Fatted Calf (as the Lacy Arms), Cromford Court, 1960. (c) Levy Boy.
The
Fatted Calf was found in
Cromford Court, one of the narrow passages off Corporation Street where the
Arndale Centre was built over. There are two evocative shots of the Fatted Calf at the archives, in
1910 and
1959. This old pub has some history. It's claimed that the National Union of Journalists was founded here. William Newman Watts was the first NUJ general secretary until his death in 1918, based at the Manchester Evening News, and their first president was chief reporter for the Manchester Guardian. Manchester had the largest NUJ branch in the early days, when all national newspapers had offices in the city [1].
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Lacy Arms (inside the Star & Garter), 1960. (c) Levy Boy.
It also featured in the 1960 film,
Hell Is A City, as the fictitous Lacy Arms, right down the so-called
Higgits Passage. The film featured inside shots of the Lacy Arms, but to further complicate matters, these were actually taken at the still-serving Star & Garter over on Fairfield Street near Piccadilly Station. The Fatted Calf is one of many pubs lost beneath the monstrosity that is the Arndale Centre, an area that used to contain some of Manchester's most characterful streets, shops, cafes, clubs and pubs.
1. www.mancubist.co.uk/2007/01/02/the-nuj-and-its-manchester-origins.
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re The top picture.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere in that passage by the side of The Fatted Cow was there a wooden staircase that went up to a bar. If so, what was it called.
I have a hazy memory of using it on a couple of occasions in the early 50s.
Please tell me it's not just a fantasy.
Regards,Alan j Roberts, ex Lower Broughton
I used to be a regular at the Fatted Calf in the late forties and early fifties and no way was there a staircase in that passage from Market Street to Crompton Court.
ReplyDeleteYou may be thinking of Liston's Bar in Swan Court. You had to climb stairs there to get to the bar.
Before the Arndale, The Fatted Calf could be accessed from what seemed to be an ordinary shop doorway on the north side of Market Street. This led down a narrow passage into a triangular court. My dad warned me that it was a violent pub where "You walked in forwards and walked out backwards." When I visited in the early sixties those days had well gone.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, Liston's Bar was down a wider passageway and then up a wooden staircase - on the same side of Market Street but nearer High Street.
the stairs lead up to the living quarters my granddad herbert taylor had a big bulldog called buller, i hated that dog. im susan taylor daughter of jimmy, herberts son
DeleteThe wifes uncle herbert taylor was landlord of the fatted calf at the time they filmed hell is a city.
ReplyDeleteim his brothers daughter -susan
DeleteWas the scene in Hell Is A City really filmed in the Star and Garter? I've seen the film and the entrance into the "Lacey Arms" through a corner door was all done in one shot. Was this the magic of celluloid? Although it does look very much like the Star and Garter the layout isn't correct.
ReplyDeleteI'm the granddaughter of Herbert Taylor i remember well visiting the pub as a small child, would be interesting to know who the niece is ?????
ReplyDeletemy father was Jimmy Taylor Herbert's son
DeleteI also remember them going on to own the Star Inn in Ashton Under Lyne and the The Cricketers
ReplyDeleteDid anyone use this pub in the fifties the landlord was called David Thorpe?
ReplyDeletethe landlord in the fifties was Herbert Taylor - he was my grandfather i was born 1954 and i remember being taken there at a very young age maybe 2-ish
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