Saturday 11 May 2019

The Turnpike .......... *

I never really noticed The Turnpike, other than as the place opposite the Fire Station and just before the Red Lion, with its imitation stone cladding and yellow brick, completed by those two picture windows and wide wooden door.

The Turnpike, 2014
Just when it acquired its stone frontage has yet to be discovered, but the premises was first listed as a beer shop in 1882 when it was owned by a Henry Maplestone, whose trustees sold it on to the Rochdale & Manor Brewery Ltd, who in turn were bought up by Samuel Smith, in 1948.**

In 1970, it proudly displayed a pub sign advertising Taddy Beer, which later was lost and replaced more recently by a sign carrying the image of the milestone which can still be seen directly opposite.

The Turnpike, 1970
I wish I had gone in, but alas I never did.

That said there is a wonderful description of the interior including pictures on CAMRA’s Historic Pub Interiors. ***

And I am indebted to CAMRA for also offering up, that the Turnpike was once the Wellington.  Just when it traded under that name has yet to be revealed but it will be before 1969 and may date from when it extended into the shop next door.

In 1939, it was run by Mr. John Bates with his wife and sister, and he lists himself merely as a beer seller, omitting any reference to its name.

Location; Withington

Pictures; The Turnpike, 2014, from the collection of Andy Robertson, and in 1970, m50686, A Dawson, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

*Adapted from Manchester Pubs The Stories Behind the Doors Didsbury, Peter Topping & Andrew Simpson, due out later in 2019

** Rochdale & Manor Brewery Ltd, 86 Molesworth Street. Originally registered as the Rochdale & Oldham Brewery Co. Ltd April 1887. http://breweryhistory.com/wiki/index.php?title=Rochdale_%26_Manor_Brewery_Ltd

*** Historic Pub Interiors, CAMRA, https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk/pubs/595

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