Pubs of Manchester

All pubs within the city centre and beyond.
A history of Manchester's hundreds of lost pubs.

Thursday 30 September 2010

Crown & Lion, Lever Street



Site of Crown & Lion, Lever Street. (c) googlemaps.

A few doors before Warwick Street as you go up Lever Street used to be the Crown & Lion, roughly where the bus stop is in the above picture [1].  In the background can be seen the old Prince of Wales on Warwick Street and in the far distance all the way down on Great Ancoats Street, the Star Inn with its Dutch roof.

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

White Lion, Port Street


White Lion, Port Street. (c) googlemaps.

This bizarre green house on Port Street stands alone with little but car park space either side, with the Crown & Anchor down the road.  It stands determined and well looked after and it appears to have a proud history as the old White Lion.  The 1849 map shows the White Lion four doors down from Little Pit(t) Street, which means with 99% certainty that this green house was indeed once the same pub [1].  Back then there were houses either side of the White Lion, facing onto 'No.1 Court' and Dean Court to the rear in this triangle bounded by Dean Street, Port Street and Little Pit(t) Street.  Across the road on the other side of Port Street was a large Iron Warehouse and a Saw Mill with marble cutting machine [1].  Today the house is numbered No.75 but in Slater's Directory of the 1850s the White Lion was No.61 and was kept by Ann Gleave [1].


White Lion, Port Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Peacock, Dale Street


Former location of the Peacock, Dale Street. (c) googlemaps.

At 58 Dale Street is Eleska House, home to Reba Textiles, and presumably in Manchester's cotton heyday this was just one of dozens of textile warehouses built in this part of town.  Before this one was built, on this corner of Dale Street and China Lane stood the Peacock, with back-to-back and court-facing dwellings to either side [1].


Former location of the Peacock, Dale Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Feathers Inn, Shepley Street

Site of Feathers Inn, Shepley Street. (c) googlemaps.


As seen on the modern day map, Shepley Street used to run between Minshull Street and (all the way to) London Road until the  tram and hotels/offices that face Piccadilly Approach were built over the last 20 years.  In the 1800s The Feathers in sat at the corner of Shepley Street and London Road [1], at the site where the trams exiting Piccadilly Station veer off through the new builds.

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Woodman, Dale Street

At the bottom end of Dale Street, between what today is Lena Street and Paton Street, but in 1849 was Lees Street and Booth Street, was the Woodman pub.  It was the second building before the Lena (Lees) Street turn, meaning it used to sit just to the left of the 'Piccadilly Lofts' sign.


Former location of Woodman, Dale Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Bird in Hand, Great Ancoats Street

Across Great Ancoats Street from where the Rose & Crown was at the top of Store Street was the Bird in Hand. It was set back slightly from the main road, but its address was No.203 Great Ancoats Street, run by Isaac Bailey according to the Slater's Directory on the 1849 map [1].  Its location is hard to ascertain today; suffice to say it sat somewhere beneath the car park of the Ancoats Retail Park.

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Lord Nelson, Mather (Ducie) Street

Up Ducie Street from where the Jolly Angler is today was the Lord Nelson, attached to the Mather Street Brewery. Its location was halfway between the Jolly Angler and Great Ancoats Street, putting it probably just to the left of this new A&M Labels building. Behind the pub where the car park is now was Nelson's Court, onto which a row of terraces and back-to-backs faced.


Site of Lord Nelson, Mather (Ducie) Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Manchester & Birmingham Railway Tavern, Aspden Street

 
Site of Manchester & Birmingham Railway Arms, Aspden Street. (c) googlemaps.

It's difficult to imagine but in 1849, past where the grey fence is in the above picture used to be a short road running down to 'Brick Croft' through which today's Chapeltown Street runs (factory is now in the way). This street off Long(acre) Street was Fletcher Street and off that was Aspden Street which ran left to meet Portugal Street.  On the corner of Fletcher Street and Aspden Street was the Manchester & Birmingham Railway Tavern, a small pub on a terrace end.  It's location was probably just about where the factory chimney is above (the factory being built after the area was cleared of Aspden Street's terraced housing.


