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Tuesday 26 January 2016

Chorley's Inns & Taverns

 by Richard Langford


A potted history of the Inns and Taverns of Chorley dedicated  to the
 memory of those who worked there, the buildings, history and the
central part they played in the lives of the community and people who
lived and passed through Lancashire's market town 
over the last few hundred years.




"There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so 
much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn."
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)


I was first inspired to research the history of pubs in Chorley whilst tracing my family tree several years ago.  I was born in Britain's brewing capital, Burton-on-Trent and most of the paternal side of my family hail from the Black Country in the West Midlands.  When I learnt that a great uncle was previously the licensee of the Coach and Horses Public House in Tipton I began to scour the web and swiftly came across the most fantastic website called Hitchmough's Black Country Pubs, which is dedicated to plotting the history of over 5300 pubs in that area and is an amazing resource for historians and genealogists alike (www.longpull.co.uk).  This blog is not meant to copy what Tony Hitchmough has created over 40 years of research but is inspired by his work and hopefully will prove useful to anyone interested in Chorley's heritage, of which, the humble tavern will always remain an important part...warts an' all!

The Harpers Hotel, Harpers Lane, Chorley

Information has been sourced from records including the Universal British Directory of Trade & Commerce 1793, The Commercial Directory 1814-1815, 1818,1819 & 1820, Pigot's London Directory 1822-1823,  Pigot & Dean's Directory for Manchester & Salford 1824-1825, Parish of Chorley Directory 1835, A History & Directory of Chorley 1839, UK Census Records (1841-1911), Mannex Town & Parish of Chorley 1851, Slater's Directory of Lancashire 1861/1865/1871/1876/1879,  Wigan & District Directory 1872, Mannex Directory Blackburn, Accrington, Darwen & Chorley 1874, Barrett's Directory of Preston & District 1882/1936 & the Post Office Chorley Directory 1889-1890.

Universal British Directory of Trade & Commerce 1793

Chorley's pub heritage is said to date back as far as the Norman conquest and many believe the second oldest pub in the country stands on the outskirts of Chorley in the village of Limbrick; the Black Horse Inn. The author and researcher Thomas Burke claims that there has been an Inn stood on the site of The Black Horse since before 1066, and parts of the original cellar still stand and are used by the pub for serving beer today.




The following pages taken from the Universal British Directory of 1793 provide an interesting insight into Chorley life in the 1790s: -


 

 

 



 

This blog includes details of the following pubs; Black Bull, George Inn, Joiner’s Arms, King's Arms, Red Lion, White Bull's Head, Royal Oak, Anchor, Britannia, Duke of York, Euxton Tavern, Fox & Goose, Gillibrand Arms, Thatched House Tavern (Rose & Crown), Waggon & Horses, Wheatsheaf (The George), White Horse, Black-a-Moor’s Head (Black Boy / Moor Inn), Jolly Crofters, Roebuck, Standish Arms, Waterloo Tavern, Black Horse, Fazackerley Arms, Prince of Wales, Queen's Hotel, Shepherds' Arms Ale House, Malt 'n Hops, Railway Hotel, Talbot Inn, Castle Inn, Green Man Still, Seven Stars, Swan, Millstone and many many more.



I can't complete the blog without thanking  all those people of Chorley who captured its history by taking photos or completing the census records and directories from 1841 onwards, the excellent assistance of the staff of the Chorley Central Library (especially Jean in the reference section!), Lancashire Lantern, George Birtill (now sadly deceased but long-time editor of the Chorley Guardian and Chorley historian), Jack Smith (author and local historian), Peter Jackson, Ian Bagshaw, Paul Topping and good old Facebook, Adam Cree, Andrew Alston and Chorley Then and Now. There's probably loads of people I've forgotten (sorry) but without all their help this blog would not have been possible. Most of all, my greatest thanks goes to Linda, who has put up with me whilst doing this "little" project!

Further historical information about Chorley's Inns is shown in the excerpts below, taken from Jim Heyes', "A History of Chorley".


All the information on this blog is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. I do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on my blog and related files is strictly at your own risk and I will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our website.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License
For more information about material found please contact me.

