The Shoulder of Mutton pub on Potternewton Lane had a long and chequered history before it became the Inkwell Arts Centre, and an exhibition currently running there as part of the Love Arts Festival is aiming to give a flavour of those days.
What are the origins of the Shoulder of Mutton and how did a pub named after a slab of meat become the vibrant vegetarian café and arts centre that it is today? This is the question posed by David Mackie in his history of the pub that forms part of the exhibition. The original tavern was built in the 1700s.
‘It is said to have been a pleasant journey from Leeds to Allerton 200 years ago past the small and charming hamlet of Sheepscar with it’s village green’.
Although you did have to watch out for highwaymen apparently, before you get too nostalgic.
There’s lots more fascinating stuff.
‘By the 1770s Chapel Allerton was beginning to play the role of a resort or retreat for the members of the higher classes of Leeds’
– who would have thought that? There’s lots about the more recent history of the pub, including its eventually loss of its licence because of drug offences.
There’s some information about the project at the following blog: http://ourshoulderstories.wordpress.com/
presumably you can leave your memories there – although many people seem to have taken to writing theirs on the walls.
Inkwell seems to have gone into overdrive at the moment. A glance at their what’s on poster shows a whole range of interesting stuff from life drawing classes, a jazz choir, a ‘secret cinema’, creative writing and lots more, so it’s a very good time to call in for a look at the history of the pub. Particularly good times would seem to be for the Craft Café on Thursday afternoons (cakes, crafts and fun), or the Saturday Café (homemade vegetarian food and delicious cakes – they seem to like their cakes).
The exhibition will run until November 9th.
Twitter: @ShoulderStories
Call: 0113 301 0108
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Leeds Wellbeing Web 
great post! thanks – i drank a few pints on the naughty side there mself between 1983 and the 90s
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Fascinating post!with facts and anecdotes, I’d at least have passed the time of day with the highwaymen/women! A lot of love and hard work went into refurbishing the pub to make Inkwell what it is today, all those activities now on offer evidence of teamwork, dedication and goodwill. It would be interesting how they came upon their name? I’m pleased the event continues in to November for we late comers to feed at the table, some one famous once said ‘hang around a ink well’..get well’…I might just do that.
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Thanks Jo and Sue. I like the idea of the naughty side. We had a Lapidus writing workshop at the Inkwell last year and my friend Channa wrote “Well, you know, in Chapel Allerton there is an inkwell. It does not look big, but it is fathomless on the inside. No one knows from where the ink flows nor where it goes, except into poems and stories.” .
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It would be interesting to know more about Lapidus, what is is, it’s aims and objectives and where they meet.
Su
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Hi – agree it’s a great post. I particularly like the comment on the slide show that the ‘Landord got a monk on,’ – haven’t heard that expression for a long time – reminds me of home, made me smile 🙂 Vicky
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