Stopping off at Patricroft …… for a drink sometime in 1830 .... and again 170 years later

Nowrecently I featured Andy’s pictures of the Queens Arms in Patricroft, which was built in 1828 and which some have suggested was built in expectation of the arrival of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

And certainly, it would appear that the place proved a stopping point for passengers in the early years of the railway.

Nor has that popularity abated, because in just a few hours after I posted the pictures and the story it had been seen and read by 986 people, one of whom was my Facebook friend Christianna Franck.

Now, Christianna leaves quite close, and was inspired to cycle down to the pub, and as you do I asked her to take some pictures of the inside, which she did.

Adding, “here are the photos of the central bar serving lounge snug and then separate front room.

Toilet still in the original place. 

Renovated 1997. Original tile floors! 

Met two men who worked for the Bridgewater Estate. They are in every Saturday to do the Times crossword. Both over 80. 

Leaving now-been so worth it, and now a slow ride back ready for my steak and mushrooms and a cheeky red!”

So, thank you Christianna, it was a pity I couldn’t join you.

But no no doubt there will other opportunities.

All of which just leaves me to close with one final picture of the pub, and acknowledge all the comments and pictures posted to the original story.

Location; Patricroft

Pictures; inaugural journey of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway 1830, A.B.Clayton, the Queens Arms, Patricroft, 2020, from the collection of Christianna Franck

The listed pub….. a famous railway line .... and something I never knew about Patricroft

This is the Queen’s Arms in Patricroft, which is a pub I have never visited.

But I rather think I will given that after Andy took the picture he discovered a bit of it’s history , which he tells me, is that  “I sent you this pub a few days ago. I have since found out it is listed and was built in 1828 and altered in the early 20c.

It is known locally as the Top House and was formerly called Patricroft Tavern. It was purposely built as a refreshment stop for the Manchester and Liverpool Railway. It claims to be 'the world's first railway pub'”.

To which another source records that it was "built in 1828 in anticipation of the Liverpool-Manchester railway which opened in 1830, although the internal arrangements are probably late Victorian. 

Inside the front door is a small, cosy drinking lobby with a hatch-like screen to the serving area in the vault (a name appearing in the window glass).

 Here the counter seems to be Victorian although the bar-back is a replacement from 1997. Right of the entrance is the snug with draught screens and fixed seating. At the rear of the pub two rooms have been practically turned into one (done in 1996): note the ‘billiards’ and ‘bar parlour’ inscribed in the glass”.*

So one to visit I think, and in the meantime I shall trawl the old directories to find out more.

Location; Patricroft

Pictures; Queen’s Arms, 2020, from the collection of Andy Robertson