The Queens Hotel pictured around 1964. Darley Street runs across the centre of this image from the Bolton Library and Museum collection (copyright Bolton Council). The photographer is standing at the top of Southern Street. On the other side of the junction, where the Ford Anglia car is parked in the distance, is Carlyle Street. The Woodman Inn can be seen almost directly behind the Queens. Behind the photographer would have been the Swiss Hotel – a nice little hat-trick of pubs in the space of around a hundred yards.
The Queens Hotel was situated on Darley Street at
the corner of Carlyle Street.
That part of Halliwell was built up in the 1870s
and 1880s with the streets named after popular historical and contemporary
literary figures such as George Darley, Thomas Carlyle, Homer and Virgil.
Tennyson Street was added around the turn of the 20th century.
Croft
Mills, Brownlow Mills and the Mortfield Bleachworks provided work for many of
the residents, and beer houses such as the Queens sprang up in the 1880s.
The Queens was bought by Magee, Marshalls and closed
around 1968. The whole of the area surrounding the pub was re-developed with the demolition
of housing that had been built little more than 80 years previously. New
housing was built in its place.
The image below is taken from roughly the same
position as the photograph at the top of the page. Kirkhope Drive was built on
the site of Southern Street. Carlyle Street has gone while the Croft Mills, out
of shot on the older picture and on the right-hand side of Carlyle Street as we
look, was demolished in the eighties.
Can anyone tell me what brewery serviced Thw Woodman Inn in 1928-1940 in Carlyle St, Brownlow Fold please? I think it might be Magees like The Queens, but others say Tetley's? Thank you
ReplyDeleteAccording to his book Bolton Pubs 1800-2000, Gordon Readyhough states that the Woodmam Inn belonged to Leach's Brewery on Derby Street. Leach's were situated behind the Albert pub but they ceased trading around 1936. A number of pubs were bought by Cunningham's brewery of Warrington so for your purposes Leach's and then Cunningham's. Cunningham's went out of business in 1970 and sold out to Tetley's. It was never a Magee's pub although that brewery was situated not far from Leach's. I have information about the Woodman's and will write it up but if you have any information about the pub I'd be glad to receive it. Apologies for the delayed response.
ReplyDeleteHi I am the granddaughter of the one time landlord, Joseph (Joe) Williams. He died in 1937,then his wife, Mary (Polly) took over. She lived there with my dad, Vincent, until they moved into 26 ,Darley St, the house in which I was born.
ReplyDeleteI am in the long time process of Family History searching on all sides. I obviously never met my grandad, or have never seen any photo of him. My dad was only 9 when his dad, died, abd his memories of him, were not pleasant. He actually died in Yates' Wine Lodge yard, on his day off, having actuay been sober.!
I know he moved from Salford from Angel Meadow, where the poverty and social conditions were atrocious. His family moved to Horwich, where he worked for the Loco works, which were thriving at the time.
He played Dominoes, and cards in the pub, and was a Gold medal winning angler for his pub, the Swiss Hotel and the Loco works. We still have his medals.
During the 1937 Spender Mass Observation, the Woodman was held ip to scrutiny, and I have read through the transcripts, and find the content and descriptions fascinating. It puts it all into context and to hear the locals in an incredibly poky bar discussing The Spanish Civil War, so openly, other current affairs, whilst commenting on the comely barmaids, and playing dominoes is very intriguing, and yet enlightening for me
He did spend most of his time in front of the bar ,a genial host but not much of a dad ! Thank you for your help with the Brewery info I have tried to enlarge the photo of the Queens Hotel on Darley St so I could perhaps glimpse more detail but that just makes it worse.
I have a great memory, and I like to tell the tales as I too, grew up at 99 Darley St We had a 'Toffee Shop', and life there was a rich seam for observation.
I have taken up too much of your time and my search continues...thank you again You never know what I might find !