Justice Birch, Hyde Road

Justice Birch, Hyde Road, West Gorton. (c) Manchester Local Image Collection. Click here to view full image [1].

Seen here in 1971 and a year later in 1972, the Justice Birch stood on Hyde Road in West Gorton.  Originally part of a row of shops and houses (below in 1891), in later years it was more isolated with only a 'Wash 'n' Shop' for company.

Justice Birch, Hyde Road. (c) Old Maps [2].

The Justice Birch was a Wilsons house and before closure, the Watney's signs appeared after the London brewer bought Newton Heath's Wilsons.  Despite that, next to the pub was a Chesters advert as seen in 1971 and a year later, an advert for 23 pence fags.

Former location of Justice Birch, Hyde Road. (c) Google 2014. View Larger Map.

The Justice Birch has a little place in history as the location of Gorton AFC's (forerunners of Manchester City) first annual dinner on 20th April 1885 [3]. Today the old location of the pub, No.177 Hyde Road [4], is marked by the new flats between Pottery Lane and Clowes Street.

1. http://images.manchester.gov.uk.

2. www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html.

3. www.manchesterorange.co.uk/History/st-marks-church-manchester-city-orange-order.

4. www.pubhistory.co.uk/Lancashire/ManchesterJ/JusticeBirchHotel.shtml.