Cadishead and Irlam Guardian Jubilee Supplement, January 2, 1970, at Cad Lib. Which is the district's oldest hotel?

Cadishead and Irlam Guardian Jubilee Supplement, January 2, 1970, at Cad Lib.

 

Which is the district's oldest hotel?

 

Tavernae were introduced into this country by the Romans and were our earliest roadside inns, where people could obtain food and a night's lodging, and were in no way places for the set purpose of consuming strong drink.

It was not until after the Anglo-Saxon invasion, in fact, that the "ale-houses" began to appear.

 

Regulations governing the running of the "eala-huts" (ale house) were known to have been set by Ethelbert in 616 A.D. which were the forerunners of today's licensing laws.

 

Gradually over the centuries two types of inn developed, the larger ones providing lodging accomodation, and the ale houses where casual refreshment and good cheer could be obtained.

 

One of the oldest of these "ale houses" in this district was Smith's Ale House which, records show, existed in Cadiswallhead in 1710.

 

By 1775 - the year after the stage coaches began to pass through this district - the name was changed to the White Lion, and by 1815 it had been changed to the Coach and Horses, the name it bears today.

 

From coaching days.

Gradually over the years the Cadishead and Irlam scene has been graced by more public houses, as they are more popularly known.

 

When these hotels were built is uncertain but records show that the Nags Head and Boat House were certainly in existence in 1822, the Ship Inn in 1823, the Red Lion by 1824, the White Lion in 1827 and the White Horse in 1828.

 

Probably however, many of these houses were built in the coaching days towards the end of the 18th century.

 

With the coming of the railways two more local hotels sprang up - the Railway Hotel at Cadishead and the Railway Inn at Irlam, both naturally close to their respective stations.

 

The exact date of these again is not known but they were probably built in about 1830, when the railways were begining to become more prominent.

 

Bargees' 'local'

Arguments in the district rage about which is the oldest hotel and certainly those with very strong claims are the Nags Head, the Boat House and the Coach and Horses.

 

The Boat House it is known, is one of Lancashire's oldest pubs and was originally the "local" of the bargees who took their barges up the River Mersey.

 

Down at Hollins Green there are today three hotels, the Black Swan, Red Lion and Eagle and Child, but at one time there were seven all mainly on the old coaching road.

 

One local hotel with an international reputation is the George Hotel at Cadishead which, being the nearest to the Partington Coaling Basin on the ship canal was regularly visited by seamen of all nations.

 

Over the years, as people's recreational requirements changed, the district has seen the rise of seven clubs scattered throughout Cadishead and Irlam.

 

Almost certainly the oldest club is Irlam and Cadishead Workingmen's Club, as it is now known although many people still refer to it as the Labour Club.

 

It was taken over as a Labour Club in 1955, but after a comparitively short stay the local Labour Party moved to Fir Street, Cadishead, where their modern new club was opened in 1967.

 

Change of party.

Irlam Catholic Club was opened in 1936 and the Lancashire Steel Recreation Club in 1937. Before these, however, came Irlam Conservative Club (1924) and the former British Legion (1921).

 

Cadishead Conservative Club opened at their present premises (formerly a Liberal Club) in January, 1921, having originally started in Hayes Road in April, 1892.

 

Higher Irlam Social Club was the last club to be completed in the district.

 

The Legion Club started as a wooden hut behind the present premises "extended" by the building of a second wooden hut in 1923, while the major part of the existing premises were built in 1939. A further extension was added in 1964.

 

Similarly the social club opened with a former emergency war hospital in November 1947.

 

In November, 1963, a new £24,000 club was built around the old hut and a further extension in November, 1967, brought the club to its present state.

END.

 

I have included some information from Cyril Wheaton's book on local pubs and clubs as the information on the two Railway pubs, one in Cadishead and one in Irlam would not match the explanation as being originally named the Railway since the local railways near the pubs were not built until around the 1870s. I think the only other explanation would have been that the pubs were named after the railway on Chat Moss which was built in the 1830s.

Maurice.

 

 

A Brief History of Local pubs and Clubs - Cyril Wheaton.

page 34 The Railway Hotel (Cadishead) (The Plough Inn)

 

Henry Townsend died on the 4th of February 1863, his widow and his son inherited the properties, agreeing that same year to sell to Isaac Thompson for the sum of £88, all that Plot of Land situate in Cadishead and being at the corner of Moss Lane, in the Northerly corner of the Turnpike Road from Manchester to Warrington and including together with the Dwelling House, Inn, or Beerhouse and known as the "Plough Inn" and now in the occupation of James Hesford, and including the Land called The Bottom Croft.

 

The name Plough Inn was very appropriate, for at that time, Cadishead was mainly agricultural, although Fustian Cutting was well established by this time, and there is no doubt that the Plough would be well frequented by local farmers.

 

In the year 1869, Fred Brown took out a morgage on these same properties for £960 formerly known as the Plough Inn, but now known as the Railway Hotel.

 

Done