Site of Manchester & Birmingham Railway Arms, Aspden Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester (Piccadilly) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Press Club, Queen Street

Press Club, Queen Street. (c) yelp.

This famous members-only club was founded in 1870 as the plaque at the easy-to-miss door on Queen Street off Deansgate reads (also instructing non-members to use the back door on Lloyd Street).  As the name suggests the Press Club was the haunt, almost exclusively, of Manchester's newspaper workers and this was extended to include media workers such as the Granada TV and BBC staff as well, serving till at least 5am, 7 nights a week.  It also was open to selected other professionals such as police, firemen and teachers (quite why such noble types would want to be drinking till 5am...).  Although truth be told, on the one occasion I ended up in the Press Club, it was with police staff (it's not that hard to get in if you know, or claim to know, the right people).  The tired old '70s decor and old-working men's club style drinks on offer were rather surprising, but is meant to be all part of its charm.  As far as celebrities go, these days some of the Corrie cast apparently still frequent the place, but the more discerning stars surely head for the Circle Club.  The Press Club was owned by Jack McCall then David Murphy in the 1960s and '70s. A stalwart of the club, barmaid, door lady and recent licensee, Joan Ross, died in December 2006 [1].  The Press Club is Manchester's last restrictive private members club, following the loss of the Green Door Club on Shudehill.

Press Club, Queen Street. (c) yelp.

1. www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk.

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Bossa Nova / Chico's / Top Cat, Todd Street


Bossa Nova Club, Todd Street, 1965. (c) Manchester Beat.

The Bossa Nova was near the side entrance to Victoria Station on Todd Street.  It was a cocktail bar in the 1960s and in later guises was Chico's (named after Bossa Nova's owner, Chic Taylor [1]) and the top floor was also the Top Cat Club. The building was, for a time, a café called the City Cafeteria in the early '60s and then Silverpool Restaurant next to Nellie's Florist in 1963. [1].


Chico's / Bossa Nova, Todd Street. (c) asaph_art (Alan Moores) at flickr.

The building is shown here in the 1980s as the Top Cat Club, also described as the former Cathedral Sunday School which may be a clue to its original use.  The place was listed so stood for many years until it deteriorated so badly that it was demolished only a couple of years ago; the old Hanging Ditch Post Office to the left still stood, but not for long.

Former site of Bossa Nova / Chico's / Top Cat, Todd Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. www.manchester-forum.co.uk.

Cossack Club, Bloom Street

Seen here in 1973, the Cossack Club was on the south side of Bloom Street, not far from the Thompsons Arms.  The owner was known as 'Russian Dave' who drove flash American cars, and an unlikely suggestion that he is in fact television's David Dickinson today; more likely is the one that says he went on to have a garage in Leigh [1].  It's possible that a previous location for the Cossack Club was on Bootle Street, where Slack Alice was opened by George Best, where Russian Dave was also reported to own the Cossack Club, a blues/jazz club [2].

1.  www.manchesterbeat.com.
2. www.manchesterbeat.com.

Rails, Cannon Street

Rails, Cannon Street. (c) Manchester District Music Archive [1].

Not much is known about this club, Rails, on Cannon Street, although on Manchester Beat, a few details from the 1960s are recorded.  Dave the bouncer at Rails was "built like a cube and his little legs propelled him down Cannon Street with a baseball bat, after three local hard boys had a go [1]."  A celebrity visitor in 1967 was none other than Jimi Hendrix who popped in Rails for a late night, post-Manchester University gig drink with a couple of dolly birds. "There was a small commotion at the door and we turned to see Jimi walking in with two birds, one on each arm. He got himself a booth and tucked himself away [2]."

1. www.mdmarchive.co.uk/archive/homePage.php.
2. www.manchesterbeat.com.

