Chorley's Inns and Taverns: Chipping

Chipping - Sun Inn

Name: The Sun Inn

Address: 2 Windy Street, Chipping

c.1920 Procession past the Sun Inn

The Sun Inn has been a part of village life in Chipping for hundreds of years, and stands proudly at the top of Talbot Street looking down towards Tilly's and the old Talbot Arms. The current building was built in the early 1800s although the datestone above the entrance, marked with the initials R.H.E. is dated 1758.

1910 Map of the Village

Listed landlords at the Sun Inn were Thomas Hothersall (1825), Richard Bibby (1828-44), Major Howson (1850), James Mercer (1851-65), William Wilkinson (1865-75), William Barton (-1879), Sarah Barton (1879-81), Thomas Slater (1885), John Berry (1889-99), Martha Berry (1899-1901), Henry James Berry (1901-), Thomas James Hoyle (1908-27), Richard Proctor (1925-54), Stephen Wadsworth (2005), Stephen Graham Stansfield (2007), Lindsay Metcalfe (2009), Beverley Ann Hedges (2009), Craig Jonathan Smith (2011), Beverley Ann Hedges (2016-20) and William Joseph Eidsforth (2020-).

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

At the house of Mr. Thomas Hothersall, the sign of the Sun Inn, in Chipping, on Wednesday the 23rd day of February, 1825 at three o'clock in the afternoon (subject to such conditions...).

Published: Saturday 12 February 1825

Newspaper: Lancaster Gazette

County: Lancashire, England

Public houses in rural areas were very much at the heart of the community and played host to a wide variety of activities, such as providing venues for Coroner's Inquests, public auctions and such other events.

Windy Street looking towards the Sun Inn

Baptism: 5 Oct 1828 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.

John Bibby - S of Richard Bibby & Jane

Abode: Chipping

Occupation: Innkeeper

Baptised by: Edmd. Wilkinson, Vicar

Register: Baptisms 1813- 1848 from the Bishop's Transcripts

Baptism: 10 Oct 1830 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.

William Bibby - S of Richard Bibby & Jane

Abode: Chipping

Occupation: Innkeeper

Baptised by: Edmd. Wilkinson, Vicar

Register: Baptisms 1813- 1848 from the Bishop's Transcripts

1840 Marriage of Mary Bibby

1841 Census - Richard Bibby

1844 Polling Record - Richard Bibby

LONDON POSTS,

Newport, the deceased, was a labourer, and about 27 years of age. Inquest was held on the body on Thursday, at the Sun Inn, Chipping. Before his death, the deceased explained that the gun had gone off in consequence of the blow he gave to Greenwood...

Published: Wednesday 08 March 1848

Newspaper: Hereford Journal

County: Herefordshire, England

1850 Polling Record - Major Howson

An inquest was held at the Sun Inn, Chipping, on view of the body of a man named James Schofield, who on Friday morning last was found dead in the stable of Mr. Thomas Wallbank, tanner, of Chipping. On the previous night the deceased...

Published: Wednesday 17 July 1850

Newspaper: Blackburn Standard

County: Lancashire, England

1851 Census - James Mercer

Baptism: 25 Mar 1852 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.

Mary Mercer - D of James Mercer & Mary
Abode: Chipping
Occupation: Innkeeper
Baptised by: E Wilkinson Vicar
Register: Baptisms 1848 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts

Baptism: 16 Oct 1853 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.
John Mercer - S of James Mercer & Mary
Abode: Chipping
Occupation: Innkeeper
Baptised by: E Wilkinson Vicar

Register: Baptisms 1848 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts

On Wednesday last, James Mercer, of the Sun Inn, Chipping, was charged with permitting drunkenness m his house on Thursday, the 16th instant. Police constable Hargreaves stated...
Published: Wednesday 28 June 1854
Newspaper: Blackburn Standard
County: Lancashire, England

Baptism: 25 Oct 1855 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.
Richard Mercer - S of James Mercer & Mary
Abode: Chipping
Occupation: Innkeeper
Baptised by: E Wilkinson Vicar
Register: Baptisms 1848 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts

1855 Polling Record - James Mercer

Polling Records 1855 - Richard Bibby (owner)

Baptism: 26 Jul 1857 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.
Mary Ann Mercer - D of James Mercer & Mary
Abode: Chipping
Occupation: Innkeeper
Baptised by: E Wilkinson Vicar
Register: Baptisms 1848 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts

Baptism: 3 Aug 1859 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.
James Mercer - S of James Mercer & Mary
Abode: Chipping
Occupation: Innkeeper
Baptised by: E Wilkinson Vicar
Register: Baptisms 1848 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts

Talbot Street

1861 Census - James Mercer

Marriage: 27 Feb 1865 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.

William Wilkinson - (X), 29, Labourer, Bachelor, Chipping

Elizabeth Ellison - (X), 38, Spinster, Sun Inn, Chipping

Groom's Father: John Wilkinson, Labourer

Bride's Father: Thomas Ellison, Labourer

Witness: James Walne; Anne Marsland

Married by License by: Rd. Robinson Vicar

1865 was a significant year for the Sun Inn, as firstly the Mercer's servant Elizabeth Ellison married a local man, William Wilkinson then their son John died when only 11 years old. Within a month the Mercers had called it a day at the Inn and returned to a life of farming, whilst the licence was transferred to the newly-weds, William and Elizabeth who were to run the pub for the next decade or so.

Burial: 5 Apr 1865 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.

John Mercer - S of James Mercer & Mary

Age: 11 years

Abode: Sun Inn, Chipping

Buried by: Rd. Robinson Vicar

CHORLEY

At sessions on Wednesday, the following licences were temporarily transferred: Spencer Arms, Dilworth, to William Rinks; Sun Inn, Chipping, to William Wilkinson; and Fielden’s Arms, Balderstone, to John Greenbank.

Published: Saturday 27 May 1865

Newspaper: Preston Herald

County: Lancashire, England

Baptism: 1 Jul 1866 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.

Ellen Wilkinson - D of William Wilkinson & Elizabeth

Abode: Sun Inn, Chipping

Occupation: Innkeeper

Baptised by: Rd. Robinson Vicar

Register: Baptisms 1848 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts

1868 Polling Record - William Wilkinson

c.2018

1871 Census - William Wilkinson

Burial: 28 Nov 1874 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs

Alice Ellison - Age 24 years

Abode: Sun Inn Chipping

Buried by: Rd. Robinson Vicar

Register: Burials 1853 - 1881

Alice Ellison was Elizabeth's illegitimate daughter who was brought up by her maternal grandparents during the 1850s/60s whilst Elizabeth worked as a servant at various properties until her marriage to William after which time mother and daughter were reunited, only for tragedy to strike in 1874.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
The Fatal Machinery Accident at Chipping.— The Deputy Coroner, Mr. H. Deane, held an inquest at the Sun Inn, Chipping, on Saturday, relative to the death of Edward Martin.
Published: Saturday 16 October 1875
Newspaper: Blackburn Standard
County: Lancashire, England

1875 Polling Record - William Wilkinson

Burial: 14 Aug 1879 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancs.

William Barton - Age: 35 years

Abode: Sun Inn Chipping

Buried by: Rd. Robinson

Register: Burials 1853 - 1881

In the mid to late 1870s the Barton family moved to Chipping from nearby Garstang and took over the Inn, but landlord William died young and from 1879 his widow, Sarah was left to run the Inn and farm on her own.

1881 Census - Sarah Barton

Drunk on Licensed Premises

George Shuttleworth for being drunk at the Sun Inn, Chipping, on the 2nd inst. was fined 5s and costs.

Published: Saturday 01 March 1884

Newspaper: Blackburn Standard

County: Lancashire, England

1885 Polling Record - Thomas Slater

After Thomas Slater's brief stay behind the bar the Sun Inn was taken over by a man called John Berry, who originated from Ribchester and was a wood turner/carpenter by trade. John and his wife Martha moved to Chipping in the late 1850s and prior to the Sun, they lived around Chipping Bottoms.

