Longridge - Stone Bridge Inn

Name: Stone Bridge Inn

Address: Chatburn Road, Alston, Longridge

The Stone Bridge Inn stood at the top of Chatburn Road at the junction with Cumeragh Lane (now Whittingham Road) and was originally a farm built in the mid-1800s. It was then used as an off-licence and an Inn supplying thirsty workers from the nearby Queen's and Stone Bridge cotton mills. Several attempts were made to obtain a full licence for the premises and only briefly was it actually classed as an Inn around 1900.

It was also known as Bridge House and these days it is a Thorougoods convenience store and off-licence.

1910 Map (25 inch)

The area was known as "Stone Bridge", due to the bridge built over the Preston & Longridge branch of the London and North Western & Lancashire and Yorkshire Joint Railway, both the mill and Inn taking their names from that.

1910 Map of the area to the north leading to the Towneley Arms

Stone Bridge (Google)

These days remains of the bridge can still be seen either side of the roundabout at the junction of Kestor Lane/Derby Road/Preston Road/Whittingham Road.

Listed landlords and tenants at the property were Thomas Seed (1871), Richard Dilworth (1881), Henry Duckworth (1885-91), Thomas Yates (1897), Bridget Kean (1901), Henry Woods (1911), Matthew Kenyon (1917) and Thomas Rogerson (1924). 

1871 Census Thomas Seed (farmer)

1881 Census Richard Dilworth (beer seller off premises)

Preston Chronicle

PRESTON POLICE INTELLIGENCE

Henry Duckworth, of the Stone Bridge House, Alston, who held a beer license to sell off the premises, applied for a license to sell on his premises.

Published: Saturday 05 September 1885

1910 Map (6 inch)

1891 Census Henry Duckworth (Bridge House Off License)

A FULL LICENSE REFUSED AT LONGRIDGE

Thomas Yates, Stone Bridge House, Alston, the holder of an off beer license, applied for a full seven days' license.—Superintendent Bourke opposed.

Published: Monday 30 August 1897

Newspaper: Lancashire Evening Post

1901 Census Bridget Kean (Innkeeper)

1911 Census Henry Woods (Labourer (Railway))

1917 General & Commercial Directory Matthew Kenyon

1924 Kelly's Directory Thomas Rogerson