Papermakers Arms, Clifden Place, Higher Broughton, 1973. By Stanley Horrocks, with kind permission and (c) Rose Horrocks.
The
Papermakers Arms on Clifden Place in Higher Broughton is shown here in glorious 1970s colour thanks to Rose Horrocks and the late Stanley Horrocks (1922-2005), serviceman, policeman, Reverend and Salford historian. Stanley took dozen of photos of Salford during the 1970s, '80s and '90s, including many pubs, which he saw as landmarks of his community. Taking a closer look at this photo of a sunny Salford day in 1973, we can see a group of younger gents gathered outside deep in conversation, what must be a mother and son passing by the pub, and a curious old gentleman who couldn't resist popping outside from his pint of Greenalls to see what the fuss was about.
Papermakers Arms, Clifden Place, 1973. By Stanley Horrocks, with kind permission and (c) Rose Horrocks.
Another key keeper of Salford's social history, the late Paul Wilson takes up the story. In it's early days, the CAMRA magazine, What's Doing, featured a few Salford pub crawls. In May 1976 they visited Higher Broughton and while they enjoyed calling at the Star, Church, Sun, Post Office and Dover; there was no doubt as to the pub of the day. Jem Callaghan wrote: "The next pub, the Papermakers Arms, is a real gem - almost a find for it is so well concealed. It stands almost alone in a derelict area down Back Roman Road some two or three hundred yards from the Sun. To somebody not from the area, it seems to be a typical Manchester pub. Three rooms separated from one another by a narrow corridor, all with plain seats and tables and all small enough to seem crowded with a half-dozen regulars in. Etched glass, tiled corridors, wood panelling around the bar. The Greenall Whitley mild and bitter served through metered electric pumps are as good as any I've tasted and the landlord and landlady are both very friendly."
"Sadly, the Papermakers is due for demolition in about a years time. It seems hard to understand why, the local trade is not huge, but the area must surely be due for new housing from which trade would benefit. To the planners in brewery and Council it no doubt seems like an ordinary pub the licence of which could probably be transferred to somewhere newer and brighter with plastic and stainless steel replacing the wood and porcelain. But to those who have an interest in where they drink as well as what they drink, its passing would be as sad as that of the Derby to which in some ways it is similar. Will we see a new Phoenix like the tasteless House That Jack Built emerge from the ashes of this old fashioned characterful pub?"
Papermakers Arms, Clifden Place, Broughton. (c) Neil Richardson [2].
The National Front graffiti on the wall outside the Papermakers Arms in the 1970s (yes, it really does say "NF - GET NATIVES OUT") has tactfully been airbrushed out in the version in Neil Richardson's book [2]. It's a sobering reminder of the backward values that existed even in the more enlightened areas of the country so recently. Clifden Place was a row of about 10 houses that overlooked the Broughton Grove Mill on the boundary of Manchester and Salford, just to the east of Bury New Road. The last property, on the corner of Back Roman Road, was turned into a beerhouse in 1869, the Papermakers Arms.
Papermakers Arms, Clifden Place, Broughton. (c) Neil Richardson [2].
The Papermakers Arms extended into next door in 1891 and Groves & Whitnalls owned it by the new century. It passed to Greenall Whitley and remained standing until after the mill was demolished and the houses around become derelict. Shown in the the 1970s when the houses were empty, the Papermakers Arms lasted until 1978 [2]. Clifden Place was eventually swept away as this part of Brougton was redeveloped. These days
Appian Way snakes past the former site of the Papermakers, as shown on the map below, marked '9' [2], although Upper Camp Street and Grove Street still survive.
Papermakers Arms, Clifden Place, 1973. By Stanley Horrocks, with kind permission and (c) Rose Horrocks.
1. www.flickr.com/photos/61756486@N05.
2. Salford Pubs Part Three: Including Cross Lane, Broad Road, Hanky Park, the Height, Brindleheath, Charlestown and Weaste, Neil Richardson (2003).
