Chorley's Inns and Taverns: Walton-le-Dale (Higher Walton)

Name: The Old Oak Inn

Address: Hoghton Lane, Walton-le-Dale

Sepia Postcard c.1900 of the Old Oak Inn (back left) & Bay Horse Inn, Hoghton Lane

The Old Oak Inn dates back to the late 1700s and far outlived its neighbour, the Bay Horse by 100+ years and counting. For a period of time both Inns flourished during the 1800s on the busy stretch of Hoghton Lane, and unlike the Bay Horse, the Old Oak had relatively stable tenancies.

Listed landlords at the pub were Jas Brierley (1824), John Bennett (1834), Thomas Shuttleworth (1848), Robert Morton (1854), John Livesey (1859-), James Peter Waterhouse (1881-1914), Jane Waterhouse (1914-1920), William Proctor (1920-1946) and Robert Proctor (1946-).

1824 Baines Blackburn Parish Inns and Taverns Jas (James) Brierley

1845 OS Map

1834 Pigot's Taverns & Public Houses John Bennett

1848 Slaters Taverns & Public Houses Thomas Shuttleworth

1854 Mannex Directory Walton-le-Dale Hotels Inns & Taverns Robert Morton

1861 Census Richard Unsworth

1869 Slater's Taverns & Public Houses John Livesey

1871 Census John Livesey

1881 Census James Peter Waterhouse

1885 Electoral Register James Peter Waterhouse

1891 Census James Peter Waterhouse

1892 OS Map

1895 Kelly's Public Houses Jas P Waterhouse

1901 Census James P Waterhouse

1909 OS Map

1911 Census James Peter Waterhouse

1914 Probate James Peter Waterhouse

After over 40 years of the Waterhouse family running the Old Oak, they finally sold up in 1920 after the Great War had finished and made way for new blood, William Proctor and his family moving in.

OLD OAK INN, HOGHTON

EJ. REED & SDNS have received instructions from Mr WATERHOUSE, to SELL AT AUCTION, on TUESDAY NEXT. August 3rd, the SURPLUS HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE and other effects,

Published: Friday 30 July 1920

Newspaper: Lancashire Evening Post

William and his family were to stay at the Inn for the next 26 years until William's death in 1946 when his son Robert Proctor continued in the family business.