Monday 25 January 2016

Chorley Pub Blog Progress

The following pub pages have now been added to my blog: -  
Albion
Alma
Anchor Hotel
Angel
Ball
Bay Horse Inn
Black-a-Moor's Head
Black Bull
Black Horse (Limbrick)
Black Horse (Pall Mall)
Bob Inn
Borough Arms
Bretherton Arms
Bridge Inn
Britannia Inn
British Oak Inn
Brooke's Arms
Brown Cow Inn
Castle Inn
Cattle Market Tavern
Clarence Hotel
Clarence Tap
Collier's Arms
Commercial Hotel
Commercial Inn
Cordwainers Arms
Cotton Tree
Court Tavern
Craven Heifer
Crofters Arms
Crown Hotel
Cunliffe Arms
Curriers' Arms
Derby Arms
Duke of York
Eagle & Child
Eagle Hotel
Euxton Tavern
Fazackerley Arms Hotel
Fazackerley Tap
Fortune of War
Fox and Goose
George Inn
Gillibrand Arms
Green Man Still
Guardian Angel
Hare and Hounds
Harper's Hotel
Harry's Bar
Hartwood Hall Hotel
Hollinshead Arms Hotel
Hop Pocket
Jackson's Arms
Joiner's Arms
King's Arms
King's Head
Leigh Arms
Lion Arms
Lord Nelson
Malt 'n' Hops
Market Tavern
Mason's Arms
Millstone Inn
Miners' Arms
Minstrel
Mitre
Oddfellows' Arms
Old Crown
Painters' Arms
Parker's Arms
Plough Hotel
Prince Albert
Prince Consort
Prince of Wales (Cowling)
Prince of Wales (New Market Street)
Princess Royal
Printers' Arms
Queen's Arms
Queen's Hotel
Queen's Tavern
Railway Hotel
Railway Inn
Red Cat
Red Lion
Red Lion Tap
Ring o' Bells
Robin Hood Hotel
Roebuck Hotel
Rose and Crown
Royal Albert
Royal Oak Hotel
Royal Oak Tap
Sea View
Sebastopol Inn
Seven Stars
Shepherd's Arms
Spinner's Arms (Cowling)
Spinner's Arms (Harpers Lane)
Spinner's Arms (Standish Street)
Standish Arms
Stanley Ams
Swan Brewery
Swan Hotel
Swan Tap
Swan with Two Necks
Talbot Inn
Talbot Arms
Temperance Hotel
Thumbs Up
Towneley Arms
Victoria Arms Hotel
Victoria Inn
Volunteer Inn
Waggon & Horses
Waggon Makers' Arms
Waterloo Tavern
Wellington Inn
Wheat Sheaf Inn
White Bear Inn
White Bull's Head
White Horse Inn
Yew Tree Inn

If anyone happens to come across the blog and has any information they would like to share with me such as old photographs, interesting tales and memories or even corrections (probably a few of these!) then please feel free to add your comments and I will respond to you...many thanks. 

Richard Langford (April 2015)

Sunday 24 January 2016

Chorley's Outlying Villages

I've recently researched and added the following pubs from some of Chorley's outlying villages.  This is very much work in progress still so if anyone has any information I'd be really interested to hear from you.

Brindle - Bull and Butcher
Brindle - Cavendish Arms
Brindle - Cross Keys
Brindle - Dog Inn
Brindle - Farmers' Arms
Brindle - Lord Nelson Inn
Charnock Richard - Bowling Green Inn
Charnock Richard - Dog & Partridge
Charnock Richard - Hind's Head Inn
Coppull - Alison Arms
Coppull - Brown Cow
Coppull - Grey Horse Inn
Coppull - Grey Horse Pub
Coppull - Hic Bibi Well Inn
Coppull - Jolly Tar Inn
Coppull - Oak Tree Inn
Coppull - Parker's Arms
Coppull - Plough and Harrow
Coppull - Printers' Arms
Coppull - Red Herring
Coppull - Springfield Inn
Coppull - Waggon & Horses Inn
Coppull - Wheatsheaf Hotel
Eccleston - Blue Anchor
Eccleston - Brown Cow Inn
Eccleston - Farmer's Arms
Eccleston - Joiners' Arms
Eccleston - Rose & Crown Inn
Eccleston - Windmill Inn
Euxton - Bay Horse
Euxton - Bugle Inn
Euxton - Cobblers' Arms
Euxton - Euxton Mills
Euxton - Grey Horse Inn
Euxton - Ince Arms
Euxton - Millwright Arms
Euxton - Plough Inn
Euxton - Railway Tavern
Euxton - Red Lion Inn
Euxton - Talbot Arms
Euxton - Travellers' Rest
Euxton - White Hart
Heapey - Anchor Inn
Heapey - Black Lion Inn
Heapey - Railway Hotel
Heskin - Brook House aka Windmill Inn
Heskin - Farmers' Arms Inn
Wheelton - Dresser's Arms
Wheelton - Golden Lion
Wheelton - Oak Tree Inn
Wheelton - Red Lion Inn
Wheelton - Rose Bud Inn
Whittle-le-Woods - British Lion
Whittle-le-Woods - Howard Arms
Whittle-le-Woods - Malthouse Farm
Whittle-le-Woods - Red Cat
Whittle-le-Woods - Sea View
Worthington - Crown Hotel
Worthington - White Crow