds from me.
William Burgess, a lad of about ten years of age, said that Childs told him the brick-bats were of no use, and told him to put some in a barrow and take them to Watkin’s orchard. He did so and Watkin’s told him to fetch more.
John Evans saw the last witness wheeling some brick-bats towards Watkins house.
Mr Codd, addressing the jury, said that the prisoners were charged by the prosecutor with stealing bricks to the value of 2s 6d, but evidence shewed they had only taken a few brick-bats.
It was he said, a trumpery charge preferred by one beer shopkeeper against a rival in trade- “The Sportsman” was probably going down while “The Black man and Monkey” was getting up in the world and therefore the charges was brought against Watkins.
The jury convicted both prisoners, Childs was sentence to three and Watkins to four, months imprisonment.
(When a brick is cut across the width, the resulting piece is called bat. Thus a bat is smaller than the full brick.)
Ancestry records show that William Stone, the son of Simeon Stone, Builder, was born on the 17th May 1824 at nearby Chenies, Bucks. The family moved to Croxley Green, where William married Laura King. The census records for 1851-1881 reveals William Stone lived on Scots Hill close by to The Sportsman Public House and The Windmill. The 1881 census reveals William’s address is Smokey Hall with The Sportsman PH and The Windmill either side of the entries. William and his wife Laura both died in 1884.
(© National Archives - #D827) 1851 Census - William Stone
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(© National Archives - #D827) 1861 Census - William Stone
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(© National Archives - #D827) 1871 Census - William Stone
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(© National Archives - #D827) 1881 Census - William Stone, Smokey Hall
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Taken from the Watford Observer edition Saturday September 11th 1886 reports “ Mr Todman landlord of the Sportsman public house Croxley Green has just had a sow litter, one of the pigs which was born alive but died shortly afterwards had one perfect head, two bodies, eight legs and two tails is to be preserved.!
This pub is visited by The Mummers troupe (re formed in 1994 by current residents) where St George &The Dragon is performed every December. (see Mummers)
This pub is visited by The Mummers troupe (re formed in 1994 by current residents) where St George &The Dragon is performed every December. (see Mummers)
As referenced by the image below, in the 1940s, the Sportsman was a part of our bustling community with Mrs Sealy running the Croxley School of Dance from the Annexe at the back of the Sportsman. The annexe saw many businesses and organisation using the building over the years.
Advert from an edition of the Croxley Reisdent magazine
1995 Pen & Ink drawing of The Sportsman
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Colourised version of the image on the left
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2009 (© Hoss-Photography) CAMRA Outstanding Achievement award for Jason & Tracy Soden
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2010 (© Watford Observer) The Sportsman has been named Watford and District Campaign for Real Ale's pub of the year
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(© Clive Mulligan) Beer Festival in the Beer Garden 2008
(© Kake) The Sportsman 2013
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The Sportsman 2012
(© Stephen Danzig) Sportsman sign 2021
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In early 2020, the Sportsman was making a concerted effort to keep the pub busy with the continuation of the Sunday afternoon gigs and the excellent range of guest ales. Sadly, nobody knew that the Coronavirus Pandemic would start with lockdown later in March 2020 with the further advice in not meet in public places.
Early 2020 Gigs advert
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Early 2020 Gigs advert
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Early 2020 Gigs advert
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The Sportsman 2020
Examples of guest Ales in early 2020
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Examples of guest Ales in early 2020
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Examples of guest Ales in early 2020
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1862 4th February - Petty Sessions Watford
The Petty Sessions oversaw the application for alehouse license transfer from Mrs Caffal to Mr Benjamin Rackliff. It was adjourned until the 18th February.
The Petty Sessions oversaw the application for alehouse license transfer from Mrs Caffal to Mr Benjamin Rackliff. It was adjourned until the 18th February.
