Plans to convert Yorkshire pub with grisly past into nine flats move forward
Work to convert a pub connected to a 19th-century execution into nine apartments is almost underway.
In 2025, Applicant Cairn Cross submitted plans to Kirklees Council to transform the former Coach & Horses pub in Eastgate, Honley, into nine apartments.
The former pub – which had been vacant since 2019 – was sold at auction earlier this year for a sum that “comfortably exceeded” the £375,000 guide price back in 2025.
In the 1800s, the pub was notorious for its connection to the hanging of three Huddersfield men; George Mellor, William Thorpe and Thomas Smith.
It is understood that two Luddites drank at the Coach and Horses after murdering William Horsfall, a mill owner in Marsden.
He was shot and fatally wounded as he made his way home from Huddersfield Cloth Hall and was carried to the Warren House Hotel at Crosland Moor where he died.
Now – just over 200 years later – the pub no longer stands. Instead, planning applications approved in 2026 will see the historic spot turned into nine new flats.
The permission was already secured this year, giving the applicant three years to get spades in the ground.
The latest application – published this week (Jun 26) – included submitting the specific, final details for those rules to the council for approval.
These details cover essential building features such as drainage, security, landscaping, and the exact types of windows and doors to be used.
Once the council officer reviews and approves these final plans, the developers will be one step closer to the transformation.
This comes after the plans were revised following pre-application discussions and comments in 2025.
In a design and access statement, Acumen Designers and Architects said: “In summary, this proposal represents a carefully considered response to the site’s context, ensuring that the development integrates seamlessly with its surroundings while enhancing the character of the Conservation Area.
“A conscious effort has been made to respond to the pre-application comments and create a proposal which preserves the existing building and conserves longevity within its future use.”