Just when you thought you knew everything about the Railway Hotel on Deansgate and that Mr Bardsley

The Railway Hotel in 1901

Now I have to admit Mr John Bardsley of the Railway Hotel Knott Mill would not leave me alone which given that he died in 1920 may seem a tad odd.

But that is pretty much how it can be with historical research.

He was the publican of the Railway Hotel on the corner of Deansgate just opposite the railway station.

It was a large 16 roomed property which dominated this corner flanked by the railway at its back and the canal in front.

I can’t as yet be sure when it was built but there was a pub here by 1849 called the Runcorn, Wigan & Worsley Boathouse was also the Packet House Tavern and later still the Boathouse before ending up as the Railway Hotel.

All these names shed light on the history of the area.  Packet Boats plied our canals and were a quick and comfortable way of travelling across the country in the age before the railway.

The Hotel facing Knott Mill Station, 1902

And just a few minutes’ walk away was the terminus of the Duke’s Canal which had been constructed for the Duke of Bridgewater so that his company could transport coal from his mines at Worsley into the heart of the city.

In 1876 was the Boathouse and was managed by J & E Bardsley who may or may not be our John Bardsley and until today he proved more than a little difficult to track down.

The census records stubbornly refused to yield up anything more than an entry for 1911.

The hotel during work on the canal, 1902

But this I couldn’t believe, especially for a man who managed such a large pub, and so today I went back and slowly something of the man came out of the shadows.

He was born in Burnage in 1845 and was one of four children born to Sarah and Thomas Bardsley.

His father gave his occupation in 1851 as “brewer foreman” and in time I think I will dig deeper into the family history.

As for John, there the trail goes a little cold till we have him in 1898 listed as owning property beside and around the Railway Hotel and at the same time paying rates on the pub and is listed on  to wait till on the 1901 and 1911 census in the hotel.

Another shot of the canal and hotel in 1902

Now just how wealthy he had become can be judged by the probate document at his death in 1920 which listed his effects as worth £50759, 10s 8d.

All of which is intriguing given that the rents on one property on Gaythorn Street amounted to £14 a year and another on Crown Street at £10.

Nor does he seem to own the land of the Railway Hotel who are listed as belonging to the Cheshire Railway Company.

Added to which there remains a mystery about the pub, it changes its name, is listed as being run by J & E Bardsley in 1876 who turn out to be James and Elizabeth Bardsley.

Bit 1891 they are running a milk business just a few doors down the road and who appear to be no relation to our John.

Looking over towards the site of the hotel, 2014

All of which brings me back to John who so far has not turned up on the 1891 census and certainly was not at the Railway Hotel which in that year was run by 22 years old Margaret Clare.

Which is all the more confusing as Mr Bardsely was running the Boat House pub in the same year at 1 Gaythorn Street which looks to be located next to the Railway Hotel.

And today looking towards Deansgate

Now in time I know there will be an answer.  The licensing records may provide a clue and there will be in the street directories which just leaves me to ponder on when our Railway Hotel was built and what happened to Miss Clare.

The answers are out there I just haven’t found them yet.

And just as I was ready to post the story my old friend Andy Robertson found this account of the hotel with some fine pictures and a possible date of the 1950s for its demolition.

But if you want to see it you will have to visit the site, The Railway Hotel - Whitworth Street West & Deansgate.*

Additional research by Andy Robertson

Pictures; the Railway Hotel, 1901, m05495,  in 1902, m05496, m05497, m05498, A Bradburn, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass and the area in 2014 from the collection of Andy Robertson

*The Railway Hotel - Whitworth Street West & Deansgate, http://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/gone/railwayhotel.html