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The Masons Arms was in
the hamlet of Eastfield, on the corner of what is now Unwin Road. Part of
the building (mainly to the rear) is reputed to be 400 years old, and there
have been suggestions that it may have been an old Coaching Inn, although I
have yet to find evidence of that.
The structure was allegedly rebuilt at the front during the early 1800's and
the earliest known occupant was William Franks, who was licensee in 1822 and
1823. The Mason’s Arms was named in the 1828-9 directory, but missing from
subsequent directories until 1853.
Between 1837 and 1846, a beerhouse appears to have been open in the same
location, named on the 1841 census as the “Red House”. Its occupier Edward
Parkes was fined on multiple occasions for keeping his house open for the
sale of beer outside the permitted hours.
Luke Wass was first recorded on the census at an unnamed public house in
1851, giving his occupation as “Stonemason & Innkeeper”. In White’s
directory of 1853 the name “Mason’s Arms” reappears for the first time since
1828. Luke Wass would remain as landlord for thirty-two years, and even
after transferring the license in 1883, he continued to live next door until
at least 1901.
At some point, the property was bought by the Nottingham Brewery Company.
Depending on whether Luke Wass was the property owner or a tenant, the
purchase might have happened in 1883, when Luke Wass left the property, in
1907 when he died, or sometime later.
In October 1914, the local Board’s Roads and Buildings Committee passed
plans submitted by the Nottingham Brewery Company for alterations to the
Mason’s Arms, subject to the requirements of the local surveyor.
In 1915, George Robert Bailey had recently taken over the Masons Arms after
previously being landlord of the Portland Arms at Huthwaite. In September of
that year he wrote to the Roads and Buildings committee, complaining about
“surface water standing in a poole (sic) near to the entrance of his
premises.” As a result, the surveyor was instructed to put in a new length
of footpath, from the corner of Unwin Road and Eastfield Side, to the gate
of the Mason’s Arms. The Nottingham Brewery Company applied for permission
to make further alterations at the Mason’s Arms in 1921.
In December 1926 it was reported that Mr Skinner moved to the Mason’s Arms
at Sutton in Ashfield, having been the licensee at the General Havelock
Annesley Woodhouse for the last twenty years.
The Nottingham Brewery Co. Ltd was taken over in 1944 by Tennant Brothers
Brewery of Sheffield. In 1961, Tennant Brothers was acquired by Whitbread
Brewery. At some point in the late 1960’s or early 70’s the property was
refurbished and it was still owned by Whitbread in 1984.
In November 1996, the freehold land and buildings known as Masons Arms,
Eastfield Side, together with all buildings and fixtures (including trade
and other fixtures) was transferred from Whitbread East Pennines Ltd to
Trent Taverns Ltd. Trent Taverns appears to have been taken over by Punch
Taverns Ltd in 2003.
The Mason’s Arms was bought and modernised by Ralph and Jocelyn Gold in
2007, being reopened on 15th July that year. In July 2018 the property was
up for sale, and in 2019 was trading as Natalie's Bottles and Bits, a “Biker
cafe” selling bottled craft beers. Planning permission was granted in 2020
to convert the property to residential use. |
