Pubs of Manchester

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

Thursday 26 September 2013

Woolpack, Eccles Old Road

Woolpack, Eccles Old Road, Salford. (c) NAH1952 at flickr [1].

The original Woolpack used to stand at the junction of Bolton Road and Eccles Old Road, Pendleton, and can be traced back to 1786.  The pub used to have a bowling green and tea gardens which opened in 1829, and the Woopack offered "the very best wines and spirits, London bottled and draught porter and excellent home brewed ale [2]."  At this time there was a turnpike for the Eccles Old Road here and there was a horse's water trough outside the Woolpack.

Woolpack, Eccles Old Road, Salford. (c) Neil Richardson & Tony Flynn [3].

By the end of the 19th century the Woolpack was comprised of an original three-storey building with a two-storey extension on the Eccles Old Road side.  At this time the pub was advertising Hardy's Celebrated Ales but in 1905 Walkers & Homfray took over.  They renovated the pub, tiling the front and adding the distinctive black and white timber detail [2].

Woolpack, Eccles Old Road, Salford. (c) Neil Richardson [2].

Landlord of the newly refurbished Woolpack was Robert Valentine, then a Manchester United player, and he relaid the bowling green and built a bowling house out the back.  The Woolpack passed to Wilsons Brewery and it closed in September 1966, but just four years later a new Woolpack was opened down on Meyrick Road on the new estate [2].  The spot where the old Woolpack stood has been swallowed up by the Eccles Old Road - Broad Street - Bolton Road junction.

2. Salford's Pubs Part Three: Including Cross Lane, Broad Street, Hanky Park, the Height, Brindleheath, Charlestown and Weaste, Neil Richardson (2003).
3. Salford's Pubs 1, Neil Richardson & Tony Flynn (1978).

5 comments:

  1. Very nice information in this article has been posted.
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    ReplyDelete
  2. We used to go outside before Bonfire Night, getting money with our "Penny for the Guy". A nationwide famous landmark gone but never forgotten.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have just found an old business card from this hotel in the name of Fred Roth. There is a photo of the hotel on the card & this shows a decorative storey above what is shown in these photos. Telephone number given on the card is PEN 2784 which might date it. I would like to find a good home for this photo card, please contact me if you can do this - Mike

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Theirs a Salford history site on Facebook would you be able to take a photo of it and put it on there you may get some response

      Delete
  4. Re: above about the old photo/card: You can email me at
    michealgoldsmith@btinternet.com
    Please note the spelling of micheal & not michael

    ReplyDelete