Grey Mare, Grey Street

Grey Mare, Grey Street, Ardwick. (c) John Briggs at Hulme, c.on.m, all saint, ardwick Facebook [1].

The Grey Mare Inn is pictured above, probably in 1971, in the shadow of the newly-built Coverdale Crescent flats, better known as Fort Ardwick.  Shown here in 1968, this evocative but sad photo also from 1968 shows how all the terraced houses had been flattened around it, while the Boddingtons house was spared after the flats were built by 1971.  It also shows us where the pub used to stand on Grey Street, which used to run along what is now no more than a path running off the eastern stub of the original street.  It's nice to think that the Grey Mare was spared in order that the builders of Fort Ardwick would have somewhere to drink after a hard days' graft.

Location of new Grey Mare, Exeter Close and old former Grey Mare, Grey Street. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

This may not be far from the truth in some cases.  Whenever mass slum clearance was carried out, the pubs tended to remain, often for just a short time (e.g. the Derby Arms, Ordsall), because - the story goes - demolition worked refused to touch them as they wanted somewhere to drink during and after their shift.  The fact that the original Grey Mere was soon pulled down and replaced with a new-build estate pub of the same name may not support the theory in this instance.  The new Grey Mare on Exeter Street, shown here just after being built in 1972, has been closed for a number of years now but still stands, unlike Fort Ardwick.

Former new Grey Mare, Grey Street. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. www.facebook.com/groups/104526155529.

Greens Arms, Ashton New Road

Greens Arms, Ashton New Road, Clayton. (c) D.N. at ManMates Facebook [1].

The Greens Arms was a Wilsons house on the corner of Turner Street and Ashton New Road in Clayton, shown here thanks to ManMates Facebook [1].  While its larger neighbour has been pulled down, along with some of the old terraced houses immediately behind (though some remain standing derelict), the old Greens Arms is still in use today.

Greens Arms, Ashton New Road. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

The former pub is now the Yasmin Garden fully-licensed Indian restaurant.  The sign on the roof advertises 'Star Showbar' but there's no indication what this may be upstairs.  The old Greens Arms would have been well-placed to pick up match day traffic had it lasted into the 21st century and now the Droyslden tram passes the old pub.

Greens Arms, Ashton New Road. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map. 

1. www.facebook.com/ManMates.co.uk.

Moonrakers Inn, Chapel Street

Moonrakers Inn, Chapel Street, Salford. (c) Neil Richardson [1].

The Moonrakers Inn (118, below) was four doors along Chapel Street from Bolton Street and the Red Lion (120) which stood on that corner, with the Griffin (17) the other way along Chapel Street.  A former brushmaker's shop, the Moonrakers opened as a beerhouse in 1860, about the same time as the Volunteer opposite (119).  By 1891, then-owners Walker & Homfray brewery partially rebuilt the front elevation of what had been an 'antiquated, ancient and somewhat dilapidated structure', while incorporating the next door shop.  

Moonrakers Inn (118), Chapel Street. (c) Neil Richardson [1].

The new Moonrakers featured in the play "Hobson's Choice" in the 1920s, which led directly to a successful wine licence application.  After all, in said play, Mr Hobson went in the Moonrakers 'for an evening glass of wine to think things over'.  However, in 1938 magistrates and police ruled that the licence was no longer needed as there were no customers in at 9pm on a Wednesday, and only 10 on a Friday.  The building was converted to a clothes shop and for its last few years was part of the Aligarh Restaurant from 1980 until it was demolished [1].

Former location of Moonrakers Inn, Chapel Street. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. Salford Pubs Part One: The Old Town, including Chapel Street, Greengate and the Adelphi, Neil Richardson (2003).

Trafford Park Hotel, Ashburton Road / Village Way

Trafford Park Hotel, Village Way, Trafford Park. Taken by Darren Lewis.

The Trafford Park Hotel opened in 1902 on the corner of Third Way and Ashburton Road in Trafford Park Village, which was built to house the workers of the newly created Trafford Park industrial estate.  This huge hotel is surely the finest building in Trafford Park, the world's first purpose-built industrial estate and still the largest in Europe.

