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.
The Crown was facing m.e.m but I'm sure Assize courts was further up past Boddies brewery heading out of town toward Broughton.The Crown was a top pub where all the long haired lads congregated.Me included.I was there mid 60s to late 60s.Dont remember it as a bikers pub tho but could be wrong.Used to go in when we got pass out from Jung Frau.Also been in Assize Courts.
ReplyDeleteM.e.n sorry
ReplyDeleteYes, it was quite a bit further up from the Crown, as evidenced from old OS maps. Between the Crown and the Assize there was the Ducie Arms and the Royal Oak.
ReplyDeleteThe Assize was in front of boddies Brury on the main road it was my grandads pub
ReplyDeleteyes my dad had it about 1960
ReplyDelete