Walton-le-Dale (Higher Walton) - Church Tavern

Name: The Church Tavern

Address: 32 Church Terrace, Higher Walton

32 Church Terrace Google 2022

The Church Tavern was a beerhouse that opened up on Church Terrace in Higher Walton, on the opposite side of the road to All Saints' Church. This row of terraced properties was originally know as Johnson's Row and still stands to this day but was renamed as part of Church Terrace after the church was built in 1861-62, leading to the opening of the tavern in 1869. The map below from 1844 shows the row, and confirms it predates the building of the church.

1844 OS Map

Listed landlords at the Church Tavern were Richard Worden (1871), John Woodruff (1881-85), Isabella Woodruff (-1891), Joseph Turner (1891-), John Robert Dickinson (1911-) and R J Burrows (1916).

1871 Census Richard Worden

1881 Census John Woodruff

1885 Electoral Register John Woodruff

1891 Census Isabella Woodruff

WALTON-LE-DALE AND BAMBER BRIDGE

The following transfers were granted:-The Pear Tree Inn, School Lane, from Richard Raby to William Garlick; the Church Tavern, Higher Walton, from Isabella Woodruffe to Joseph Turner;

Published: Saturday 13 June 1891

Newspaper: Preston Chronicle

Kelly's 1895 Directory Joseph Turner

1901 Census Joseph Turner

1909 OS Map

1911 Census Summary Beerhouse & Shop Mr. Dickinson

1911 Census John Robert Dickinson

Local press articles in the following years indicated the writing was on the wall for the tavern, as renewal of their licence was objected to by the police due to no landlord being in place...

WALTON LICENSING. TWO OBJECTIONS BY THE POLICE

... decided to refer the licence for compensation. Mr. A Read (Blackburn) applied for the renewal of the licence of the Church Tavern, Blackburn Road, Higher Walton, an 1869 beerhouse on behalf the owners, Messrs. Dutton, Blackburn Brewery. This was objected to by the police on the grounds of redundancy. 

Published: Friday 14 March 1913

Newspaper: Lancashire Evening Post

Dutton's Blackburn Brewery Ltd was on Bow Street in Blackburn and was founded in 1799. They were acquired by Whitbread & Co. Ltd in 1964 with 784 tied houses, the name changing to Dutton’s Brewery Ltd in 1966 and was operated as Whitbread West Pennines Ltd until they finally closed in 1978.

Later that year compensation was announced to be paid to the owners for closure, but the directory record below shows there may have been a temporary reprieve for the tavern in the WW1 years.

Plough Inn beerhouse, Station-road, Croston, £425. White Hart Inn, beerhouse, Runshaw Moor, Euxton, £705. Church Tavern, Higher Walton, £916. The compensation 'is to be paid on the 13th December, Arid the licenses will expire on the 20th December.

Published: Saturday 26 July 1913

Newspaper: Haslingden Gazette

1916 Preston, Barrow & District Trades Directory R J Burrows

1921 Census George Henry Burton (Joiner)

The tavern finally closed over a 100 years ago, as can be seen by the 1921 census record for the property above, but the premises are still in use today as a fast food takeaway