Market Tavern

Name: The Market Tavern

Address: 7 (now 21), Cleveland Street, Chorley, Lancashire

The Market Tavern c.1960

The Market Tavern was originally listed in the mid-1800s at No.7 Cleveland Street but as the town expanded it was re-listed at No.21. Being positioned as it is on the corner of the Market, it has also occasionally been listed on Market Square.

It started out in life as a beerhouse called the Crofter's Arms and was first opened in 1845 by recently widowed, Elizabeth Grimshaw. The family had been living on Cleveland Street in 1841 when husband John was working as a bleacher, but following his death in 1845 Elizabeth was forced to start running the beerhouse from their home to make a living for herself.

1841 Census John Grimshaw (Bleacher)

1848 Slater's Directory - Crofter's Arms

Listed landlords were Elizabeth Grimshaw (1845-58), Mark Lucas (1861), Thomas Seddon (1869-79), Mary Seddon (1879-), John Seddon (1891), William Heywood (1901-21), Louisa Heywood (1921-1928), Thomas Carroll (1932-38), Henry Linn (2016), Ivan Lynas (2017-) and Matthew Rees (2022-)

1851 Census - Elizabeth Grimshaw

1854 History and Directory of Mid Lancashire - Elizabeth Grimshaw

1855 Slaters Directory - Elizabeth Grimshaw

Three years after this directory was taken Elizabeth's daughter Mary Ann married Mark Lucas, who had also grown up on Cleveland Street in the town centre.

1858 Marriage Mark Lucas & Mary Ann Grimshaw

Later that year, Elizabeth passed away, and the beerhouse was taken over by Mark and Mary Ann.

1858 Probate Elizabeth Grimshaw

At the time of the 1861 census below Mark Lucas is still recorded as working as a painter, but I suspect Mary was carrying on the beerhouse to supplement their income.

1861 Census - Mark Lucas

The first reference to the Market Tavern appears in the newspaper clipping below from 1864, which suggests that when Mary and Mark Lucas left the Crofters, the new landlord/owners decided upon a name change to reflect its close proximity to the town's market.

CHORLEY

...for fourteen days' hard labour for stealing a brass candlestick, on Thursday last, the property of the landlady of the Market Tavern (Deborah ?) whilst drinking there. The old sinner pleaded drunkenness as her excuse.

Published: Saturday 03 September 1864

Newspaper: Preston Chronicle

County: Lancashire, England

By 1869 a stonemason called Thomas Seddon and his wife had moved in, the family continuing to run the Market Tavern until the 1890s.

1869 Slaters Directory Thomas Seddon

1871 Census - Thomas Seddon

Thomas Seddon died in 1879 leaving wife Mary to run the tavern but during the next decade their son, John took over the reins and Mary moved back to the Blackrod area where she died in 1890.

1881 Census - Mary Seddon

1891 Census - John Seddon

1895 Kelly's Directory John Seddon

1901 Census William Heywood

Lodging at the Market Tavern in 1901 were the Bradshaw family including young Hugh, an apprentice brush maker (14 years) who was working around the corner from the Market Tavern at 11 Fazackerley Street for a Mr. Fred Phillips (Fred's late father Walter had started the business and prior to his death they lived at 30 St Thomas's Road). The brush works was later located at 7, Queens Road, Chorley next to Gartsides.

In February 1904 Hugh joined the Lancashire Field Artillery Militia for a six year stint aged 17 years, although his joining papers confirm he gave his age as 18 years. However, by 21st April 1904 he had left the army by "purchased discharge" having served just 28 days...the reasons for this are not known.

His baptism record below confirms his true age: -

Baptism: 26 Oct 1886 St Paul Mission, Eccleston, Lancashire

Hugh Bradshaw - [Child] of Joseph Bradshaw & Emily

    Born: 7 Sep 1886

    Abode: 48, Gladstone St.

    Occupation: Miner

    Baptised by: Jas. C. Pigot   

He was originally from St Helens and in 1911 had moved again, this time to Bolton with wife Edith and their daughter Emily.  Hugh went on to sign up again for The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (Private 200073) of the 1st/4th Battalion on 4th August 1914; he was living on Union Street in nearby Whittle-le-Woods and still in the employ of Fred Phillips.

On the 8th August 1916 he was missing after action in the field and was later accepted as dead for official purposes.  His body was not found but it's assumed he lost his life on the Western front and is now remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and Chorley War Memorial. Records show the family were living back in Chorley on Corporation Street at the time. Hugh attended St Peter's church in Chorley. 

1905 Kelly's Directory William Heywood

1911 Census - William Heywood

1921 Probate William Heywood

1921 Census Louisa Heywood

1924 Kelly's Directory Louisa Heywood

1928 Probate Louisa Heywood

Burnley Express 13 April 1932

1938 Register Thomas Carroll (Beerhouse Licensee)

The Market Tavern 2015

Following the closure of the Market Tavern early in 2016 and the proposed development of part of Chorley's famous Flat Iron market to incorporate a new cinema, shops and restaurants it seemed only fitting that the pub was to reopen in December 2016 rebadged as the Flat Iron pub.

Chorley Guardian 13th December 2016