Penwortham - Bridge Inn

Name: The Bridge Inn

Address: Leyland Road, Penwortham

Photograph of a painting by Edwin Beattie
The Bridge Inn on the right with Penwortham Bridge to the left.

The Bridge Inn dates back to the early 1800s and held a prominent position at the end of Penwortham Bridge across the River Ribble from Preston town centre. The earliest recorded landlord was a Richard Platt in the 1830s. 

PRESTON

 The property of a Mr. Lees, farmer and cattle dealer near Kirkcudbright (in Scotland) to Mr. Richard Platt's Bridge Inn, Penwortham. They were duly delivered to him - eleven sacks in each cart-and he drove the carts from the wharf.

31 May 1834 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

1835 Electoral Register - Richard Platt

Listed landlords at the Bridge Inn were Richard Platt (1834-5), Richard Whittle (1839-51), Richard Eglin (1853-59), John Helm (1859-60), Jane Helm (1860-66), William Badger & Jane Badger (aka Helm) (1866-71), Bernard Smith (1874), Catherine Smith (1874-81), William Dickenson (1886-87), Edward Allsop (1891-1910), Mason Lane (1911), Richard Grundy (1915-21), Annie Grundy (1921-30), Robert Singleton (1933-45), Mr J Smith (1955), Brian and Renee Smith (1970s-80s), Eric & Debbie ? (1989-1999) and John & Mel ? (1999-2004).

1841 Census Richard Whittle

1844 Map

Penwortham Bridge c.2020

1851 Census - Richard Whittle

  Advertisements & Notices

 GOOD STABLING. GRAND GALA AT EGLIN'S BRIDGE INN, PENWORTHAM

MR. EGLIN RESPECTFULLY announces that the SECOND GALA for the Season will take place

on the Bowling Green, at the Bridge Inn, Penwortham, on Monday evening, June 13th.

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

THE DURHAM ADVERTISER

 ...now engaged a herculian task on a piece of ground enclosed at Mr. Eglin's, the Bridge Inn, Penwortham has commenced the feat of walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours

21 April 1854 - Durham County Advertiser - Durham, Durham, England

1854 Directory Richard Eglin

Advertisements & Notices

 IMPORTANT SALE AT THE BRIDGE INN, Penwortham Easter Monday and Tuesday.

MR. SAMUEL PARKER has been favoured with instructions from Mr. Eglin, who is leaving

the premises, to SELL BY AUCTION, without reserve, at the Bridge Inn,

Penwortham, on Monday and Tuesday

23 April 1859 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

Richard Eglin only stayed for a short period at the Bridge although his successor was to stay for many more years. Jane Helm nee Bainbridge was born in 1825 in Milnthorpe, Kendal and brought up in the Kings Arms in nr. Milnthorpe, an Inn run by her father Thomas Bainbridge. 

The Kings Arms by Don Burgess Creative Commons Licence

By 1851 she was running an Inn herself, the Elletson Arms in Stakepool nr. Pilling and farming land with her husband John Helm. 

Elletson Arms, Hale

Ten years later they'd moved to Penwortham but in 1860 Jane was widowed and left living at the Bridge Inn with her mother-in-law, Martha Helm.

1860 Probate - John Helm

1861 Census Jane Helm

The previous landlord, Richard Whittle and his wife had retired from the trade by the time of the 1861 census and were living nearby in the St John's district of Preston.  He was to die a few years later and is buried at St Andrew's in Longton, the village of his birth.

Burial: 21 Oct 1864 St Andrew, Longton, Lancashire, England

Richard Whittle -Age: 71 yrs

Abode: Preston

Buried by: Law. Preston

Register: Burials 1852 - 1900, Page 40, Entry 320

Source: LDS Film 1278778 

Probate - Richard Whittle

District Intelligence.

A company of 55 gentlemen, chiefly officials of the North Union Railway Company, assembled at Mrs. Helm's the Bridge Inn, Penwortham, to show their respect Mr. Edward Farr, goods manager here for six years last past.

30 August 1862 - Lancaster Gazette - Lancaster, Lancashire, England

Having run the Bridge for around 6 six years on her own Jane then married William Badger, a plumber by trade originally from Longridge whose father was also an Innkeeper and had run the White Bull in Alston nr. Preston.

