Chorley's Inns and Taverns: Shevington

Name: The Plough & Harrow Inn

Address: Broad o'th' Lane, Shevington

The original Plough & Harrow was built in the early 1800's and whilst it was rebuilt in 1905 it retains pride of place in the centre of the village on the corner of Miles Lane, Broad o'th' Lane and Gathurst Lane.

1845 Map

The earliest reference I can find to it is in the 1824 Standish Directory shown below.

1824 Directory

Listed landlords at the Plough were George Smith (1824), James Winstanley (1841), Richard Stopforth (1851-77), John Tyrer (1877-87), Elizabeth Tyrer (1887-1907), William Tyrer (1907-08), William Thomas Liptrot (1908-14), Ellen Liptrot (1914-24) and Carol Kirk (2023).

1841 Census

Richard Stopforth was originally from nearby Wrightington and was a farmer before marrying his wife Jane. Her father William was a beer seller therefore it should come as no surprise that within three years of marriage they were running a pub together.

Marriage: 24 May 1848 St Mary the Virgin, Eccleston, Lancashire, England

Richard Stopforth - Full, Husbandman, Bachelor, Wrightington

Jane Turner - Full, Widow, Wrightington

Groom's Father: Edward Stopforth, Farmer

Bride's Father: William Wright, Beerseller

Witness: William Stopforth; Edward Stopforth

Married by: Thomas Marshall

Register: Marriages 1837 - 1873, Page 84, Entry 167

Source: Roy Lowe Transcript

Interestingly, Richard had renamed the pub the "Farmer's Arms" but by the time of the next census in 1861 it had reverted to the Plough and Harrow.

1851 Census

1854 Mannex Directory

1861 Census

Liverpool Mercury 05 November 1861

Manchester Times 09 November 1861

Richard was widowed in 1863 as the burial record below testifies. He never remarried and continued to run the Inn with his sons John & Edward until his own death 13 years later.

Burial: 18 Jul 1863 St James the Great, Wrightington, Lancashire, England

Jane Stopforth - Wife of Richard Stopforth

Age: 45 Years

Abode: Shevington

Buried by: J. Johnson

Register: Burials 1857 - 1926, Page 6, Entry 48

Source: LDS Film 1849640

1871 Census

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 26 May 1871

Burial: 15 Mar 1877 St James the Great, Wrightington, Lancashire, England

Richard Stopforth - Age: 64

Abode: Shevington

Buried by: J.T. Wilson

Register: Burials 1857 - 1926, Page 44, Entry 348

Source: LDS Film 1849640

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 12 July 1879

The Tyrers moved in during the late 1870s and were remain there for the next 30 years or so.

1881 Census

Preston Herald 15 February 1882

John Tyrer was the licensee initially but his premature death in 1887 left his widow Elizabeth (ka Martha) to continue the business alone, which she did until her death in 1907.

Burial: 20 Oct 1887 St Wilfrid, Standish, Lancashire, England

John Tyrer - Age: 55 years

Abode: Shevington

Buried by: Alex. Richardson, Minister of Shevington District

Register: Burials 1878 - 1891, Page 141, Entry 1125

Source: LDS Film 1526141

1891 Census

1901 Census

1905 Kelly's Directory

Burial: 11 Dec 1907 St Anne, Shevington, Lancashire, England

Elizabeth Tyrer - Age: 65 years

Abode: Wigan

Buried by: G. Blagden Hopkins Vicar

Register: Burials 1889 - 1914, Page 72, Entry 576

Source: Original Parish Register

Martha (Elizabeth) Tyrer - early 1900s

William Tyrer continued the business following his mother's death but this was only short-lived as he died the following year at the tender age of 32 years.

Burial: 24 Aug 1908 St Anne, Shevington, Lancashire, England

William Tyrer - Age: 32 years

Abode: The Plough & Harrow Inn

Buried by: R. H. Bigg

Register: Burials 1889 - 1914, Page 75, Entry 600

Source: Original Parish Register

1907 Map

1911 Census

By 1911 William Liptrot had taken over behind the bar but like his predecessor he died only a few years into the job leaving widow Ellen to run the business.

Burial: 16 May 1914 St Anne, Shevington, Lancashire, England

William Thomas Liptrot - Age: 41 years

Abode: Plough & Harrow Shevington

Buried by: G. Blagden Hopkins Vicar

Register: Burials 1889 - 1914, Page 99, Entry 791

Source: Original Parish Register