Trafford Park Hotel, Ashburton Road. (c) Canal Archive [1].

A year after the Trafford Park Hotel opened, over 500 houses had been built around here so the hotel would have had plenty of locals, as well as visiting businessmen.  Schools and churches were built in 'The Village', which was modelled on the American grid system with numbered streets and avenues.  These days the houses have all-but gone, and although the Village's shops are busy during the week, almost all the residents have left.  

Trafford Park Hotel, Village Way. (c) Urbed [2].

Sadly the Trafford Park Hotel closed in 2009 and it remains unused, except fleetingly by a bunch of squatters and a marijuana grower which have made the local news in the last few years.  Disenfranchised Man United fans group, MUST, have also used the pub car park to screen big matches from the Old Trafford whilst selling real ale and cans.

Trafford Park Hotel, Village Way. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

The Trafford Park Hotel was listed by English Heritage in 1987 due to its magnificent renaissance style architecture.  Its red brick and terracotta frontage has parapets, pilasters and a grand clock tower [3], while the stone sign with globe detail is stunning.  Round the back the view is less impressive but there are pub benches in the yard and even in the car park itself.

Trafford Park Hotel, Village Way. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

Just along Third Avenue from the pub is a statue commemorating Marshall Stevens, general manager of the Manchester Ship Canal Company.  He became managing director of Trafford Park Estates in 1897 and is acknowledged as the founder of Trafford Park.  This memorial has had two previous locations; on the corner of Trafford Park Road and Ashburton Road, and at Wharfside Promenade, but it was relocated to this spot on the corner of Third Avenue and Eleventh Street in 2008 [4].

Trafford Park Hotel, Village Way. (c) Ed O'Keeffe [5].

It is unlikely that the Trafford Park Hotel will ever reopen as a public house or hotel (it is owned by the hapless Enterprise Inn, after all), but its Grade II protected status means it should remain here for some time yet.  Maybe conversion to offices - or even flats if people start to return to the Village in numbers - is about as good as it would get for this proud old building.

Trafford Park Hotel, Village Way, 2012. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. www.canalarchive.org.uk.

2. www.urbed.com/projects/trafford-park-baseline.

3. www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-212965-trafford-park-hotel-.

4. www.messengernewspapers.co.uk.

5. http://edwud.com/ed-okeeffe-photography.

Thatched House, Moston Lane

Thatched House, Moston Lane, Moston. (c) Alan Winfield with permission.

The Thatched House on Moston Lane is shown at the archives in 1959, 1968, 1971 and 1972 with its Jubilee signage - an unknown brewery around these parts, though it may have been bought up by Bass.

Thatched House, Moston Lane. (c) Pugh Auctions.

A few years ago the Thatched House was put up for auction, and the familiar Pub Co. "change of use" option was advertised. 

Thatched House, Moston Lane. (c) Pugh Auctions.

One positive about the old pub being offered for conversion is that the online auction gives us a look inside the boozer, showing the attempts that had been made to modernise before final closure.

Thatched House, Moston Lane. (c) Pugh Auctions.

The Thatched House offered a mix of old bench seating and modern wooden boards inside with a reasonable looking outdoor drinking area to the front overlooking what will soon be breakaway club, F.C. United's, new ground.

Thatched House, Moston Lane. (c) Pugh Auctions.

The aerial view on Google Maps shows the pub still open with its outdoor seating clearly visible.  However, zoom in to Street View and the Thatched House is no more.

Thatched House, Moston Lane. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

Two years ago permission was obtained to convert the Thatched House into two three residential dwellings [1].  Today it's hard to tell that these houses comprise an old pub that was still serving just a few years ago.

Former Thatched House, Moston Lane. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

Former Thatched House, Moston Lane. (c) Mouse Price / Hyde Estate Agents.

1. www.manchester.gov.uk/the_thatched_house_moston_lane.

Brown Cow, Woodward Street

Brown Cow, Woodward Street (looking down Butler Street), Miles Platting. (c) Mick Burke / Frank Heaton [1].