Thursday 23 September 2010

Assize Courts, Great Ducie Street

This passage on Manchester Beat describes a pub in the 1960s called the Assize Courts opposite the Crown: "My first experience of smoking dope was in a pub called the Assize Court which was across the road from the Crown [1]."  The Crown was a biker's pub "under the railway bridge before you got to the Cathedral [2]" - and this area is near to where the old Assize Courts on Great Ducie Street, Strangeways, which would explain the name of the pub.  If the Assize Courts was across the road from the Crown then it would probably have been around here where the MEN Arena is shown below.  Anyone confirm or rubbish this theory?  This photo from the Archives show the pub on Great Ducie Street in 1971, but was it at this spot?


Possible site of the Assize Courts, Great Ducie Street. (c) googlemaps.

Crown, Great Ducie Street

Crown, Great Ducie Street, 1971. (c) (upside down version) Manchester Local Image Collection. Click here to view full image [1].

The Crown on Great Ducie Street is described as "a bikers pub under the railway bridge just before you got to Manchester Cathedral... in the late '70s [2]."  The Crown is then said to have "the best jukebox in Manchester at the time.  It also had a mural on one wall of the Rolling Stones in a stagecoach going to London.  I recall it being a Tetley's house.  It shut ages ago and is now an Indian supermarket [2]."  Finally, "I remember seeing it on my way into Manchester opposite what is now the Arena [2]."  This 1899 photo shows the Crown on the right after the shop.

Former location of the Crown, Great Ducie Street, 2010. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

Another account on Manchester Beat describes the Crown in the '60s: "I was a regular in the Crown Pub in the sixties. It was the only pub in Manchester that would serve people with long hair and it became known as the long-haired pub. My first experience of smoking dope was in a pub called the Assize Court which was across the road from the Crown [3]."  The old Manchester Assize Courts were on Great Ducie Street before being demolished in 1957 after terrible war damage, explains the pub of the same name opposite the Crown.  


Former location of the Crown, Great Ducie Street, 2010. (c) Google 2010. View Larger Map.

1. http://images.manchester.gov.uk.
2. http://services.salford.gov.uk.
3. http://www.manchesterbeat.com.    

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Vine Tavern, Calendar Street

Calendar Street was a short lane running between and parallel to Market Street and Cannon Street. It was accessible by Poole Street where the Old Swan Hotel was, by Palace Square and the Palace Inn, and also by Palace Street. On Calendar Street, next to the New Brown Street Buildings was the Vine Tavern [1], marked 3 on the map below.

Former site of Vine Tavern, Calendar Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester City Centre 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2008).

Old Swan Hotel, Poole Street

Poole Street was the next street off down Market Street from the Palace Square alley, and the Old Swan Hotel down Poole Street on the right actually backed on to the Palace Inn [1]. It's marked 2 on the map below.

Former site of Old Swan Hotel, Poole Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester City Centre 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2008).

Palace Inn, Palace Square

We've covered a few of the more famous old pubs that used to stand where the ugly Arndale Centre sits, such as the Bulls Head, Blue Boar, Slip Inn, Listons and Fatted Calf. Thanks to the 1849 map of the city centre we can see a few more. Opposite where Spring Gardens meets Market Street today used to be a narrow alleyway leading to Palace Square, named after the Palace Buildings on Market Street. As you went down this alley, it opened up into Palace Square and on the first left was the Palace Inn [1], numbered 1 on the below map. This Palace Inn is a different pub to the big old Palace Inn that once stood on Market Stead Lane.

Former site of Palace Inn, Palace Square. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester City Centre 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2008).

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Sun, Deansgate

Next door but across the triangle (for want of a better word) from the Two Cocks was the Sun at 245 Deansgate, run by Simeon Hilton in the 1840s [1]. Directly opposite the Dog & Partridge (so today it's easy to work out where it was - just stand outside Alliance & Leicester), the Sun had a small vault to the rear which was accessible by Dyer's Lane, a tiny street off the aforementioned triangular area [1].

