Now, I am intrigued by the discovery at the Bowling Green Hotel of an inscription which looks to have the date 1698 carved into it.
The story was posted this week, with the speculation of a link between that 17th century inscription and the bowling green, coupled with an appeal to crowd fund for improvements to the green.
It is a fascinating find and could push the story of the site back a century from the conventional assumption that the first pub was opened in the1780s and takes us back to what might have been the first dwelling on the site.
According Thomas Ellwood who wrote a series of articles on the history of Chorlton-cum-Hardy which were published in the winter of 1885 and the spring of the following year, “The oldest inn in the centre of the village is the Bowling Green Hotel, adjoining the old church – the usual situation for a village public house.
Formerly there stood here one of those ancient wood and plaster dwellings.
The present house was erected about a century ago. It was first a farmhouse and hostelry combined and belonged to the Egertons of Tatton, but is now owned by Mr. Wm Roberts, the well-known brewer.
Edward Mason was the person who obtained the first licensee of the house, the business afterwards being continued by his son Edward, who was also a land surveyor. The tenants following were George Whitelegge, William Partington, Charles Chambers, A. P. Philips, and Edward Richards. The tenant at present is James English. There is a bowling-green connected to this inn.
A pond formerly existed on the plot of land bounded by the green behind, and the Chorlton brook, and had a small island in the centre. This was let during the tenancy of Edward Mason, jun to a gentleman for fishing, but on the making of the main sewer through the village by Lord Egerton, it was drained and filled up.”
Now, Ellwood’s account is fascinating, not least because he drew on the memories of those who had lived in the township all their lives, and would in turn have called up the memories of their parents and grandparents, which might well take us back to the time King George lost the American colonies.
To these we can add the records from the Rate Books which list the owners, and the occupants of our building, starting with the earliest surviving entry which was for 1844. The records confirm Mr. Ellwood chronology of owners and landlords and offers updates for when they took over the pub.
But what also comes out from those records, is that the first reference to a bowling green only comes in 1862, along with the first refence in the books to the name the Bowling Green Hotel which appears twelve years later.
Of course, history is messy, and the records as ever throw up conflicting evidence.
So, while both the Tithe map of 1845 and the OS map of 1854, show the pond there is no indication of a bowling green. That said the earlier map does list the pub as the Bowling Green Inn, which would suggest that there was indeed a bowling green to the east of old pub.
Frustratingly Mr. Elwood did not elaborate on the bowling green, although he did go into some detail on the green associated with the Horse and Jockey and a later one on the corner of Cross Road and High Lane, recording that “Bowling has always been popular in Chorlton, the well conducted greens being attended solely for healthy exercise and recreation”.
Adding “The village can boast of no fewer than six bowling greens, three in connection with the hotels, and three maintained by subscription. ……… The game may be indulged in by the public at the Lloyd’s Hotel, the Bowling Green Hotel and the old inn at Jackson’s Boat”, [with] another bowling green connected with the Chorlton Reading Rooms, [Beech Road] where the working men of the village assemble”.***
At which point I was tempted arrogantly to conclude that the Bowling Green Hotel’s link to a very old bowling green was unlikely, but history may prove me wrong. John Lloyd in his book on the history of Chorlton-cum-Hardy commented that “the reputed date of the Bowling Green Inn is 1693”which comes close to our inscription.****
To which can be added the assertion that “Crown green bowling of a sort is actually recorded in 1600 being played at the Bowling Green Hotel in Chorlton”.*****
Now that reference to 1600 will have to be followed up, but intriguingly, Olive Donohue, who is the secretary of the Chorlton Bowling Club has other sources which show a connection back to the 17th century.
All of which means that this story may have plenty more surprises to come, and along the way, confirm that simple observation that you should never make definitive assumptions about events in the past because the evidence can leap out of the shadows and bite you on the bum.
In the meantime I will finish with that crowd funding appeal, from the club’s Facebook site, "It’s our intention to conduct a crowdfunding campaign ahead of the start of next season (2021), but in the meantime here’s our banking details, in case anyone feels like making a donation. The green itself is in urgent need of some TLC, and grass seed, fertilizer, new sprinklers, etc. can be quite costly".******
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; The old Bowling Green Hotel, date unknown, from the collections of Allan Brown, Tony Walker,and the Lloyd Collection and Ken playing the green in 1979
*Elwood, Thomas, Inns, Chapter 23, The History of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, April 17th, 1886, South Manchester Gazette.
**George Whitelegg[e] 1841-1859, William Partington, 1859, 1868, Charles Chambers, 1872-3, Edward Richards 1874-1884, James England, 1884, owners, Egertons up to 1859, William & Elizabeth Partington, 1859, Charles Chambers 1872, William Roberts 1874
***Elwood, Thomas, Bowling Greens Chapter 26, The History of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, May 17th, 1886, South Manchester Gazette.