The Brown Cow, on the corner of Butler Street and Woodward Street, was originally licensed in the 1820s to the Pollard Street Brewery until Walker & Homfray took the firm over in 1929.  Mick Burke remembers the Brown Cow being frequented by the then notorious Whizz Gang from the Woodward Street area.  These were a gang of local criminals going by names such as "Flinka" (Alf Flynn - tobacco and cigarettes man) and "Reynolds" (Alfie Lacy - safe-breaker).  One Sunday night in the 1930s the Whizz Gang did over a Post Office on Ordsall Lane and nicked the safe.  Despite a huge police search it was never found, and rumour was that it had been dumped in the canal at Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath.  The robbery was the downfall of the Whizz Gang as they were caught selling stolen stamps in the Brown Cow [1].

Brown Cow, Woodward Street, Miles Platting. (c) Neil Richardson [2].

The Brown Cow was replaced by an estate pub of the same name in the 1960s when this part of Miles Platting and Ancoats was regenerated.  This is also long-closed, with the old pub fenced off and seemingly functioning as flats.


Former location of Brown Cow, Butler Street. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. Ancoats Lad, Mick Burke / Frank Heaton (1996).
2. The Old Pubs of Ancoats, Neil Richardson (1987).

Church Inn / Dick's Temperance Bar, St Luke Street

Church Inn, St Luke Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. (c) Bob Potts (1997).

The Church Inn on  at No.33 St Luke Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock was, unsurprisingly, named after St Luke's Church.  St Luke Street became Rutland Street, and the rectory next to the church was the old Chorlton Hall. The Church Inn is pictured as a Walkers of Warrington house over a century ago in 1912 in Bob Potts' book.   The Church Inn closed in 1927 but years later reopened as Dick's Temperance Bar [1].  The old location of the Church Inn / Dick's was roughly where the top end of Litcham Close is today, near the Mancunian Way.  This map of the Rutland Street area shows where St Luke's Church once stood and the path of the Mancunian Way today [2].

Former location location of Church Inn, Rutland Street. (c) g7uk [2].

1. The Old Pubs of Hulme and Chorlton-on-Medlock, Bob Potts (1997).

2. www.g7uk.com.

Moston, Hillier Street North

Moston, Hillier Street North, Moston, 1992. (c) Alan Winfield with permission.

The Moston, or Moston Hotel, pictured above in 1992 by Alan Winfield, and below in 2012 just after closure, looks like an odd but fairly modern estate boozer, mainly due to its roof which always reminds me of the Star estate pub in St George's, Hulme.  However, first appearances can be deceiving.

Moston, Hillier Street North. (c) Google 2012. View Larger Map [1].

The Moston is actually a much older building, and a survivor of the demolition that preceded the re-development of this part of western Moston on the Harpurhey border.  It pictured here at the archive in 1968 as a Threlfalls house from the lost Oak Street.  Hillier Street North was previously Hillier Street and before that, Hall Street.

Moston, Hillier, Moston. (c) Manchester Local Image Collection. Click here to view full image [2].

The cladding, roofing and realignment of Hillier Street (North) cannot disguise the old Moston if you look carefully at the window placements and corners of the building.  Hidden away behind that facade is the old brickwork and possibly some of the old signage.


Moston, Hiller Street North, 2013. (c) Pete Ainsworth with permission.

Perhaps this extract from the fascinating-sounding Electrical Review in 1973 concerns the transformation of the Moston:  "Extensions to Moston Hotel, Hillier Street, Moston, for Whitbread West Pennines Ltd. Plans by A. H. Brotherton & Partners, 20 Alderley Road, Wilmslow" [4].

Moston, Hillier Street North, Moston. (c) MEN [3].

Thanks to Pete Ainsworth who contacted us to point out the fact that the modern Moston - which is at risk if bought up by the wrong developers - is, in fact, the original Moston.  Pete remembers the pub in the early 1990s, after it has been closed for a while in the '80s due to trouble.  The modern smoking area out front used to be the pub car park.

Moston, Hillier Street North, Moston. (c) rightmove [5].

Prete emembers that the landlady, Anne Duffy, ran the pub well in the '90s and took no nonsense from the locals, and in this period, Alan Winfield recalls the decent Chesters mild that was on offer alongside its bitter.  Sadly, Anne left after an argument with the owners saw her depart for the Alliance Inn on Rochdale Road.

