Old Volunteer, Nottingham (Vollo)

The Old Volunteer was registered as an Asset of Community Value by Gedling Borough Council on the 29th January 2016, following nomination by the Nottingham Branch of CAMRA.

"On 17th July 1901, 49 year old barmaid Elizabeth Topham stood trial for her life accused of attempting to abort the pregnancy of 43 year old Louisa Allcock. With 6 children already & struggling on the poor wages of her tanner labourer husband, Louisa was introduced by her friend Annie Benson to Elizabeth Topham, part-time barmaid at Old Volunteer pub.

The 10 minute “operation” took place on the 10th June in the backyard and Louisa limped home. However, by the next evening her husband found her seriously ill. One week later, having been visited firstly by Mrs Topham and then by a midwife and doctor, the police were finally involved. Louisa subsequently died on 20th June. The jury heard that she had died of blood poisoning, doubtless caused by “tools” used by Mrs Topham.

After just eight minutes the jury found Elizabeth Topham guilty and, following the judge’s report that she had already served seven years for a similar offence, she was sentenced to the death penalty. However, the jury had strongly recommended her “to mercy” and the sentence was eventually commuted to penal servitude for life." [“Nottingham…the Sinister Side”, Steve Jones, Wicked Publications, 1996/ Carlton & Gedling U3A website].

In the 1823 Alehouse Recognizances for the South Thurgarton Hundred, the Volunteer was under victualler George Savidge (County Archive C/QD/LV/4/7/7), possibly the same George Savidge who also ran the neighbouring Black's Head (County Archive C/QD/LV/4/7/8). In 1832, the Old Volunteer was fully licensed under publican John Barker (White). In 1855, it was run by R. Horsley and in 1876 by Francis Savage (Post Office Directories).

The Old Volunteer forms a local name cluster with the nearby Old Volunteer in Caythorpe.

As at November 2017, the freeholds for the Old Volunteer (NT358911 & NT101628) were held by Punch Partnerships (PTL) Limited [Reg. No. 3512363]. This was transferred to Star (Heineken) on the 5th March 2018. Also as at November 2017, the leasehold for the Old Volunteer (NT507450) was held by Flipping Good Pubs Limited [Reg. No. 8772477].

[Gedling Borough Council; Cavendish Ward / Nottinghamshire County Council; Carlton West Division / Gedling Parliamentary Constituency].