St Johns Tavern / Coffin Polish, Hardman Street, 1912. (c) Frank Heaton/Neil Richardson [1].
Officially St Johns Tavern, this local's pub was known as the Coffin Polish due to the nearby coffin shop. It was situated at the bottom end of Hardman Street and ran by a Mrs MacDonald and is shown in The Manchester Village on the corner of Young Street as a Walker's Warrington Ales house. In keeping with the times, the Coffin Polish had separate rooms for men and women, but did let in the local Irish lodgers from the nearby Biddy's lodging house on Gartside Street, unlike other many pubs in the area. The Irish used to hold beer drinking competitions with the locals, organised by the next-door-but-one bookies. Jack Green remembers: "Men sat at a table and they were brought the pints, which they drank in their own time. If someone jibbed or was sick, he lost. They were allowed to go to the toilet but somebody had to go with them to see they weren't sick. My grandfather was one of the top men - he could drink. My father's brother Joe was also a heavy drinker - he could knock back 20 or 25 pints a night. [1]". And we're told that binge drinking is a problem these days (more than three pints is considered a "binge" according to made-up government guidelines)!
1. The Manchester Village: Deansgate Remembered, Frank Heaton/Neil Richardson (1995).
the 1911 census summary shows a Mrs McDonald living at 79 Hardman street so that concurs with the above
ReplyDeleteMrs McDonald was my Great Great Grandmother. It is lovely to see a picture of the actual Pub.
ReplyDeleteMrs McDonald is one of my near relatives too. I know about the pub and the family. My grandma is part of the McDonald family and used to live there with her Auntie.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanette,
DeleteWas your Grandma Carrie McDonald?
Pauline
Hi Pauline. My Nana is Mary Thompson who is cousin to Carrie. My Great Grandma (Mary Thompson's Mum) Mary Ellen McDonald was Carrie's Auntie. Carrie lived at the pub with her Gradnma Mary Ann McDonald. I'd love you to keep in touch.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteMy Nan was Elizabeth Ellen McDonald and she was Carrie McDonald's eldest sister. Your Nana Mary Thompson would have been my Nan's cousin as well. My Nan and family would often talk about the pub and it is lovely to find an actual picture of it.
Hi Pauline,
DeleteIt's lovely to hear from you. We have pics of the pub and Carrie. One may even have your Nan on. Keep in touch.
Hi Jeanette,
DeleteI'm not sure if my Nan would be on one of pictures. I have pictures of Carrie which came to me when 2 of my Mum's sisters died. Also have one of Carrie with her sisters Nellie and Mary Ann. They look to be around 20 years of age when take which is lovely. Do you have that one. Has the red hair come out in your family. My Nan was always looking for it in her children and grandchildren.
Pauline
I haven't got that picture. The photo I have has my Nana as a baby, her Mum Ellen, her Mum Mary Ann and four girls at the back. One is definitely Carrie. My mum and uncles remember Auntie Mary and Nellie (Carrie's sisters) very fondly and used to spend time with them. My mum went to school with Nellie's granddaughter (Christine). We didn't realise that Carrie, Mary, nellie and Elizabeth were all sisters.do you live in the greater manchester area as I do?
ReplyDeleteHi Janette,
ReplyDeleteAuntie Mary and Auntie Nellie use to visit my Nan quite often. I remember going with my mum and dad to Salford to visit them when I was young. No I don't live in Manchester. My Nan's first husband died in the first world war after only 6 months of marriage. She moved to the Wirral after her marriage to her 2nd husband, my granddad, from Manchester as my Grandad got a job with Cammell Lairds Shipbuilders. This is probably why you may not have been aware of my Nan as she moved away. Hilda, Christine's mum was my mum's cousin and she use to come to visit from Manchester as well. My mum is the only one of her 7 siblings still alive now.
Hello Pauline,
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from you. What a sad but lovely story about your Nan. My Nan's Mum, Mary Ellen, died when she was 10. Hannah brought her and her siblings up and their Dad lived just down the street and seen them everyday. The red hair has appeared! My Nan had red hair and 2 of her grandsons have it too! Do keep in touch it's so lovely to find family.
Hello Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteYes as you say it is lovely to find family. I have often wondered about my Nan's dad's family and whether there were any living in Manchester. I wonder if your mum and family ever heard Auntie Mary and Auntie Nellie talking about Cissie as this is the name that they gave her and it stuck with her all her life. This is because when their mum died my Nan was 9 years old and as the eldest sister she became like a mum to her brother and sisters. This is why Carrie went to live with her grandparents as she was only a baby and their dad couldn't look after her and work. The pub seems to have been a haven for a few McDonald children who lost their mums. They were so lucky to have grandparents and Aunt to take them in.
Keep in touch.
Pauline
Hi Pauline, in answer to your question my Uncle Charley remembers Auntie Mary often taking him to Cissie's - he remembers Cissie's son, will this be your Dad? I didn't even know my Uncle knew this!!! Was Cissie's Mum called Harriet? I ask this as my Mum saw a medium when she was only 16 and she told her Harriet was cleaning away for her. My Mum didn't know her but was told to go home and ask her Mum. My Nan knew of her immediately and said she used to clean the pub! Take care and keep in touch Jeanette.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteMy mum is one of Cissie's daughters, however, she had 4 brothers and 2 sisters. I would think your Uncle Charley may be remembering my Mum's oldest brother Alfred although of course it could have been one of the other brothers. My Nan's mum's name was Mary Ann she died of TB at the age of 33 years of age. Her dad was Mary Ellen McDonald's brother John Robert but was known as Daddy Bob to his grandchildren although my mum can't really remember him as she was very young when he died. Keep in touch.
Pauline
Hello Pauline, my uncle thinks he remembers one of your uncles, he thinks it could be Tommy? He also remembers the family talking fondly of Daddy Bob! It's bringing back lovely memories for him. Did your Nan have a brother called Teddy as my uncle Charley remembers a big photo of him in Aunty Mary's house. Me and my sister and her husband will probably be on the Wirral over summer. Would you like to possibly meet up? Take care and keep in touch i love hearing from you.
ReplyDeleteHello Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteYes, Tommy was the youngest of Cissie's children. My mum was the second youngest. Sadly, Uncle Tommy died many years ago. My Mum is the only child of Cissie's still alive and she is 87 yrs now. Teddy was my Nan's brother Edward. He and Aunty Mary lived with their dad. She must have put the photo on the wall after he died. Yes, it would be nice to meet up. Keep in touch.
Pauline
Hiya Pauline,
ReplyDeleteAw that would be great to meet up! I'll put some dates on for you to think about. Would meeting at Cheshire Oaks or Port Sunlight be ok for you? What do you think? Take care we can't wait to see you. Keep in touch x
Hi Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteCheshire Oaks would be good. Let me know some dates. Yes it will be nice to meet up with lost cousins.
Pauline x
Hiya Pauline,
ReplyDeleteYes it would be nice to see long lost cousins! Here are some dates: Tues 1st, Fri 4th, Sat 5th, Wed 9th or Thurs 10th of August. We could meet at the statue of the woman with child outside the Ralph Lauren shop if you like. Which would be best morning about 10.30 or afternoon at about 1.30? Hope to see you soon take care xx Jeanette xx
Hi Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteFriday 4th August would be fine with me about 1.30 at the statue by Ralph Lauren. I will be with my husband. Look forward to seeing you then.
Pauline x
Hiya Pauline,
ReplyDeleteThat's great can't wait to meet you both. See you soon
Xx