Moston, Hillier Street North, Moston. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

Trouble returned in the 2000s and after many landlords tried to make a go of it, the police and licensing authorities closed the pub down in April 2010 after fighting, drug-taking and gang activity [3].  The freehold had been sold for £564,000 in 2008 [5] but now the Moston stands boarded up and tatty, awaiting its fate.

Moston, Hillier Street North, Moston. (c) MEN [3].

1. http://manchester-estate-pubs.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/moston-hillier-street-north.html.

2. http://images.manchester.gov.uk.

3. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk.
4. The Electrical Review, 193(10-17):113.

5. www.rightmove.co.uk.

Mersey Hotel / Snooty Fox / Mersey Lights, Princess Road

Mersey Hotel, Princess Road, West Didsbury. (c) Frank Mitchell at Hulme, C.on.M., All Saints, Ardwick Facebook [1].

The Mersey Hotel was a huge interwar roadhouse pub on Princess Road between Chorlton and Didsbury in what I suppose is technically West Didsbury.  At the archive there are a couple of 1961 photos of the pub.  Here you can just make out the Groves & Whitnall sign; and this shows the proximity of the it to the still-standing neighbouring houses.

The Mersey Hotel became the Snooty Fox and then the Mersey Lights before it closed.  Towards the end it had something of a rough reputation and was also a popular stop-off point for coaches of away football fans to stop off and smash up before they hit the M56 motorway.  The nail in the coffin for the Mersey Lights was by traditional means - a mysterious fire which caused irreparable damage.

As the Pub Curmudgeon perceptively pointed out 10 years ago, visitors driving into Manchester from the M56 along Princess Road are these days met with a pub-free route through the city boundaries, since the demise of (from south-to-north) the Royal Thorn, Mersey Hotel, the Oaks and Princess (and a shyte brewery):

Large communities on either side of the main road are now more than half a mile from the nearest pub.  These pubs were not in blighted inner-city areas...  These oversized, echoing drinking barns probably never gave anyone much of a positive reason for visiting them and have now paid the price [2].

Former location of the Mersey Hotel, Princess Road. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. www.facebook.com/groups/104526155529.

2. www.pubcurmudgeon.org.uk/beer03/curm0309.html.

Druids Home, Silk Street

Druids Home, Silk Street, Salford. (c) Neil Richardson [1]

The Druids Home was on the corner of Ford Lane and Silk Street, opening in 1833.  Wilsons Brewery bought it in 1890 and within a decade rebuilt the beerhouse as the substantial building pictured above in 1965.  In the 1962 compulsory purchase scheme, it was decided that the Druids Home would not be demolished, but oddly the brewery decided to pull it anyway and built a new Druids Home estate pub in 1968 [1], probably to match the ugly new flats built around it.

Former location of original Druids Home, Silk Street. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. Salford Pubs Part One: The Old Town, including Chapel Street, Greengate and the Adelphi, Neil Richardson (2003).

Welcome, Ellor Stret

Welcome, Ellor Street, Hanky Park, Salford. (c) Neil Richardson [1].

Depicted above in 1963 as it closed, the Welcome was at No11 on the south side of Ellor Street in Hanky Park [2].  It opened in the 1860s and was soon advertising the "finest sparkling ales" and London and Dublin stouts.  By the 1930s brewers Groves & Whitnall had the Welcome and in 1950, the Salford City Engineer stated that the beerhouse could stay indefinitely, despite the large-scale redevelopment (erasing) of Hanky Park.  Sadly the brewery claimed that, although a good house, it was "a bit cramped" so a compulsory purchase order was served after all [1].

When the surrounding streets were being pulled down in 1961 the last landlord, Sid Harrison, took 1 pence off the price of a pint, and the punters flocked in!  He told the Manchester Guardian that three hours after opening he had to go and fetch more barrels of mild from the brewery himself.  In 1962 he also offered dinnertime discounts for pensioners (bitter 1/1d instead of 1/3d and mild 1/- instead of 1/2d) [1].