1. Manchester (Oxford Street & Gaythorn), Alan Godfrey Maps (2010).

Two Cocks Inn, Deansgate

A few doors down from the Railway Inn was the Two Cocks Inn, on the corner of a small unnamed triangular area off Deansgate [1]. Across the way was the Sun pub, and to give an indication of the exact location of the Two Cocks, if you were stood outside it on Deansgate in 1849, across the road diagonally to the left would be the Dog & Partridge (still there today as the Alliance & Leicester frontage) and to the right, Camp Street.

1. Manchester (Oxford Street & Gaythorn), Alan Godgrey Maps (2010).

Railway Inn & Railway Inn Vaults, Deansgate

The pubs that used to stand on Deansgate before the Great Northern Warehouse was built didn't warrant inclusion in the Beneath Central Station entry, so here goes. The Railway Inn was across from St John Street, which places it here where the Shepherd Gilmour estate agents is at 86 Deansgate. The Railway Inn was kept by William White according to the Slater's Directory on the 1849 map, confusingly, at 221 Deansgate [1]. The map shows that attached to the rear of the inn was the Railway Inn Vaults which was undoubtedly the same premises but looks like it had a back entrance on Little Alport, off Gregson Street.

Former location of Railway Inn, Deansgate. (c) googlemaps.

1. Manchester (Oxford Street & Gaythorn), Alan Godfrey Maps (2010).

George Inn, Rochdale Road


Former location of the George Inn, Rochdale Road. (c) googlemaps.

Addington Street is now a major thoroughfare with half the inner ring road passing down its gyratory. In the 1800s on the corner of Addington Street on Rochdale Road was the George Inn, facing what was then the Weaver's Arms [1], now the at-risk Angel / Beer House. As with so many old pub locations, this spot is no more than a car park these days.

1. Manchester (New Cross) 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Grey Hound Tavern, Ludgate Hill


Former location of Grey Hound Tavern, Ludgate Hill. (c) googlemaps.

The Grey Hound must have been pretty much where the Red House was on Ludgate Hill, just on the left past Baptist Street was you go down the hill. Trendy flats now sit on this corner but in the mid 1800s there was a court with some of the infamous back-to-backs adjacent to the Grey Hound Tavern a bit further down [1].

1. Manchester (New Cross) 1949, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Windmill, St George's Road (Rochdale Road)


St George's Road Church, Rochdale Road. (c) googlemaps.

In around 1840 St George's Road, one of the main thoroughfares north of Manchester, was renamed Rochdale Road. The church at the lower end of the road retained its name as St George's Road Chapel, a "Particular Baptist Chapel". It was at this church that the Orangemen of Manchester and the Irish had a spot of trouble in 1834 after their 12th of July celebrations.

St George's Road Church, Rochdale Road. (c) googlemaps.

Several hundred Catholics attacked the Orange Order who were on their way back from service the day after the 12th, a Sunday, to the Windmill pub near St George's Road church. The following day police had to be employed to stop the sexton of the church being lynched by the Irish at the nearby Britains Protection on Oldham Road. The Windmill was just one of the Orangemen's meeting places, and indeed in the earlier part of the 19th century, Manchester was a major stronghold of the Orange Order [1].

Union Club, Nicholas Street


Former location of the Union Club, Nicholas Street. (c) googlemaps.

These days there's not much of note on Mosley Street bar the Art Gallery and the incessant trams and buses, but in the 1800s it was a grand street with many churches, seats of learnings and clubs. For example, the 1849 map shows that walking up Mosley Street from St. Peter's Square you would pass the Custom House, College Buildings, Manchester Royal Institution, Mosley Street Chapel, Portico Library, The Assembly Rooms and the Royal Hotel. Halfway along Mosley Street where Nicholas Street intersects was the Union Club. Today a dull office block, back then a grand club comprising a a library, coffee room, washing room, reading, still room and most importantly, a bar. Note the Seven Oaks, seen above, is not in existence in 1849.

