Standish - Horseshoe Inn

Name: The Horseshoe Inn

Address: 1, Wigan Lane, Standish

© Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Like many pubs of the same name the Horseshoe Inn was originally the Smithy (Blacksmith's) located at the junction of Wigan Lane (to the south), High Street (to the north) and Grove Street (to the east).  The map below, drawn up around 1845 confirms it's location.

1845 Map

It was a beer house and not a licensed public house no doubt due to the main business being the smithy.

Listed landlords at the Horseshoe Inn were Richard Gregory (1841), George Kershaw (1851), Charles Leigh (1861-87), Thomas Leigh (1887-99), Mary Leigh (1899-1901), Mr Finch (1908), William Moore (1911-24) and Christopher Jones (2012). 

1841 Census

1851 Census

Charles Leigh took over the Smithy in the 1850's and the family then ran the business for the next 50 years or so, his son Thomas and later Thomas' widow Mary taking over.

1861 Census

London Daily News 03 April 1868

1871 Census

Pictured below is the old smithy section of the Horseshoe Inn in the early 1960's when it had been rented out as a garage. On 8th September 1962 an HGV failed to take the bend and hit the building causing extensive damage to the structure (see further down).

1881 Census

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 23 August 1882

Preston Herald 20 October 1886

1891 Census

More recently the Horseshoe was a Marton's Brewery pub but in the earlier part of the 1900's it was run by the Burtonwood Brewery Co. and before that J.B.Almond's of Standish.

Wigan Heritage Service 1999 Newsletter
News from the Archives
In the Archives we have a volume of rate assessments for all licensed premises within the Wigan Poor Law Union area, compiled between 1914 and 1931. This lists all pubs under each brewery or other owner. J.B. Almond owned the following houses in Standish:
Black Bull, Market Street
Black Horse, Church Street
Horse Shoe, Wigan Road
Boars Head Inn, Wigan Road
Original Seven Stars, Preston Road
[New] Seven Stars, Preston Road
Wheatsheaf Hotel, Preston Road
White Duck, High Street.

All the above had full licences except the Horse Shoe and the White Duck which were beer houses. Almond’s had many other houses in the district: in Ashton, 7 pubs and 4 off licences; in Billinge, the Forester’s Arms; in Dalton, the Ashurst Beacon Inn; 3 pubs each in Hindley, Ince and Orrell; the Bowling Green Inn at Digmoor; the Scarisbrick Arms in Wrightington; and no less than 10 pubs and 3 off licences in Wigan, including the Cherry Gardens and Buck i’th’ Vine.

1901 Census

1907 Map

The 1907 map above shows how much the area had developed in the 60 or so years since the 1840's. 

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 03 July 1908

1911 Census

Wigan Observer 13th January 2012

David William Darwen, 26, of Longbrook, Shevington, pleaded guilty to assaulting the landlord of the Horseshoe Inn, Standish, and using threatening behaviour when he appeared at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Jayne Kearsley, prosecuting, told magistrates that on July 22 last year, Darwen was at The Horseshoe Inn, in Wigan Road, with his girlfriend Naomi Walsh and felt there was a “bad atmosphere” and he wanted to leave. He went outside and when Miss Walsh did not follow, he grabbed her by the waist and took her outside, which he admitted could be seen as threatening behaviour. Drinkers at the pub and the landlord, Christopher Jones, followed and an altercation occurred. Mrs Kearsley said: “When outside a woman grabbed him and kicked him and he pushed her away. “The landlord attempted to restrain the defendant who was kicking and punching in every direction. “One punch landed in Mr Jones’ stomach and caused soreness and redness. “Witnesses said he headbutted wooden tables and the floor, but the defendant did not remember this,” Mrs Kearsley added that Smalley had one previous conviction, but had not been in trouble since 2004. Bob Topping, defending, said that Darwen had mental health problems and is seeking treatment. Darwen was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and was ordered to pay £150 compensation to Mr Jones and £85 court costs.

Read more at: http://www.wigantoday.net/news/crime/drinker-lands-in-the-dock-after-brawl-outside-pub-1-4141031

Following closure of the Horseshoe it has been reopened by TWC (The Wiper Company) as a business and is no longer a public house.