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1871 Census
Benjamin Rackliff - 52 years from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire - Victualler
Harriet Rackliff - 61 years from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire - Wife
James Rackliff - 16 years from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire - Son
+ Lodgers
1871 June
The licence of the Sportsman was transferred to Daniel Gibbard (though another newspaper records his name as Daniel Gibbons)
Benjamin Rackliff - 52 years from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire - Victualler
Harriet Rackliff - 61 years from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire - Wife
James Rackliff - 16 years from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire - Son
+ Lodgers
1871 June
The licence of the Sportsman was transferred to Daniel Gibbard (though another newspaper records his name as Daniel Gibbons)
1881 August
The landlord was William James Chew
The landlord was William James Chew
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1881 Census
George Todman - 48 years born Dorking Sussex - Publican
Sarah Todman - 48 years born Bristol - Wife
George Todman - 48 years born Dorking Sussex - Publican
Sarah Todman - 48 years born Bristol - Wife
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1891 Census
George Todman - 53 years Hastings, Sussex - Publican
Sarah Todman - 57 years Bristol - Wife
George Todman - 53 years Hastings, Sussex - Publican
Sarah Todman - 57 years Bristol - Wife
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1893, 10th October - Sarah Ann Todman, wife of George Todman passed away.
1901 Census
Alice Bier - Licensed Victualler, Widow - 48 years from Rodington, Shropshire
Alice Bier - Daughter - 20 years from Watford, Hertfordshire
Alice Bier - Licensed Victualler, Widow - 48 years from Rodington, Shropshire
Alice Bier - Daughter - 20 years from Watford, Hertfordshire
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1911 Census
George Bolt - 46 years born Otterton Devon - License Victualler
Sarah Bolt - 54 years born Great Brickhill Bucks - Wife
George Bolt - 46 years born Otterton Devon - License Victualler
Sarah Bolt - 54 years born Great Brickhill Bucks - Wife
(© National Archives - IL-1491)
1921 Census
John Duffy - Head b1889 age 31 - Meath, Ireland - Publican
May Duffy - Wife b1894 age 27 - Watford, Hertfordshire - Home Duties
Patricia Duffy - Daughter - b1917 abe 3 - Watford, Hertfordshire.
Eva Goodchild - Visitor - b1901 age 20 - Twickenham - Home Duties
John Duffy - Head b1889 age 31 - Meath, Ireland - Publican
May Duffy - Wife b1894 age 27 - Watford, Hertfordshire - Home Duties
Patricia Duffy - Daughter - b1917 abe 3 - Watford, Hertfordshire.
Eva Goodchild - Visitor - b1901 age 20 - Twickenham - Home Duties
Samuel George Goodred, The Sportsman (Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 13 February 1960).jpg
Throughout the years, the Sportsman being a central part of the community has appeared in the local newspapers and below are some examples from years gone by;
1871 Herts Advertiser 17 June - New Landlord
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1881 Herts Advertiser 02 April -Drunk & Disorderly
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1881 Kilburn Times 5 August - Staff outing
1882 Herts Advertiser 7 January - More drunkeness
1898 George Todman Found drowned - The sad demise of George Todman
1904 Uxbridge W Drayton Gazette_27 February 1904_(Brougham is a Horse drawn carriage)
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1893 Herts Advertiser 18 March - Mention of George Todman
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1926 Bucks Advertiser_ Aylesbury 5 June - Staff Wanted
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1972 Evening News London 22 December - Christmas Greetings
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UPDATE: 28th February 2024 - Sadly another chapter of the Sportsman closes with the current landlady deciding not to continue. A "Save Our Sportsman" campaign has started to try and get the building listed as an Asset of Community Value.
28th February 2025 - Local residents en mass to start the "Save Our Sportsman" campaign
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Freehold title number: HD302745
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Title plan
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Information used from
Findmypast.co.uk
Ancestry.co.uk
The Rickmansworth Historian No 7 Spring 1964, by F. L. Paddick.
Findmypast.co.uk
Ancestry.co.uk
The Rickmansworth Historian No 7 Spring 1964, by F. L. Paddick.
