Chorley's Inns and Taverns: Lostock Hall

Name: The Victoria Inn or Hotel

Address: 20, Watkin Lane, Lostock Hall

Dewhurst's Victoria Inn c.1911

The Victoria Inn (or Hotel) was built in the early 1800s and stands on the west side of what was originally Cragg Lane, and later became Watkin Lane, as it remains to this day. On the 1844 map below the building is not named specifically but is by Cragg House.

1844 Map

Listed landlords at the Inn were John Wilding (-1844), David Wilkins (-1855), John Berry 1861-71), John Pilling (1881-91), James Clayton (1901), Lawrence Dewhurst (1909-13), Thomas Dewhurst (1913-17), Henry Alsopp (1926-31) and A Sharples (1935).

Marriage: 2 May 1838 St Leonard, Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire

John Wilding - (X), Widower, this Chapelry

Hannah Beardsworth - (X), Spinster, the Parish of Penwortham

Witness: William Wilding; William Wilding; James Tomlison

Married by Licence by: Robert Hornby

Register: Marriages 1830 - 1839 from the Bishop's Transcripts

Baptism: 17 Mar 1841 St Leonard, Walton le Dale, Lancashire,

John Wilding - [Child] of John Wilding & Hannah

Abode: Walton le Dale

Occupation: Innkeeper

Baptised by: Robt. Hornby

Register: Baptisms 1831 - 1854 from the Bishop's Transcripts

1841 Census John Wilding

1844 Burial of John Wilding

In the mid-1840s our next landlord, David Wilkins and his wife Jane (nee Moss) moved to the Railway from nearby Longton after marrying at St Mary's, Penwortham in 1844 and started to put down roots and start a family...

Baptism: 19 Jan 1845 St Paul, Farington, Lancashire, England

Richard Wilkins - [Child] of David Wilkins & Jane

Abode: Walton

Occupation: Inn Keeper

Baptised by: Henry Power

Register: Baptisms 1840 - 1878

Baptism: 2 Jul 1848 St Saviour, Bamber Bridge, Lancashire

Margaret Wilkins - [Child] of David Wilkins & Jane

Abode: B. Bridge

Occupation: Inn Keeper

Baptised by: Wm. Wignall

Register: Baptisms 1837 - 1880

1850 Electoral Register Victoria Inn David Wilkins

1851 David Wilkins

Sadly, the Wilkins did not last long at the Inn, as David died in 1855 at the tender age of 36, as the burial record below from St Andrew's in Longton confirms: -

Burial at St Andrews, Longton

1861 Census John Berry

1871 Census John Berry

1881 Census John Pilling

1891 Census John Pilling

1892 OS Map

1901 Census James Clayton

Lancashire Evening Post 21 June 1901

1909 OS Map

Preston Herald 26 June 1901

The Victoria had its own bowling green, as did the Railway Inn down the road and local landlords were invariably keen exponents of the game, as the above "exhibition" match involving James Clayton attests.