The Union Club, Nicholas Street, 1849. (c) Alan Godfrey Maps [1].

1. Manchester City Centre 1849, Alan Godfrey Maps (2008).

Monday 20 September 2010

Granada Studios Staff Bar, Great John Street

Great John Street Hotel, formerly Granada Studios Staff Bar. (c) googlemaps.

Now a trendy 5-star hotel called the Great John Street Hotel, this place was originally a Victorian School House. When the neighbouring Granada Studios was in its prime - it's half-empty, shabby state suggests otherwise these days - this building was the Granada Staff Bar. Its proximity to the huge brown monolith with its famous red signage is evident in the below snap.

Great John Street Hotel, formerly Granada Studios Staff Bar. (c) googlemaps.

This is from an article on "Granadaland" on David Nolan's MySpace page:

"The first day I started at Granada I went to the Granada staff bar at lunchtime. Little was to change on that front as far as I was concerned for the next 13 years. At the bar (now the swanky Great John Street Hotel) I saw and heard old hands at the TV game. These grizzled veterans warned me that telly was all shit now (this was 1995) and that it wasn't a patch on their day. I always vowed I'd never turn into one of those guys; that I would look to the future not harp on about the past."

The bar in the hotel gives an indication as to what it might have been like to have a dinner time pint or three in here during a break from filming, researching or whatever else the Granada employees used to get up to during its heyday.

Great John Street Hotel bar. (c) laterooms.

Saturday 18 September 2010

Bedale's Arms, Chester Street

Former site of Bedale's Arms, Chester Street. (c) googlemaps.

Just north east of the Princess Road Mancunian Way roundabout, Chester Street once extended westwards, and between Newcastle Street and Medlock Street on the north side of the street was the Bedale's Arms. The pub was named after the tiny street / alleyway on which it stood, Bedale Street. Slater's 1848 Directory recorded the Bedale's Arms Tavern at 38 Chester Street run by Daniel Smith [1].

1. Hulme 1844, Alan Godfrey Maps (2007).

George Inn, Medlock Street


Former site of George Inn, Medlock Street. (c) googlemaps.

Back up River Street from the old British Standard and where it meets Medlock Street was the George Inn, today a Premier Travel Inn. The 1844 map has the 1848 Slater's Directory on its rear which lists William Bromley as proprietor of the George Inn at 44 Medlock Street [1]. Note the unfinished building in the right-distance - an eyesore which has stood skeletal for years now, a canvas for Manchester's grafitti artists and a reminder of the effect of the recession on Manchester's modern re-building programme.

1. Hulme 1844, Alan Godfrey Maps (2007).

Bridgewater Arms, Medlock Street

Further along the now lost Clarendon Street, away from Oxford Road and the Kings Arms, where Clarendon Street met Medlock Street, was the Bridgewater Arms on the corner [1]. Its exact spot was literally right beneath the Mancunian Way: think between "Elevated" and "Road" in the below map. The Bridgewater Arms was at 117 Medlock Street and licensee was Ambrose Johnson in 1844 [1].

Former site of Bridgewater Arms, Medlock Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Hulme 1844, Alan Godfrey Maps (2007).

Kings Arms, Lower Chatham Street

Clarendon Street, along with many others, has been lost beneath the Manchester Metropolitan University, as shown in red on the map below, just south and parallel to Chester Street.  The 1844 map shows that Lower Chatham Street extended further south than it does today as shown.  On the corner of Clarendon Street and Lower Chatham Street was the Kings Arms as shown in blue below.  This area is now covered by a nondescript low rise university building.

Location of Kings Arms, Lower Chatham Street. (c) googlemaps.

