Croston - Black Horse

Name: The Black Horse

Address: Westheads Lane (now Westhead Road), Croston

The Black Horse opened in the 1860's and is still going strong to this day. Listed landlords at the beer house were Johny Cottam (1861-1869), Mary Cottam (1869-1888), John Cottam (1888-91), John Almond (1901-31),Thomas Almond (-1935) and Andrew Edmundson (-2022). The Cottam family were originally farmers and were resident on Westhead Road from 1861 onwards on census records although it was only in 1871 that the property was listed as the Black Horse although they may have run the beer house long before then.

1861 Census

1869 Burial - John Cottam

1871 Census

Photo courtesy of Gordon Small

1881 Census

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 30 September 1890

Burial: 6 Oct 1888 St Michael and All Angels, Croston, Lancashire, England

Mary Cottam -

Age: 79

Abode: Croston

Buried by: Oswald Master Rector

Register: Burials 1869 - 1944, Page 92, Entry 729

1891 Census

John Cottam stayed at the Black Horse for a number of years after his mother, Mary's death but by 1901 had moved on; by 1911 he was behind the bar at the Lord Nelson.

1901 Census

1911 Census

Lancashire Evening Post 08 February 1921

1921 Census

Burial: 28 Jul 1931 St Michael and All Angels, Croston, Lancashire, England

John Almond -

Age: 70 years

Abode: Black Horse Hotel

Buried by: A. G. Whalley Rector

Register: Burials 1869 - 1944, Page 263, Entry 2098

1931 Probate John Almond

Lancashire Evening Post 15 August 1935

Lancashire Evening Post 24 April 1945