The Hanky Park families that had been moved out to new estates in Little Hulton, Kersal and Silk Stret would return to the Welcome at the weekend (like they would many of the old pubs round here).  On Black Sunday (28/4/63; much more about this in Neil Richardson's [1] and Tony Flynn's books [2]), Harrison was paraded along Ellor Street in a coffin!  A petition meant that the Welcome stayed open for a couple of weeks after Black Sunday [1].

A tiny length of Ellor Street still runs through Salford Precinct today, but the Welcome was at the other end near Cross Lane.  The approximate old location of the Welcome was just a few dozen yards along today's Churchill Way.

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

2. Hanky Park, Tony Flynn (1990).

Lake Hotel, Hyde Road

Lake Hotel, Hyde Road, Belle Vue. (c) D.N. at ManMates Facebook [1].

The Lake Hotel, pictured above thanks to the ManMates Facebook site [1], stood on the corner of Kirkmanshulme Lane and Hyde Road at Belle Vue.  It was built in 1876 at the edge of the Great Lake, a man-made lake at Belle Vue Gardens - a detailed history of the Lake Hotel can be found by David Boardman at the highly-recommended and hugely detailed Manchester History site [2].

Location of Lake Hotel, Hyde Road, Belle Vue. (c) wikipedia.

A plan of the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens shows the Lake Hotel at the top left on a triangular site.  It was a big place with on the ground floor three smoke rooms and a private room around a central bar, whilst upstairs there were two sitting rooms, two dining rooms and a billiards room with seven bedrooms on the second floor [2].

Lake Hotel, Hyde Road, Belle Vue. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

The Lake Hotel closed in the late 1970s by which time it had become run down and unprofitable [3].  Not before some decent acts played, such as James 'Little' Booker, in October 1977 [4].  I remember the Lake Hotel still standing in the 1980s but at some point it was demolished and has been replaced with another hotel, Diamond Lodge.

Lake Hotel, Hyde Road, Belle Vue. (c) Manchester District Music Archive [4].

1. www.facebook.com/ManMates.co.uk. 

2. http://manchesterhistory.net/bellevue/Lakehotel.html.

3. http://manchesterhistory.net/bellevue/phil1.html.

4. www.mdmarchive.co.uk/archive/showartefact.php?vid=602.

Peel Hall, Peel Hall Road

Peel Hall, Peel Hall Road, Peel Hall, Wythenshawe. (c) D.N. at ManMates Facebook [1].

The Peel Hall is the last of the lost Wythenshawe estate pubs to cover, and like the Benchill, Sharston, Royal Thorn and Royal Oak, it has also been lost without a trace.  Thanks to the fantastic ManMates Facebook page [1] we have two views of the Peel Hall, in what looks like the 1980s.

Peel Hall, Peel Hall Road, Peel Hall. (c) D.N. at ManMates Facebook [1].

The Peel Hall was a huge, multi-roomed Tetley's house next to the Peel Hall Road shops, and was demolished in  about 2003 [2].  New flats have since been built on the site of the Peel Hall, leaving the Tudor as the only Peel Hall pub open these days.

Former location of Peel Hall, Peel Hall Road. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. www.facebook.com/ManMates.co.uk.

2. www.camrahops.com/guide/004000/Pub004364.htm.

Friendship Inn, Wilmslow Road

Friendship Inn, Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield. (c) Manchester Local Image Collection. Click here to view full image.

The Friendship on Wilmslow Road is a fine boozer, popular with the student population and locals alike, offering Hydes ales and several guests.  However, this building is not the orginal; a Friendship Inn stood along this stretch for a century or two before Hydes Brewery rebuilt it after the old shops along here were demolished.  These two City Engineers Dept photographs from 1920 show the original Friendship Inn - above the pub sign appears to be the name of the licensee, Ann [something].  Nineteen years later and the Friendship has a roof sign advertising Hydes 'Anvil' brand pale ales and stout in 1939.  Hydes Brewery is still going strong today after its recent move from Moss Side to Salford Quays (or Ordsall), but they don't offer true pale ales or a stout anymore.  Perhaps their new craft brewery off-shoot, The Beer Studio, will rectify this.

Friendship, Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield. (c) Adam B. at flickr.