Walking our history from Chorlton pub to Chorlton pub, May 18 and again May 25

Chorlton’s pubs reflect the story of how the township changed from a rural community into a suburb of Manchester.

So why not walk the history in the company of historian Andrew Simpson and artist Peter Topping taking in all the historic pubs of Chorlton.

Starting at The Horse & Jockey and ending at the Post Box Cafe with the chance to purchase a guest beer.

The first walk will be at 1pm, on May 18th and if you miss it we will be doing it all over  again the following Sunday on May 25th 18th and 25th May.

The earliest were just small beer shops consisting of one or two rooms and many lasted just a few years.

But as Chorlton expanded during the late 19th century, new pubs were built which were bigger and catered for the new more respectable middle class clientele.

The old Travellers Rest at the bottom of Beech Road was opened in 1830, and consisted of just five rooms of which the ground floor front room served as the pub.

Forty years later Mr Lloyd and Mr Platt opened their impressive stone fronted public house with its grand staircase, numerous rooms including a large meeting room and added a bowling green and tennis court.

Two of the oldest have survived although one no longer serves beer and can be compared with those built at the beginning of the 20th century, and the new wave of bars that have sprung up recently.

Along with the changing architecture there are plenty of stories of what went on behind the doors from dark deeds to official meetings as well as a range of social and cultural activities.

Starting at The Horse & Jockey the walk will take in eight of the most iconic buildings which reflect the changing architecture and history of Chorlton.

The walk will have supporting graphics and text at the venues along the way, there will be a description of each building and some of the events that occurred behind the doors with old pictures and paintings as it is now.

Along the way we shall be looking at The Horse & Jockey, The Bowling Green, The Beech, Franny & Filer, The Trevor, The Lloyds, and The Royal Oak finishing at The Post Box cafe where there will be a mini exhibition of the whole event and some guest beers on offer.

So there you have it less a pub crawl more a walk through our history and its free.

Pictures;from the Lloyd Collection