Royal Oak, Hankinson Street

Royal Oak, Hankinson Street, Hanky Park, Salford. (c) University of Salford:  Salford's history in photographs at BBC [1].

One of many forgotten boozers in the old Hanky Park area of Pendleton, the Royal Oak was on the corner of Rossall Street and the one that the gave the area its name, Hankinson Street, which ran south of Broad Street to Ellor Street.  It was nicknamed the 'Brass Handles', which obviously gave rise to the infamous and recently lost estate pub off the precinct, the Brass Handles.  The nickname came from improvements done to the beerhouse by Threlfalls Brewery when they placed a pair of brass handles on the corner door of the renovated beerhouse, which can be dated back to about 1860.  The Royal Oak lasted until January 1962 when it was closed due to the Ellor Street No.1 compulsory purchase order [2], which set the building of Pendleton Precinct in motion.  In the wonderfully evocative photo belonging to the University of Salford and displayed by this slideshow at the BBC, the old Brass Handles is seen in a classic 'island in a sea of rubble' shot during this clearance [1].  Hankinson Way is a reminder of where the original Hankinson Street once ran.

Royal Oak, Hankinson Street, Hanky Park, Salford. (c) Neil Richardson [2].

1. Salford's history in photographs - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12892037.
2. Salford Pubs Part Three: Including Cross Lane, Broad Street, Hanky Park, the Height, Brindleheath, Charlestown and Weaste, Neil Richardson (2003).