The 1844 and 1894 maps [2] both show the Kings Arms.  Firstly, the 1844 map shows the Kings Arms (centre) on the same block as the Chorlton Union Oakam Works (a small yard to its rear).  Oakum was tarred rope used in maritime industries, and was often made from "picked oakum" coming from prisons and workhouses where inmates had to pick oakum as punishment.  There were five back-to-back properties backing onto the pub.  Two doors down from the Kings Arms, over Back Billington Street, was Clarendon Street School (Welsh C....... Methodist Sunday School, upper storey).  This block and the one next to it were composed of only back-to-back dwellings.


Kings Arms, Lower Chatham Street. (c) Alan Godfrey Maps [1].

The 1894 map shows a slight improvement to the surroundings of the Kings Arms.  The Oakum Works had gone but so had the school, while the dreaded back-to-backs remained.  The Chatham Mills can be seen at the top of the shot, their closeness to the Kings Arms suggesting that workers from there would have used the pub, as it was the closest one to the mill.  The mills were for processing cotton waste and there was also a small foundry next to it (left of shot) - sounds like thirsty work.


Kings Arms, Lower Chatham Street. (c) Alan Godfrey Maps [1].

The Kings Arms opened some time in the 1830s around the same time as the George VI (still known today as the Lass O'Gowrie) when Chorlton-on-Medlock was then known as Chorlton Row [3].  The pub was kept by John Dohery from Roscommon in 1911.  John's daughter was Alicia, whose maternal granddaughter, Mary, supplied this information.  The Kings Arms, No.10 Lower Chatham Street, closed in 1961 as a Manchester Brewery and then Wilsons house [3], when the University expanded.

1. Hulme 1844, Alan Godfrey Maps (2007).
2. Manchester (SW) 1894, Alan Godfrey Maps (2008).
3. The Old Pubs of Hulme & Chorlon-on-Medlock, Bob Potts (1997).

Lord Stanley, Ormond Street

Before the Manchester Metropolitan University came to this part of town, Lower Ormond Street used to be known simply as Ormond Street and it extended further south of Cheste Street. On the corner of Chester Street and Ormond Street was the Lord Stanley, an end terrace in what was a short row of the dreaded back-to-backs. There was hundreds, nay thousands of back-to-backs in this area as shown on the 1844 map of Hulme [1]. The exact spot where the Lord Stanley stood was at this near side of this MMU tower.

Former site of Lord Stanley, Ormond Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. Hulme 1844, Alan Godfrey Maps (2007).

Clarendon Inn, Clarendon Street


Clarendon Inn, Clarendon Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. (c) Bob Potts [1].

Before the building of the Manchester Metropolitan University on Oxford Road, Clarendon Street used to run just south of and parallel to Chester Street [2]. On the corner with Oxford Road stood the Clarendon Inn, a grand looking pub, shown here in 1958.  Its precise location would have been just where the main entrance is to Manchester Metropolitan University is today, at No.1 Clarendon Street.  The Clarendon was run by John Spencer according to the 1848 Slater's Directory [2], and it closed in 1964 as a Wilsons house [3].

Former location of Clarendon Inn, Oxford Road (Clarendon Street). (c) Google 2011. View Larger Map.

1. The Old Pubs of Chorlton-on-Medlock, Bob Potts (1984). 
 2. Hulme 1844, Alan Godfrey Maps (2007).
3. The Old Pubs of Hulme and Chorlton-on-Medlock, Bob Potts (1997).

Guest Pub - Wenlock Arms, London


Wenlock Arms, Wenlock Road, Hoxton, London. (c) fancyapint.

A new one for us as we've never been in here (though must have been close during our Angel-to-Highbury pub crawl last May) but when news reached us of the Wenlock Arm's impending demise it brought to mind our very own Crown & Cushion. Both pubs are off the beaten track, but while the Crown & Cushion is a big old city pub run by a family brewer, the Wenlock is a small, single-roomed, backstreet local's boozer specialising in up to 10 ever-changing real ales.

Wenlock Arms bar. (c) gettothepub.

