Real Ale

Real Ale

Longridge - Derby Arms

Name: The Derby Arms

Address: Chipping Road, Longridge

Derby Arms (c) Rude Health Creative Commons

The Derby Arms is situated in the ancient Parish of Thornley with Wheatley some nine miles north east of Preston. The area is renowned for the quality of the cattle and the sheep raised on fertile grassland which is skillfully farmed by families who have lived in the valley for generations.

The pub originates from the early eighteenth century though it is likely that there was a building on the site much earlier.

Like many pubs in this part of Lancashire, it was also doubled as a farm until the mid-1950s. It has been run by the Walne family for the past twenty six years. The owner William Walne’s great grandmother worked at the inn from around 1898 until she married local farmer Richard Walne in 1902. The family’s connection is further enhanced as William and his wife Carole have 2 sons, William and John, who are both involved in the business. It is a matter of considerable pride as the Walne family have been in the Bowland area since at least the mid 12th century.

© Copyright Rude Health and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence 2013

Listed landlords at the Derby Arms were John Wrigley (1841), James Greenall (1851), Elizabeth Greenall/Gornall (1860-81), William Corbridge (1883), Peter Hornby (1891), John Gorst (1897-1925), Isabella Gorst (1925-33), John Henry Seed (1934-49), Thomas Hagan (1954), the William Walne & family (1987-) and Joycelyn Rebecca Neve (2021).

1841 Census John Wrigley

1851 Census James Gornall

Morning Advertiser - Tuesday 31 August 1852

Marriage: 6 Feb 1854 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
William Gornall - 35, Land Surveyor, Bachelor, Strait Shambles, Preston
Elizabeth Greenall - 37, Inn Keeper, Widow, Thornley with Wheatley
Groom's Father: Thomas Gornall, Gamekeeper
Bride's Father: John Smith, Farmer
Witness: Henry Wardley; Ellen Hunt
Married by Licence by: Joseph Lowe, Curate
Register: Marriages 1837 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 69, Entry 138

Having been left widowed after James Greenall's death in 1854 Elizabeth remarried a William Gornall with whom she had a daughter, Sarah Jane.

Baptism: 12 Jul 1856 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
Sarah Jane Gornall - D of William Gornall & Elizabeth
Abode: Derbys Arms, Thornley with Wheatley
Occupation: Innkeeper
Baptised by: E Wilkinson Vicar
Register: Baptisms 1848 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 40, Entry 316

Sadly, Elizabeth's second marriage was also to be short-lived and by 1860 she was once again running the farm and Inn on her own until her own death some 20 years later.

Burial: 7 Mar 1860 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire, England
William Gornall - Age: 41 years
    Abode: Derby's Arms, Thornley with Wheatley
Notes: No. 288 Col.3rd for 8th substitute 7th. Corrected March 16th by me EW.
Buried by: E Wilkinson Vicar
Register: Burials 1853 - 1881, Page 36, Entry 288

Preston Chronicle - Saturday 16 June 1860
1861 Census Elizabeth Gornall
Derby Arms New Homes Place
1871 Census Elizabeth Gornall

Preston Herald - Saturday 04 November 1871

Marriage: 27 Jan 1876 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
William Corbridge - Full, Farmer, Bachelor, Carr Side, Thornley
Sarah Jane Gornall - A Minor, Spinster, Derby's Arms, Thornley
Groom's Father: Henry Corbridge, Farmer
Bride's Father: William Gornall, Farmer
Witness: James Corbridge; Alice Eccles
Married by Licence by: Rd. Robinson Vicar
Register: Marriages 1837 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 154, Entry 308
 

Craven Herald - Saturday 20 September 1879
1881 Census Elizabeth Gornall
Burial: 21 Oct 1881 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
Elizabeth Gornall - Age: 65 years
Abode: Derby Arms, Thornley
Buried by: Rd. Robinson
Register: Burials 1853 - 1881, Page 137, Entry 1091

Following Elizabeth's death the Inn remained in the family for a further few years, run by her daughter and son-in-law Sarah Jane and William Corbridge. 

Preston Herald - Saturday 28 April 1883

It appears from the above press cutting that at this stage Matthew Brown's brewery based at Pole Street was brought in to act as trustee and subsequently retain an interest the business although subsequent landlords still worked as both farmers and publicans.

Matthew Brown's Brewery on Pole Street
1891 Census Peter Hornby
Lancashire Evening Post - Thursday 26 May 1892

1901 Census John Gorst
Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 09 March 1906
1911 Census John Gorst
1911 Census Summary John Gorst

Lancashire Evening Post - Wednesday 02 December 1925

Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 20 April 1926

Lancashire Evening Post - Wednesday 25 October 1933

Lancashire Evening Post - Thursday 17 May 1934
Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 03 October 1939

Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 15 January 1954
Clitheroe Advertiser and Times - Friday 30 July 1954

No comments:

Post a Comment