“I was surprised to see the old Waterloo still standing” …… tales of regeneration and a transatlantic voyage

I have to agree with Andy that it is a surprise to see the former pub, the Waterloo still standing, amidst the evidence of regeneration.

2021

He took a trip around Greengate last week and amongst the collection of pictures he sent over is this one along with another he took back in 2014.

According to that excellent pub site, Manchester Pubs past and Present, it  started life as the Duke of Wellington in 1815“though it soon became the Waterloo.  By the early twentieth century, Walkers & Homfrays had the pub then Wilsons took it in the 1950s.

In the 1970s the Waterloo was a cosy but rather seedy pub with two narrow rooms, one was decorated with guns and swords, the other a garish red with fishtank that was popular with the ladies.  Darts, doms and cards were popular with the small band of local gents who supped Wilsons bitter and mild on beer engines.”*

It closed in 1984, and while there was an application to develop the site in2006, but nothing happened and it remains an odd legacy of that older Salford amongst the high rise blocks.**

2014

In time I will delve deep into its history.  For now I know that in 1851 it was run by a Margaret Mellor, and was a beer shop.  

Twenty-five years later the man behind the counter offering up beer and cheer was a Thomas Thorpe. 

The address is listed as 93 Greengate rather than Boond Street and the maps from 1849 and 1894 suggest that the footprint of the pub was enlarged at some point between the two dates suggesting a rebuild.

Leaving me just to introduce Owen Quinn who with his wife Rose was master of the pub in 1911.  I say master, but he described himself as “manager”, and along with his wife was assisted by the 15 years old Gertrude Kendal from Staffordshire, who together rattled round in the 9 roomed pub.

2014

I am drawn to Mr. and Mrs. Quinns, partly because by 1911 they had been married for eleven years had four children, none of whom were listed as living with them, and the mystery of  the journey he took to New York in 1891.  

He was twenty-five, was there for two years and described his occupation as a “machinist”.  

As yet there is no more detail of that journey or stay in the U.S.A., other than that he went out on the Teutonic and returned on the Umbria, which no doubt offered scope for many conversations across the bar on late winter nights.

1980s

So, I will just add this last image, which Lee Hutchings posted after the story was published, in response to my request to use it, adding, "I’ve had it for ages but I can’t remember where from I’m afraid! But yes please use it, I think it’s from the late 80s".

And just to finish off, Phil Gregson offered up a delightful set of memories of the place. 

"I went in once in the 70's. Mainly empty, coal fire in the vault, no juke box or other disturbance. Landlord propping the bar up, and if I remember rightly your typical glass case with pies in. A typical corner local boozer if which there were very, very many. I do hope it's kept, though it may well go the same way as the Legs of Man, which was on the next corner down".

Location; Greengate

Pictures; the Wellington, 2021 & 2014, from the collection of Andy Robertson, and in the 1980s courtesy of Lee Hutchings

*Waterloo, Greengate, Manchester Pubs past and Present, http://pubs-of-manchester.blogspot.com/search/label/028.%20Grey%20Horse%20-%20%20Portland%20Street

* Outline planning application for an eight storey mixed use development comprising 145sq.m retail floorspace at ground floor level and 14 two and three bedroom apartments with car parking for six cars at semi basement level, 06/53565/OUT, 2006, Salford Planning Portal, https://publicaccess.salford.gov.uk/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=J6CR2RNP40000&activeTab=summary