In 1881 John was employing 15 men, 5 boys and 1 girl and described himself as a "chair maker", his son, Henry James Berry also following in his father's footsteps. John was the founder of the village's famous chair makers, whose sign still stands in the village pointing up Church Raike from just above the Sun Inn.

March 1889

The firm was later renamed H.J. Berry & Sons Ltd by John's son, Henry James whose sons were John (1886-1966) and Thomas Harold (1899-1942).

"H.J. Berry's furniture manufacturing company was the old Kirk Mill which shut down in 1886 before being acquired for furniture making (around 1903). The rest of the factory was built across the river at a later date, and in 2010 closed down after calling in administrators. At the time of the closure, HJ Berry was the country's oldest surviving furniture manufacturer and the owners turned down a £1million offer to save the company from shutting down for good."

(https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/h-j-berry-sons-ltd-chipping-february-2016.119816/)

Kirk Mill c.2022

1889 Polling Record - John Berry

LONG SERMONS AND PUBLIC HOUSE HOURS

At Clitheroe, this morning, John Berry, landlord of the Sun Inn, Chipping, was summoned for having his house open on the 23rd of August for the sale of beer.

Published: Tuesday 01 September 1891

Newspaper: Lancashire Evening Post

County: Lancashire, England

1891 Census - John Berry

Windy Street (Red Rose Collection)

CLITHEROE COUNTY POLICE COURT

EXTENSION of licenses on occasion of balls and parties were granted to P. H. Holden. Dog Inn, Whalley, the 2lst inst. John Berry, Sun Inn. Chipping, and George Joy. Swan Inn, Pendleton.

Published: Wednesday 18 January 1893

Newspaper: Preston Herald

County: Lancashire, England

1895 Polling Record - John Berry

In 1898 John's eldest daughter Mary Ann married at St Bartholomew's. Following the death of her father and mother in the three years that followed, Mary and her husband were to take over the business in the early 1900s.

1898 Marriage of Mary Ann Berry to Thomas Hoyle

John Berry died in Chipping in 1899 and is buried at St Bartholomew's church.

1899 Probate John Berry

1901 Census - Martha Berry

1901 Burial Martha Berry

EXTENSION OF HOURS

Thomas Hoyle, Sun Inn, Chipping, was granted an extension on February 3rd, for the airmail tea party and ball.

Published: Friday 31 January 1908

Newspaper: Clitheroe Advertiser and Times

County: Lancashire, England

1911 Census Summary Sheet - Mr. Hoyle

1911 Census - Thomas Hoyle

LONGRIDGE BOYS BRIGADE BALL
Held at the Sun Inn, Chipping, on Saturday evening, under the auspices of Mr. and Mrs. Hoyle and Miss Berry. It was well attended about 120 persons. The room was tastefully decorated for the occasion and music was supplied the Chipping Brass Band.
Published: Saturday 08 February 1913
Newspaper: Preston Herald
County: Lancashire, England

SUN INN TRIP, CHIPPING

A grand trip was arranged last Sunday, under the auspices Mr. Thomas Hoyle, landlord of the Sun Inn. They started off from Chipping about seven o’clock the morning...

Published: Saturday 20 September 1913

Newspaper: Preston Herald

County: Lancashire, England

1927 Burial of Thomas Hoyle

1927 Probate of Thomas Hoyle

Thomas Hoyle died in 1927 when still residing at the Inn, but it remained in the family's hands and was taken over by Mary Ann's brother-in-law, Richard Proctor. Richard was married to her younger sister, Clara Annie and together they had run the Lane Ends Hotel in Wesham until her death in 1923.

Lane Ends Hotel, Wesham

The Week’s Obituary

Mr. Richard Proctor, of Sun Inn Cottage. Chipping, died in hospital yesterday week. He was 84. For 29 years, until his retirement about a year ago, Mr. Proctor was “mine host” at the Sun Inn.

Published: Friday 25 November 1955

Newspaper: Clitheroe Advertiser and Times

County: Lancashire, England