Chorley's Inns and Taverns: Longridge

Name: The Corporation Arms

Address: Blackburn Road, Dilworth, Longridge

This pub was originally a coaching inn and farm, which dates back to the 1700s and was known as the Black Bull Inn, standing opposite the White Lion (Hothersall) at the junction of Blackburn Road and Ribchester Road.

In the 1860s the area to the north of the Inn including Spade Mill and land belonging to the Inn was subject of development by the Water Corporation with the building of Spade Mill reservoir and by the 1870s the Inn had changed its name to the Corporation Arms whilst it was being run by landlord, Joseph Parker.

1844 Map

Listed landlords at the Black Bull Inn/Corporation Arms were William Banks (-1828), Nathan Sefton (-1848) and John & Jane Forrest (1851-), John Slater (-1864), Joseph Parker (1864-71), William Bourne (1871-1908), Mr Sharples (1916), James Bee (1917), George Harrison (1920-30), Alfred Noblet (1945-) and Kevin Proctor (2018-).

1828 Pigot's Directory - William Bankes

Globe - Monday 27 January 1840

1841 Census William Banks

Blackburn Standard - Wednesday 14 June 1848

1848 Slater's Directory - Nathan Sefton

Bolton Chronicle - Saturday 17 June 1848

1851 Census Jane Forrest

Baptism: 24 Apr 1853 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancs.

Isabella Forrest - [Child] of John Forrest & Jane

Abode: Dilworth

Occupation: Inn Keeper

Baptised by: W. C. Bache

Source: LDS Film 1657578

Landlords in the 1950s were John and Jane Forrest, John being a local landowner and farmer whose main residence in 1851 was in nearby Elston Hall (Grimsargh) by the River Ribble.

1851 - John Forrest Elston Hall

At the time of the census of that year Jane is shown as living at the Black Bull and John at Elston Hall though by 1861 they were both at Elston Hall farming 140 acres.

The Forrest's Arms was built on Pitt Street (now Derby Road) in the 1850s and was almost certainly built by (or on behalf of) John Forrest who also bought the Alston Arms in 1863. I suspect the pub carried his family coat of arms and it has retained his name ever since. Whether or not he was ever landlord there is not known.

1854 Directory

Blackburn Standard - Wednesday 06 February 1856

Preston Chronicle - Saturday 30 January 1858

1861 Census John Slater

Preston Herald - Saturday 18 July 1863

Preston Chronicle - Saturday 14 May 1864

Preston Herald - Saturday 27 May 1865

Preston Chronicle - Saturday 17 February 1866

Preston Herald - Saturday 23 March 1867

1868 Poll - Joseph Parker

Preston Herald - Saturday 11 July 1868

Preston Chronicle - Saturday 23 July 1870

Preston Herald - Saturday 14 January 1871

1871 Census William Bourn

Preston Herald - Saturday 14 October 1871

Baptism: 22 Oct 1871 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancs.

Robert Bourne - [Child] of William Bourne & Ann

Born: 27 Sep

Abode: Dilworth

Occupation: Inn Keeper

Baptised by: James P. Shepperd, Inc. St Thomas, Preston

Source: LDS Film 1657578

Preston Herald - Wednesday 23 June 1875

Marriage: 5 Feb 1877 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancs.
Obadiah Norcross - 22, Bobbin Turner, Bachelor, the Parish of Ribchester
Ann Moulding - (X), 21, Spinster, Corporation Arms Inn
Groom's Father: John Norcross, Tailor
Bride's Father: Thomas Moulding, Labourer
Witness: Agnes Rigby, (X); R. Nuttall
Married by Banns by: F. E. Perrin, Rector of Ribchester
Register: Marriages 1838 - 1895, Page 88, Entry 176
Source: LDS Film 1657578