1866 Marriage - Jane Helm and William Badger

 Marriage: 28 Jun 1866 St Mary, Penwortham, Lancashire, England

William Badger - full Plumber Bachelor of Fleetwood

Jane Helm - full Widow of Penwortham

Groom's Father: Thomas Badger, Inn Keeper

Bride's Father: Thomas Bainbridge, Inn Keeper

Witness: John Worthington; Elizabeth Greenall

Married by Licence by: F. E. Brodrick

Register: Marriages 1857 - 1885, Page 104, Entry 208

Source: LDS Film 1526058

 

Photograph of a painting by Edwin Beattie. Bridge Inn on right and
West Lancashire Railway Bridge just visible behind Penwortham Bridge

1869 Slaters Directory - William Badger

1871 Census - William Badger

William and Jane moved on from the Bridge shortly after the 1871 census but continued in the licensed trade in Preston, as William's death announcement in the below press excerpt attests.

LOCAL NEWS

Mr. Badger commenced business at Fleetwood but many years ago came to Preston, and kept first time at the Bridge Inn, Penwortham, and afterwards the Theatre Hotel, Fishergate, retiring about six and a half years ago. He was chairman of...

11 November 1893 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

Theatre Tavern, Fishergate, Preston

Catherine Smith originated from Rishton, Blackburn and was married to Bernard Smith who was a landlord. He died in 1874 in Penwortham so I suspect they were running the Bridge Inn at that time.

EXTRAORDINARY BREACH OF PROMISE.

 Liverpool Assizes, on Tuesday, before Mr. Justice Denman and a common jury, Mrs.Catherine Smith, landlady of the Bridge Inn, Penwortham, near Preston, sued Mr. James Strickland, farmer and cattle dealer, near Preston, for breach of promise of marriage.

09 August 1877 - Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser.

1881 Census - Catherine Smith

On Wednesday evening a number of revellers partook of supper at the house of Mr. W. Dickenson, Bridge Inn, Penwortham. The married men opposed the single, and the former won, and the losing team had to defray the cost of the spread.

21 August 1886 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

THE WEEK AT HOME

Three lads were sliding on a pit near the Bridge Inn, Penwortham, on Sunday evening, when the ice gave way, and all were immersed. One got out, but the others, Charnley and Eastham perished.

26 November 1887 - Leeds Times - Leeds, Yorkshire, England

1891 Census - Edward Allsop

 

Bridge Inn - Lost Pubs

1892 Map

1901 Census - Edward Allsop

1905 Kelly's Directory - Edward Allsop

TO BE LET, BRIDGE INN, PENWORTHAM

that well-known old inn, with Bowling Green and Stables,

fully licensed, end of bridge to and from Preston

24 September 1910 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

1911 Census Summary Sheet - Mr Lane

Penwortham Postcard

1911 Census - Mason Lane

PRESTON PALS

The following has been received, souvenirs which he had brought from the trenches. These souvenirs have been left in charge of Mr. Richard Grundy, at the Bridge Inn, Penwortham, who is himself an old Gordon Highlander, and served with the late ranked general, Hector Macdonald.

21 August 1915 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

1917 Directory - Richard Grundy

 KILLED IN ACTION - GRUNDY

Killed in action, Bomber Stanley Grundy, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Grundy, Bridge Inn,

Penwortham. The Army Chaplain writes:—“His loss deeply deplored all ranks, for he was ever brave and courageous in the face of danger.

20 April 1918 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

Records show that Stanley died in Belgium fighting in WW1, a member of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery.

GENERAL Servant Wanted

Must have good refs.— Apply, Mrs. Grundy, Bridge Inn, Penwortham. 

24 October 1921 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

1924 Kelly's Directory - Annie Grundy

DRINK AFTER HOURS

...that defendant should have the benefit of the Probation of Offenders’ Act,

Robert Singleton, licensee of the Bridge Inn, Leyland Road, Penwortham

was bound over at Leyland Police Court, today, on a summons for supplying 

intoxicating liquor during non-permitted hours.

22 May 1933 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

1938 Map

HOTEL Waitress Wanted, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings

8 till 10 p.m.— Apply, R. Singleton. Bridge Inn, Leyland Road. Penwortham.

19 November 1945 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

Innkeepers’ show

 The Arts of Good Inn-keeping at the Hotel and Catering Exhibition, Manchester. On the tour. Mr, J Smith, of the Bridge Inn Leyland-road. Penwortham. was chosen as compere and here are a few of the points made while practical demonstration was in progress.

29 January 1955 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS

MRS. MARGARET SINGLETON, of Leyland-road, Penwortham, widow of Robert Singleton,

formerly licensee of the Bridge Inn, Penwortham, left £5.079 gross, net.

01 March 1957 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

The Bridge Inn was eventually closed, after around 200 years of trade by owners Enterprise Inns in 2011 and has now been converted for use as a children's nursery, Tinkerbell's.