Kings Arms / Vine Tavern, Ellor Street

Kings Arms, Ellor Street, Hanky Park, Salford. (c) Tony Flynn [1].

In the early 1850s the Vine Tavern opened on the corner of Albion Place and Ellor Street, Hanky Park, just a few doors east of Hankinson Street, which gave the area its name.  Apparently, you might not have been considered a true 'Hanky Parker' if you lived on Ellor Street; you had to live on Hankinson Street itself [1].  However, the Vine Tavern, soon to be renamed the Kings Arms at some point after the 1870s under licensees Charles and George Crapper, was popular with Hanky Parkers, who knew it as Crapper's.  Thomas Casewell took over the beerhouse by 1910, followed by Alfred Casewell in the '30s, and the Kings Arms was duly nicknamed Casewell's.  A compulsory purchase order was issued to the now Tetley's house in 1959 (pictured above in 1961), and Casewell's lasted until 1964 until it had to make way for major redevelopments [2]. 

Tony Flynn tells some fine tales about Casewell's in 'Hanky Park' [1]. Local bricklayer, Sam Gill, who liked a drink, would go straight to the boozer after work most nights.  His wife, Agnes, got fed up of this on a fourth night on a row and stormed off to to Casewell's to teach him a lesson.  She shovelled his tea into a carrier bag and plonked it down on the bar, saying he needn't bother coming home for it.  That didn't stop Sam and he stayed supping all night and was helped home by the barmaid.  On another occasion Sam marched into the bar of the Brass Handles (Royal Oak), announcing "Drinks all round, on me!", and then snuck out to Casewell's while there was a mad rush to the bar [1].  If you draw a line west from the bit of Ellor Street that still survives, the Kings Arms was close to where it would meet Hankinson Way.

1. Hanky Park, Tony Flynn (1990).

2. Salford Pubs Part Three: Including Cross Lane, Broad Street, Hanky Park, the Height, Brindleheath, Charlestown and Weaste, Neil Richardson (2003).