Walton-le-Dale - Unicorn Inn

Name: Unicorn Inn

Address: Chorley Road (by Darwen Bridge), Walton-le-Dale

Unicorn Inn c.1890s

The Unicorn Inn was one of Walton-le-Dale's oldest pubs, dating back to around the start of the 1700s and was located right next to Darwen Bridge on Chorley Road, adjacent to the old Smithy.

1844 Annotated OS Map

Listed landlords at the inn were James Pearson Snr. (1824-1855), James Pearson Jnr. (1855-60), Alice Pearson (1860-63), Kenyon Howard (1863-), William Worden (1881), John Horn (1891), William Garlick (1895) and James Dobson (1901-).

1824 Baine's Directory James Pearson Snr.

1834 Pigot's Directory James Pearson Snr.

1841 Census James Pearson Snr.

1848 Slater's Directory James Pearson Snr.

1851 Census James Pearson Snr.

1854 Mannex Directory James Pearson Snr.

In 1855 James Pearson's son, James married Alice Snape at St Leonard's church in the village and after that time, took over the reins from his father, who by this time was 66 years of age. The next census record in 1861 shows James Snr. still residing at the inn, but the year before, his son James had died suddenly, leaving Alice a widow, bringing up two young children and running the pub.

1860 Burial at St Andrews, Leyland James Pearson Jnr.

Unusually, James' burial took place at St Andrew's in Leyland rather than the village, but the record confirms his place of abode and age at death. His mother Mary was originally from Leyland and his father from Clayton-le-Woods, which may explain that.

1860 Probate James Pearson Jnr.

1861 Census Alice Pearson

Shortly after the census James Snr. moved out of the Unicorn, seeking work in Blackburn, which I suspect coincided with his daughter-in-law starting a new relationship with Kenyon Howard. He was again running a pub, the Waggon & Horses on Larkhill Street, Blackburn at the age of 73! This was a Thomas Bourn brewery tied house, but he sadly passed away the following year.

1862 Burial of James Pearson Snr. 13th November

1862 Probate of James Pearson Snr.

1863 Marriage Alice Pearson and Kenyon Howard

In 1863 Alice and Kenyon Howard married at St Leonard's church and Kenyon took over running the pub. It's interesting to see that Alice's parents, Thomas and Margaret Snape were also innkeepers, Alice growing up in the village in both the Yew Tree Inn and White Bull Inn before marriage to James Pearson.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

The half-yearly day of the tenants of the Hoghton estate at Walton, was on Monday last. In the afternoon of that day the principal tenantry sat down to a sumptuous repast at the Unicorn Inn, Walton village. The after proceedings were presided over by the agent ...

Published: Saturday 18 May 1867

Newspaper: Preston Chronicle

County: Lancashire, England

1869 Slater's Directory Kenyon Howard

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

... half-yearly tenants of Sir Henry de Hoghton, occupying property in Walton-Is-dale, were entertained to a sumptuous repast at the Unicorn Inn, to Walton village. There was a numerous attendance and full justice had been done to the edibles.

Published: Saturday 23 November 1867

Newspaper: Preston Chronicle

County: Lancashire, England

1871 Census Kenyon Howard & Alice Howard aka Pearson nee Snape

1881 Census William Worden

The Meetings of the corporation were held in a large room of the Unicorn Inn in Walton Village. In 1719, the 'Regalia consisted of 'two staffs covered with silver hoop; one other staff covered full half-way...

Published: Wednesday 01 October 1884

Newspaper: Derby Mercury

County: Derbyshire, England

This somewhat unusual article in the Derby Mercury in 1884 reveals the Unicorn Inn probably dates back to the late 1600s/early 1700s and was one of the oldest inns in the village.

1891 Census John Horn

WALTON-LE-DALE AND BAMBER BRIDGE

The half-yearly rent audit of the tenantry of the trustees of the de Hoghton estates at Walton-le-Dale and Lea was held at the Unicorn Hotel, Walton Village, Mr. Flowerdew occupied the chair, the vice chair being of filled by Mr. R. Woodhouse.

Published: Saturday 21 November 1891

Newspaper: Preston Chronicle

County: Lancashire, England

1895 Kelly's Directory

1901 Census James Dobson

1909 Map

After the 1901 census this is no further record of the Unicorn operating as an inn. In 1911 and 1921 it was the home of a cotton weaver, Thomas Pickering and his family and in the following years was subsequently converted to a café.

Unicorn Café

1911 Census Thomas Pickering Cotton Weaver 

1921 Census Thomas Pickering

The old Unicorn Inn at Walton; now a wayside refreshment house, entrance fee of 2s. 6d.; frequent entries of paid and ordered to be spent” indicating that the revenue was laid out forthwith for food and drink for the good of the house.

Published: Friday 25 August 1933

Newspaper: Lancashire Evening Post

County: Lancashire, England

1939 Register Frederick Fletcher Refreshment Caterer

These days the Unicorn is still operating, as an Italian Restaurant called Pinocchio's.

Pinocchio's Restaurant 2023