Longton - Ram's Head Inn

Name: The Ram's Head Inn

Address: 67, Liverpool Road, Longton

c.1900

The original Ram's Head pictured above dated back to the early 1800s and was located at the junction of Chapel Lane and Liverpool Road. In the mid 1960s the building was demolished and replaced by the building we know today, which opened in 1967.

Listed landlords at the pub were Richard Ingham (1824-32), James Wilkins (1841-54), Edward Ball (1861-71), Frederick Stansfield (1878-81), Thomas Carr (1882-83), Mary Carr (1883-95), Edmund (or Edward) Ainsworth (1901-02), Henry Carter (1907-), Herbert Birtwistle (1911), William Bird (1921), Mrs Burgess (1930) and Elizabeth Platt (1941).

1824 Directory

1832 Register of Electors

1841 Census

1842 Map

Farmers' Journal — Gardener's Chronicle Correspondent

Prolific Sow—Mr. James Wilkins, of the Ram’s Head inn, Longton, has a sow, 

which, on Wednesday week, brought forth, at a litter, nineteen pigs, 

eighteen of which are alive.

20 May 1843 - Cambridge Chronicle and Journal - Cambridge

Advertisements & Notices

 To be Soid, by Auction by Mr. Richard Cunliffe, at Mr. James Wilkins's, the Ram's Head Inn, in Longton, in the county of Lancaster, on Tuesday, the 8th day of July, 1845, at Six o'clock in the evening, subject to conditions.

28 June 1845 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

1851 Census

Advertisements & Notices

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY MR. H. C. WALTON

At the house of Mr. Wilkins, Ram's Head Inn, Longton, on Wednesday, the 15th day of June next, at one o'clock in the afternoon, subject to conditions to be then produced.

11 June 1853 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

by Mr. B. C. WALTON, at the house of Mr. Wilkins, the Ram's Head Inn, Longton, on Wednesday, the 14th day of June next, at one o'clock in the afternoon...

20 May 1854 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

James Wilkins was the son of Richard and Mary Wilkins, Richard being a founding member of W & R Wilkins Maltsers and Brewers on Marsh Lane and by the 1861 census was now running the Red Lion Hotel further down Liverpool Road.

Baptism: 20 Aug 1809 St Andrew, Longton, Lancashire, England

James Wilkins - Son of Richard Wilkins & Mary

    Abode: Longton

    Register: Baptisms 1777 - 1812, Page 124

    Source: LDS Film 1278777

Burial: 17 Jul 1871 St Andrew, Longton, Lancashire, England

James Wilkins - Age: 62 years

    Abode: Longton

    Buried by: C. J. Astbury M. A. Incumbent

    Register: Burials 1852 - 1900, Page 60, Entry 473

    Source: LDS Film 1278778

1871 Probate record for James Wilkins.

In 1861 the pub had a new landlord, Edward Ball who had moved in with his wife and five children.

1861 Census

To be Sold by Auction, by Mr. E. WADDECAR, at the house of Mr. Edward Ball, the Ram’s Head Inn, Longton, on Wednesday, October 24, 1866, at seven o'clock in the evening, subject conditions to be then agreed.

13 October 1866 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

 Freehold Farm in Longton, near Preston

To SOLD by AUCTION, by Mr. LUKE BRIGHOUSE. at the House of Mr. EDWARD BALL, the RAM’S HEAD INN, LONGTON, in the County Lancaster, on Tuesday, the 16th day of July, 1867, at Two for Three o’clock in the afternoon

11 July 1867 - Ormskirk Advertiser - Ormskirk, Lancashire, England

1869 Slater's Directory

1871 Census

By the mid-1870s Edward Ball had moved on from the Ram's Head and by 1881 records show him living on School Lane, a widower and working as an agricultural labourer. Two years later he was to die in Fulwood Workhouse as the St Andrews' burial record below attests: -

Burial: 6 Sep 1883 St Andrew, Longton, Lancashire, England

Edward Ball - Age: 65 years

    Abode: Longton

    Notes: [ Entry in abode reads] died at Fulwood Workhouse

    Buried by: John Johnson

    Register: Burials 1852 - 1900, Page 103, Entry 824

    Source: LDS Film 1278778

Liverpool Road showing the old Smithy with the Ram's Head pub in the background
at the junction of Liverpool Road and Chapel Lane

Advertisements & Notices

 Valuable FREEHOLD PROPERTY, in LONGTON. 

For auction by Mr. R. MOULDING, at the house of Mr. Stansfield,

the Rams Head Inn, Longton, on Thursday at four o'clock in the afternoon, 

subject to such conditions as will then be applied.

20 July 1878 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

1881 Census

RAM'S HEAD HOTEL, LONGTON NEAR PRESTON

SAM PARKER begs to announce that he has received instructions from Mr. Thomas Carr to sell at Auction, on Monday Next, 28th, at two o'clock the afternoon, a variety of surplus HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE

26 August 1882 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

Courtesy of Gordon Small

THE PRESTON HERALD, SATURDAY, JULY 28, I883

 VALUABLE FREEHOLD PROPERTY near Preston. Mr. SAMUEL PARKER, at the house of Mr. Thomas Carr, Ram’s Head Hotel. Longton in the county of Lancaster, on Thursday, the 16th day of August, 1883, four o'clock in the afternoon.

28 July 1883 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

Burial: 18 Oct 1883 St Andrew, Longton, Lancashire, England

Thomas Carr - Age: 78 years

    Abode: Longton

    Buried by: John Johnson

    Register: Burials 1852 - 1900, Page 104, Entry 827

    Source: LDS Film 1278778

1891 Census

1895 Directory

By 1901 Mary Carr and her children had moved out of the Ram's Head into a fine property called The Laurels on Towngate in nearby Leyland. Her occupation is not listed on the census record of that year. By this time the license at the Ram's Head had transferred to Edward Ainsworth.

1901 Census

Mr Ambler, of Preston, applied, on behalf Mrs Fanny Elizabeth Dickinson, 

for the transfer of the licence of the Rams Head Hotel, Longton, from 

Edward Ainsworth. The Bench ultimately refused to grant the application.

04 October 1902 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

PRESTON COAL MERCHANTS SAD CORONER DISAGREES WITH THE JURY'S VERDICT.

 ..Henry Carter, licensee the Ram's Head Hotel, Longton, brother in law of 

the deceased, said Waring came to see him about 7.15 pm on Thursday 

night then went to see some property...

29 July 1907 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

1911 Census

At Leyland, today, William Bird, licensee of Ram's Head, Longton

was charged with selling, permitting, and supplying by his agent 

intoxicating liquor during prohibited hours.

10 October 1921 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire

1929 Map

MISCELLANEOUS SALES.

 General; one able to wash; aged about 30; must be honest; refs, essential

—Apply, first by letter, to Mrs, Burgess, Ram’s Head Hotel, Longton.

10 October 1930 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire

DEATHS

 WILLIAM the dearly-loved husband of the late ANN BIRD formerly of the 

Rams Head Hotel. Longton (near Preston), in his 80th year. 

Interment at Haigh Church, Wigan Monday Jan 31st.

27 January 1938 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire

FOUND DYING IN A LONGTON TAP ROOM

The landlady of the Ram's Head Hotel, Longton, Mrs. Elizabeth Platt gave 

evidence at inquest at Preston Royal Infirmary, last night, on 

Thomas Harrison (49), an engine driver... 

30 October 1941 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire

© Copyright J Thomas and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.