The interior remains resolutely pre-war, although the old boys and cockney knees-up regulars are joined by student, hip locals and real ale boffins giving the place a relaxed atmosphere. The Wenlock can be traced back to 1836 (so not quite as old as the Crown & Cushion) as the Wenlock brewery tap, and although it was shut for a period, it reopened in 1994 as a real ale haven. Since then it has won several awards and is North London CAMRA's pub of the region. Sadly the rumours that it is to close in October-November and be demolished for redevelopment of the area appear to be true. See the CAMRA discussion and campaign blog for full details.

Wenlock Arms interior (c) Marianthi Makra / gettothepub.

Unlike the with Crown & Cushion, which may be lost without much of a whimper, the residents of Hoxton, Shoreditch and Islington are putting up a fight by challenging the local council and redevelopers. The next few months will be interesting to follow in the campaign to save one of London's classic ale pubs. Good luck...

CAMRA discussion: http://forum.camra.org.uk.

Friday 17 September 2010

St David's Tavern, Back Quay Street

As seen in the Three Sugar Loaves Tavern entry, Back Quay Street barely exists these days except for a nondescript short path. At the other end of Back Quay Street in 1848 was St David's Tavern, on the corner of Young Street [1]. It's difficult to imagine now but the pub stood just about here on this corner as shown below, which is now classed as Young Street.

Former site of St David's Tavern, Back Quay Street (now Young Street). (c) googlemaps.

1. New Bailey & Ordsall Lane 1848, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Old Quay Tavern, Water Street


Former site of Old Quay Tavern, Water Street. (c) googlemaps.

Beneath what is now New Quay Street which branches off Quay Street and passes from Manchester to Salford over the Irwell, were Grindle Street and Cobden Street, linking Young Street with Water Street. On the corner of Cobden Street and Water Street was the Old Quay Tavern as seen on the 1848 map [1]. It is listed as Water Street but the map suggests its entrance was on Cobden Street. Opposite the pub was Water Street Hat Manufactory and the Old Quay Mills from where it took its name. It was only about 10 doors up Water Street from the Three Sugar Loaves Tavern, but in the 1850 Slater's Directory the Old Quay Tavern is not listed, so may have ceased trading in the couple of years in between.

1. New Bailey & Ordsall Lane 1848, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).

Three Sugar Loaves Tavern, Water Street

This question from Mark on the Pineapple, Water Street entry led us to the 1848 Ordnance Survey Town Plans map of the area either side of the River Irwell [1]. The snap below shows that the Three Sugar Loaves Tavern was not where the Pineapple once stood.

Three Sugar Loaves Tavern, Water Street, 1848. (c) Alan Godfrey Maps [1].

Marked in red, the Three Sugar Loaves was on the corner of the Manchester side of Water Street and the north side Back Quay Street. The pub was on the end of a row of six dwellings, double fronted with a rear yard or small court accesible off Back Quay Street. Further up Water Street on the same side and on the north corner of Cobden Street is the Old Quay Tavern (highlighted in blue). Down Water Street from the Three Sugar Loaves is the Drover & Pine Apple Inn, next to the New Botany Yard Warehouse - our modern day Pineapple. In the 1850 Slater's directory Frederick Daniels is named at 103 Water Street, Three Sugar Loaves Tavern [1]. Frederick Daniels is Mark's relative in question, but although the ancestory records show a same-named passing away at the Three Sugar Loaves Tavern in 1875, this was actually Frederick Snr's son.


By overlaying the 1848 map with a present day map, the exact site of the Three Sugar Loaves can be seen.

Water Street 1848 and today. (c) Alan Godfrey Maps [1] & googlemaps.

Back Quay Street is now nothing more than a short path, as New Quay Street now passes through the area behind the Three Sugar Loaves, which was a warren of short streets such as Pitt Street, Wright Street, Back Wright Street, Grindle Street and Cobden Street. The pub stood pretty much where the trees area just to the left of the path (Back Quay Street).

Former site of Three Sugar Loaves Tavern, Water Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. New Bailey & Ordsall Lane 1848, Alan Godfrey Maps (2009).