****Lloyd John, The Township of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 1972, page 60
*****Cheshire County Bowling Association, Centenary Souvenir Booklet, 1910-2010, Cheshire County Bowling Association
****** Bowling Green Hotel Bowling Club, Crowd Funding Appeal, Bank sort code: 20 26 20 (Barclays, Chorlton) Account no: 6019 2988
 |
| The inscription, 2020 |
It is a fascinating find and could push the story of the site back a century from the conventional assumption that the first pub was opened in the1780s and takes us back to what might have been the first dwelling on the site.
According Thomas Ellwood who wrote a series of articles on the history of Chorlton-cum-Hardy which were published in the winter of 1885 and the spring of the following year, “The oldest inn in the centre of the village is the Bowling Green Hotel, adjoining the old church – the usual situation for a village public house.
 |
| The old Bowling Green Hotel. date unknown |
The present house was erected about a century ago. It was first a farmhouse and hostelry combined and belonged to the Egertons of Tatton, but is now owned by Mr. Wm Roberts, the well-known brewer.
Edward Mason was the person who obtained the first licensee of the house, the business afterwards being continued by his son Edward, who was also a land surveyor. The tenants following were George Whitelegge, William Partington, Charles Chambers, A. P. Philips, and Edward Richards. The tenant at present is James English. There is a bowling-green connected to this inn.
A pond formerly existed on the plot of land bounded by the green behind, and the Chorlton brook, and had a small island in the centre. This was let during the tenancy of Edward Mason, jun to a gentleman for fishing, but on the making of the main sewer through the village by Lord Egerton, it was drained and filled up.”
Now, Ellwood’s account is fascinating, not least because he drew on the memories of those who had lived in the township all their lives, and would in turn have called up the memories of their parents and grandparents, which might well take us back to the time King George lost the American colonies.
 |
| The old Bowling Green Hotel, date unknown |
But what also comes out from those records, is that the first reference to a bowling green only comes in 1862, along with the first refence in the books to the name the Bowling Green Hotel which appears twelve years later.
Of course, history is messy, and the records as ever throw up conflicting evidence.
So, while both the Tithe map of 1845 and the OS map of 1854, show the pond there is no indication of a bowling green. That said the earlier map does list the pub as the Bowling Green Inn, which would suggest that there was indeed a bowling green to the east of old pub.
 |
| Ken playing the green, 1979 |
Adding “The village can boast of no fewer than six bowling greens, three in connection with the hotels, and three maintained by subscription. ……… The game may be indulged in by the public at the Lloyd’s Hotel, the Bowling Green Hotel and the old inn at Jackson’s Boat”, [with] another bowling green connected with the Chorlton Reading Rooms, [Beech Road] where the working men of the village assemble”.***
At which point I was tempted arrogantly to conclude that the Bowling Green Hotel’s link to a very old bowling green was unlikely, but history may prove me wrong. John Lloyd in his book on the history of Chorlton-cum-Hardy commented that “the reputed date of the Bowling Green Inn is 1693”which comes close to our inscription.****
To which can be added the assertion that “Crown green bowling of a sort is actually recorded in 1600 being played at the Bowling Green Hotel in Chorlton”.*****
 |
| Looking towards the Bowling Green, date unknown |
All of which means that this story may have plenty more surprises to come, and along the way, confirm that simple observation that you should never make definitive assumptions about events in the past because the evidence can leap out of the shadows and bite you on the bum.
In the meantime I will finish with that crowd funding appeal, from the club’s Facebook site, "It’s our intention to conduct a crowdfunding campaign ahead of the start of next season (2021), but in the meantime here’s our banking details, in case anyone feels like making a donation. The green itself is in urgent need of some TLC, and grass seed, fertilizer, new sprinklers, etc. can be quite costly".******
Location; Chorlton
 |
| The new Bowling Green, 1978 |
*Elwood, Thomas, Inns, Chapter 23, The History of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, April 17th, 1886, South Manchester Gazette.
**George Whitelegg[e] 1841-1859, William Partington, 1859, 1868, Charles Chambers, 1872-3, Edward Richards 1874-1884, James England, 1884, owners, Egertons up to 1859, William & Elizabeth Partington, 1859, Charles Chambers 1872, William Roberts 1874
***Elwood, Thomas, Bowling Greens Chapter 26, The History of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, May 17th, 1886, South Manchester Gazette.
****Lloyd John, The Township of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 1972, page 60
*****Cheshire County Bowling Association, Centenary Souvenir Booklet, 1910-2010, Cheshire County Bowling Association
****** Bowling Green Hotel Bowling Club, Crowd Funding Appeal, Bank sort code: 20 26 20 (Barclays, Chorlton) Account no: 6019 2988
No comments:
Post a Comment