Address: Station Road, Hoghton
Located just south of the East Lancashire railway line and Hoghton Station the Railway Tavern building dates back to the 17th century. It started life as a beer house profiting from trade from the railways in the 1800s. In later years it offered accommodation and became the Railway Hotel but experienced harder times in the latter part of the 20th century and closed for a period of time before being reincarnated as "The Sirloin" in 2016, a high-end Gastro Pub with a focus on Lancashire steak reflecting the local folk-lore of Hoghton Tower.
Listed landlords at the pub include James & Ellen Law (1841), Thomas Robert Thompson (1848-59), John Banks (1861), William Baldwin (1871-81), Thomas King (1891), John Crook (1898-1902), Joseph Holmes (1911), Amos Sharples (-1930), Thomas Harrison (1930-) and Adam Chapman & Lucia Wilde (2016-19).
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| 1841 Census James & Ellen Law |
Station Road in Hoghton was originally called "The Straits", as census records testify and the earliest census record from 1841 records James Law as "Proprietor" and his wife Ellen as "Hotel Keeper".
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| 1845 Map |
The Inn was at the hub of the local community and used for a variety of uses including auction house, Coroner's Inquests and society gatherings although available press cuttings suggest that the railway was a dangerous place to live and work and there were numerous inquests held at the Inn for deaths on the line, several of which are copied below.
BLACKBURN IMPROVEMENT ACT
TO BE LET BY TICKET, On Thursday, the Twelfth day of October, 1848, at the house of Mr. R. T. Thompson, Railway Tavern, Hoghton Station; All that farm, called or known by the name of ????? in Brindle occupied by Thomas Fowler.
04 October 1848 - Blackburn Standard - Blackburn, Lancashire, England
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| Hoghton Coat of Arms - "Malgre la Tort"(Despite the Wrong) |
BLACKBURN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Numbering about eighty in the whole, adjourned to THE DINNER, which had been prepared for them at Mr. Thompson's, Railway Tavern, Hoghton-lane. Upwards of fifty persons, including the competitors and a number of agricultural labourers from the neighbourhood...
10 February 1849 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England
Blackburn Agricultural Society took place on Monday last at Mr. Thompson's Railway Tavern, Hoghton-lane. The first prize, of £3, was awarded to David Blackstock ; the second, £2, to Michael Wilcock the thirds £1...
10 February 1849 - Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - Manchester, Lancashire, England
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| 1851 Census Thomas Robert Thompson |
THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT
Upwards of twenty plough- men sat down to an excellent dinner (provided by Mr. Livesey) at the Railway Tavern, Hoghton Station, where ample justice was done to the liberal fare served up by the host and hostess.
01 December 1852 - Blackburn Standard - Blackburn, Lancashire, England
COUNTY COURT.
Licenses re-considered on Tuesday:-Thomas Litherland, Leigh Arms, Chorley, re-granted; Thomnas Robert Thompson, Railway Tavern, Hoghton, re-granted; T. Darbyshire, Old Seven Stars, Standish-with-Langtree, re-granted; T. Moor. field, Hesketh Arms, Shevington
30 September 1854 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England
Advertisements & Notices
MOON'S MILL. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, by Mr. JOHN THOMPSON, at the house of Mr. Thomas Robert Thompson, Railway Tavern, Hoghton Station, on Monday, January 22nd, 1855, at Six o'clock in the Evening (subject to conditions).
20 January 1855 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England
THE BOLTON CHRONICLE
Fatal Accident at Hoghton —On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Myres, coroner, held an inquest at the Railway Tavern, Hoghton, near Preston, on the body of William Edge, a power-loom weaver, of Blackburn, who was found dead on the East Lancashire Railway.
18 April 1857 - Bolton Chronicle - Bolton, Lancashire, England
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| Courtesy of WhatPub |
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
An inquest will he held by Mr. Myres on the body today at Mr. Thompson's, the Railway Tavern, Hoghton.
19 February 1859 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England
By 1861 Thomas Johnson had left the Railway and was living on Hoghton Lane, his occupation was shown as "Proprietor of Houses".
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| 1861 Census John Banks |
LOCAL NEWS
On Monday, Mr. Myres, coroner, held an inquest at the Railway Tavern, Hoghton, on the body of Thomas Walmsley, farmer, sixty years of age, who had lived in the neighbourhood.
27 February 1864 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
Death and Mutilation on the Railway.—On Saturday last, Mr. Myres, coroner, held inquest the Railway Tavern, Hoghton, on the body of Charles Southworth, labourer, who was found dead the East Lancashire Railway on Friday morning.
13 October 1866 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England
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| 1871 Census William Baldwin |
LOCAL NEWS
SAD FATALITY
Yesterday, the coroner held an inquest at the Railway Tavern, Hoghton, on the body of a man named Thomas Knowles, a plate-layer on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, who was found dead.
