In Levenshulme with a now lost historic pub

Now, this image of the Midway Hotel has sat in the collection for ages, so long in fact that I had forgotten I had it.

But as you do, as part of a “spring clean” I revisited the Levenshulme picture postcards and decided this was a must to show.

I think I once drank in the pub, but it will haven a long time ago, and never knew its history.

But with the help of that excellent site, Pubs of Manchester, I can now say that, “The Midway was rebuilt in 1904 as this imposing pub at the junction of Matthews Lane and Stockport Road in Levenshulme.  

The original Midway dates back an impressive 300 years earlier, first licensed in 1604. 

 Sadly, the Midway has closed and has been taken over by an obscure college having been a cash & carry at some point previously.  The pub may have had an Irish name in the 1990s but I'm not sure”.*

And that just leaves me to comment on the message on the back which reads, "I heard you wanted this", which was sent to a Miss Greaves of 9 Bristol Avenue, in Levenshulme, and also contained this odd series of numbers, 4 .15. 18. 9. 19., for which I have no explanation.

Location; Levenshulme

Picture; The Midway Hotel before and after its rebuild, circa 1906, from the collection of David Harrop

*Pubs of Manchester, https://pubs-of-manchester.blogspot.com/2012/07/midway-stockport-road.html

On Stockport Road …………. Looking for clues

Now I don’t as a rule do then and now stories, but I am intrigued by these picture postcards of Stockport Road in Levenshulme.

I can’t exactly date either.

In the case of the first I know we are sometime between the 1950s and 60s but the post mark is obscure, and all I can be sure of, is that it was sent in the summer to Mr. Hayes who was in a caravan in Wales.

The card was from his mum by his mum who thank him for his picture postcard, “which arrived this morning”, went on to ask if he was enjoying himself, and if he had met anyone he knew and concluded with “S& D are still beautifying.  Auntie Alice has been here for her tea”.

The older one was addressed to someone in Longsight, but was never sent, although there is a comment written on the reverse “Showing the Pack Horse Hotel before it was rebuilt”.

At which point I am confident someone will come forward with a set of answers.

Location; Stockport Road, Levenshulme

Pictures; Stockport Road, Levenshulme, dates unknown, from the collection of David Harrop