Clara Crabtree

Clara Crabtree was known as the Grand Old Lady of Newbold and was licensee at the Cross Keys pub for 38 years. Clara’s name appears as licensee of the pub in 1925. She took over from her husband William Crabtree (presumably on his death). Records show William Crabtree as the pub landlord in 1908 and 1922. William was also a carpenter in the village.

When the Coalville Times reported on Mrs Crabtree’s 91st birthday, it was believed that she was the oldest working licensee in England. She was still attending to customers’ needs with her daughter Miss Annie Crabtree.

Clara died at 93 in 1944 and by then was pre-deceased by her husband and her three children. Interestingly her death report states that prior to keeping the Cross Keys, she was also landlady at the Railway Inn (now the Gelsmoor).