Cross Lane in Salford used to have 18 pubs along its length from The Crescent and Liverpool Street. Now there are none, and only a few remain, sadly closed, such as the huge Paddock on the corner of Cross Lane and Ellor Street at the top end.
The Paddock's proximity to the old Manchester Racecourse explains its name and sign. The Paddock has been boarded up for maybe five or six years now, and in its later days had downsized somewhat with the large lounge not in use.
Paddock, Cross Lane, Salford. (c) weasteman at flickr.
When The Paddock was a still a thriving locals pub back in the day it was full of characters "...1979... Jack Shore, George Vernon, Jimmy Davies and Jim Hope... brilliant characters, all sadly missed, never to be replaced, as is this once great Salford pub [1]."
Paddock, Cross Lane, Salford, 1990. (c) deltrems at flickr.
This aerial shot of the area shows where McDonald's is today, with the Paddock top left.
Huge Paddock was great on Round the Horne.
ReplyDeleteYou might be over-egging the Manchester Racecourse connection. The pub was called the Fusiliers until around 1970 - the racecourse closed in 1963, the year Lester Piggott won the Manchester Cup on Espresso. (Having said that, the pub was briefly known as the Horse and Jockey around the 1870s.)
ReplyDeleteWas a favourite watering hole with REAL Boddingtons Ale, between 1973 and 76 when I was at Salford University. At the time my bedroom was decorated with beer mats and the landlord of the Paddock gave me some Swales Oatmeal Stout ones he had found in the cellar. I remember the Manchester "log end" dartboard and the elderly barmaid Lil. R.I.P. The Paddock.
ReplyDeleteMy gran and grandad were landlord/landlady for over 20 years from 70s Nellie and George Jones.
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DeleteMy gran and (step) grandad were landlord/landlady before that (until at least 1966 that I know of) - David and Ellen Harsley (formerly Walsh nee McCarthy).
DeleteYes that's when my Gran & Grandad were landlord/Lady...Happy memories
DeleteWhat year did paddock shut
ReplyDeleteI used to sell shellfish in the pubs along Cross Lane when I was 17-18 in 1963-1964. Most were rough but friendly, welcoming pubs until it all "kicked off" when I'd park my basket under a table by a wall and wait until the fight was over.
ReplyDeleteI made good money along the Lane and always bought a half pint of Guinness and asked permission of before I sold. My manners were appreciated and I saw other sellers unceremoniously chucked out if they just walked in and tried to sell.
Running between the pubs kept me nearly sober but after closing time I faced a long walk back to base at the railway arches at the bottom of Deansgate, carrying jingling money just when some men were broke, drunk and feeling mean.
I was lucky and never got robbed although I was ready for it to happen at any time.
I was vocalist with a group called the Lysanders. We had a weekend booking at the Fusiliers at a time when many local groups played there. I can distinctly remember the draught beer as being awful and we sometimes went to the Grapes next door for a decent pint !
ReplyDeleteI was in a group and we sometimes rehearsed at the Fusiliers. The landlord used to charge us 7/6. He had a bad stutter so we used to ask him how much we owed every time - cruel I know but we were just lads. He'd start saying 'sss ssss sss three arf crowns'. Still laugh 60 years later. The beer was awful. Happy days.
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