Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Golden Lion, Rochdale Road

Golden Lion, Rochdale Road, Harpurhey. (c) Bob Potts [1].

The Golden was Harpurhey's oldest pub, first licensed in 1790 according to the 'Alehouse Recognizances.'  It was rebuilt in Victorian times and Chesters took over in 1900 [1].  The Golden Lion is seen in better days in 1958 (note the Lion Garage next door), 1968 and then in 1971  (new high-rise flats in the background) after Whitbread took over the brewery and its pubs.

Former location of Golden Lion, Rochdale Road. (c) Be Proud Love Manchester.

The Golden Lion was sadly knocked down years ago leaving an unsightly empty plot of land in between Harpurhey Road and Pleasant Street, which looks onto the equally ugly maisonette flats off Kingsbridge Road.  There's a good colour  photo of the Golden Lion taken in 1992 by Alan Winfield after sampling the Chesters bitter on offer [2].

Former location of Golden Lion, Rochdale Road. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. The Old Pubs of Rochdale Road and neighbourhood Manchester, Bob Potts (1985).

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