28 November 1874 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England
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| 1881 Census William Baldwin |
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| 1882 Burial of Thomas Thompson |
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
Killed Railway — inquest was held the Railway Hotel, Hoghton, on Monday, touching the death of Joseph Fowler, an old man, aged 74 years, Brook-street, Chorley, who was found lying...
04 November 1885 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England
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| 1892 Map |
Property apply to the AUCTIONEERS or to Mrs. Mason at the above farm; or to Mr. John Crook, of the Railway Hotel, Hoghton; or to the undersigned, PLANT, ABBOT, and PLANTS, Solicitors. 5, Cannon-street. Preston. Valuable FULLY-LICENSED HOUSE.
23 July 1898 - Blackburn Standard - Blackburn, Lancashire, England
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| 1901 Census John Crook |
DEATHS CROOK
On the 20th inst. at residence, Railway Hotel. Hoghton, John Miller Crook, in his 40th year.
21 July 1902 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England
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| 1902 Probate John Crook |
FOUND DEAD IN A WATER BUTT
Coroner's Inquest at Hoghton concerning the death of Rohan Duckworth (quarry man). Brindle who was found dead in an empty wafer butt behind the Railway Hotel, Hoghton on Sunday morning...the deceased was a widower and aged 56...it was not until several days' diligent search that his body was found in an empty water butt, behind the Railway Hotel, Hoghton. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. A committee is being formed to promote a testimonial to...
28 September 1904 - Manchester Evening News - Manchester, Lancashire, England
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| 1909 Map |
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| 1911 Census Joseph Holmes |
DEATH - COUNCILLOR THOMAS KING
...attained the position stationmaster, being moved to various places. In 1871 quitted the railway and took the Railway Hotel, Hoghton, but prior to this he had detected a big system of fraud, which led lo over sixty legal prosecutions.
02 May 1914 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England
THE LANCASHIRE DAILY POST
Lot 2 The Old-established FULLY-LICENSED INN. known as "THE RAILWAY HOTEL," HOGHTON with the Stables, Outbuildings. Bowling Green, and Land, situate the highway from Preston to Blackburn.
30 July 1924 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England
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| 1924 Kelly's Directory |
PROPERTY SALES
...was purchased by Messrs. Matthew Brown and Co. for £3,400; while the Railway Hotel. Hoghton, was sold to Mr. John Bolton, of Preston, for £2,950
02 August 1924 - Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Leeds, Yorkshire, England
LICENSED HOURS EXTENSIONS GRANTED
The application was granted. Thomas Harrison, Boar’s Head. Hoghton, and Amos Sharples, Railway Hotel, Hoghton, both of whom wore represented by Mr. U, M. Aspden, were grunted extensions.
19 August 1930 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England
VALUABLE FREEHOLD FULLY LICENSED HOTEL FOR SALE
For Sale by Auction and to special conditions to be then produced: The FREEHOLD. FULLY LICENSED HOTEL, known as THE RAILWAY HOTEL. HOGHTON now in the occupation of the owners situate on the Preston-to-Blackburn Old Road. Free from Ground Rent.
26 July 1937 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England
Messrs. J. E. Lambert and Co. offered the freehold fully-licensed Railway Hotel, Hoghton, on the Preston to Blackburn Old-road. The property was withdrawn at £4.000, and negotiations are proceeding privately...
28 July 1937 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England
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| Feb 2019 Fire Damaged Exterior (courtesy of LEP) |
A Lancashire restaurant owner has paid tribute to the community for its support after a fire ravaged the premises
By Tony Durkin Lancashire Post Sunday, 3rd February 2019, 12:11 pm
Updated Thursday, 7th February 2019, 5:10 pm
Six fire crews were called to the blaze at The Sirloin at Hoghton which raged through the roof.
A successful evacuation of diners and staff mean no-one was injured but it took until early Sunday morning for the final damping down of the fire to be completed and an investigation into the cause is now under way. Adam Chapman, who has run the Sirloin with Lucia Wilde since 2016, said they were grateful to everyone who has rallied round to help as well as the fire brigade for their efforts in tackling the blaze.
"There is a great community spirit in Hoghton and it really showed in the aftermath of what was a devastating incident for us," said a clearly-emotional Mr Chapman. "People have been been in touch with offers with offers to help in whatever way they can and we are so grateful. "The evacuation procedure has been well rehearsed and thankfully everyone got out safely and no-one was harmed.
"The fire crews have worked tremendously hard and saved what they could but the premises are devastated and it is too early to say at this stage what the future holds. "But we were so proud of the reputation the restaurant had gained since we came over here from Yorkshire," Mr Chapman added that the cause of the fire was now bring investigated. "It was a busy Saturday evening and we were looking forward to a busy Sunday and beyond. It's very upsetting."
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| The Sirloin (courtesy of WhatPub) |
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