Aunt's Bar, Oxford Road, Chorlton-on-Medlock, 1966. (c) Bob Potts [1].
A couple of doors down from the Clarendon Inn was Aunty's Bar, pictured above in 1966, around the time that the Mancunian Way opened, as seen in the distance. Aunty's Bar was just one of the many pubs around this part of Oxford Road that were lost in 1969 when the Manchester Metropolitan University expanded. The premises was previously known as Burton Ale Stores before 1931, which sounds like more of an off-trade place than a pub. From 1931-1969 as Aunty's Bar it was a Thomas Salt, Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton and Tetley's house [2].
Aunty's Bar was known as the Irish Labour Exchange by locals, as Irishmen could obtain employment there off the cuff with Irish building trade sub-contractors. While welcoming to the Irish, the permanent handwritten "No Women" sign between the inner doors [2] hinted at a less than tolerant attitude in here! The former location of Aunty's Bar was where this MMU building stands.
Former location of Aunty's Bar, Oxford Road. (c) Google 2014. View Larger Map.Aunty's Bar was known as the Irish Labour Exchange by locals, as Irishmen could obtain employment there off the cuff with Irish building trade sub-contractors. While welcoming to the Irish, the permanent handwritten "No Women" sign between the inner doors [2] hinted at a less than tolerant attitude in here! The former location of Aunty's Bar was where this MMU building stands.
1. The Old Pubs of Chorlton-on-Medlock, Bob Potts (1984).
2. The Old Pubs of Hulme and Chorlton-on-Medlock, Bob Potts (1997).
