The Old Pubs of Chester 2

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Brook Street: The Queen's Arms (nos 21 & 23) Licencee in 1850-57 Samuel Higginson, in 1880 Jas. Higginson, in 1898 Alex. L McLaren, in 1902 Mrs Francis Chetham, in 1910 Oliver Ormrod, in 1914 Charles Price, in 1942 John Frederick Hill. Demolished for Inner Ring Road construction.
In July 2009, Mrs Sian Woosnam wrote to ask for our assistance, "Hi, I am researching my family tree and have discovered that my Great Grandfather, John Frederick Hill, ran the Queen's Arms pub in Brook Street. I am hoping to get a photo of this pub and wondered if you could help me?"
If anybody can help, write to her here: sianwoosnam@btinternet.com (and we'd like a copy too!)

The Glynne Arms (no.100, corner of Francis Street, illustrated right in February 2010). Landlord in 1857 E Pilsworth, in 1880 George West, in 1902 John Clarke, in 1910 Frederick William Attewell, in 1914 James Lowe, in 1942 Harold E Miller.
In January 2006, reader Dave Huxtable contacted us about the old Glynne, "We understand that the building was used as an antiques shop until around 1973 when it was sold to Powell Insurance Brokers who used it for their offices until we bought it late last year again for use as our office. We are Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers and deal with a lot of Chester's old buildings. The cellar still survives, with the 'beer drop', though well boarded up to prevent access, and some storage facilities. Upstairs, on the ground and first floors no trace remains however as it is very much converted into offices. There is a very fine porch which looks as if it is original. We have an old (1973-ish) photo of the Francis Street elevation and the front corner return to Brook Street. We are keen to see an old photo so we can 'restore' the front, and want to put in sympathetic windows, and in particular the porch back to an original likeness. If anyone can come up with a picture of the Glynne, contact Dave directly- dave@huxtablehodgson.co.uk (and we'd like a copy for this site too!) You can see a larger photograph of the Glynne in our gallery.

The Ormonde Arms Hotel (no 126, illustrated left in February 2010). Landlord in 1898: Thomas Bayley, in 1902 the interestingly-named Saville Nice, in 1910-1914 James Darling.
It closed as a pub in, we think, the 1950s and today trades as The Ormonde Guest House. It was originally named after the Duke of Westminster's favourite racehorse. You can see a larger photograph of it in our gallery.

The Bridge Inn appears in the 1859 Post Office Directory of Cheshire, licencee William Oxton.

The Bowling Green Inn (nos 24 & 26, now The Catholic Social Club). Landlord in 1828 Samuel Whittingham, in 1850-59 Hugh Maddock, in 1880 Wilkinson Booth, in 1898 John Lake, in 1902-1910 Mrs Sarah Jane Chapman, in 1914 Mr G Taylor, in 1942 Frank Joseph Calderbank. The bowling green behind was one of the oldest in Britain- having been in use since the 16th century- but, in 2001 was partially destroyed when the Catholic Church sold the land for the erection of a huge and innapropriately-situated block of 'retirement apartments'- the newly-installed residents of which had the brass neck to promptly complain about the music coming from the social club!

The ancient bowling green was for a while rendered useless as anything other than a mere decorative lawn, but, in December 2008, we received the following cheering communication from the club's manager, John Kenyon, "A great site- Just to update you on the 'decorative lawn'/ bowling green. We have now been bowling on the green since May 2008 and it is in very good shape in view of the years of neglect before it was handed back to us. In fact, with another 12 months under it's belt, there will not be many in better shape in this area. Although we do not have a team in the local leagues, the green has been well used by the regular members of the Club and I have to say it is as much a 'pub game' now than I can recall for many of the 23 years I have worked here. As well as our members, we have had visiting clubs from Frodsham and Huyton who have enjoyed their time with us immensely. Both teams will be paying repeat visits in 2009. Early days yet, but the green is in good health!!
The reason why the green was so long in being returned to a playable condition was due to the legal wrangles that arose when the developers and the building firm went bust. It was handed back to us in an awful state but eventually (after a lot of hard work- I had the blisters to prove it!) we got it to a position where Bob (our green keeper) could start work in earnest.
Thanks for the quip about the neighbours' complaints. That was a while back and we hear nothing from them anymore (fingers crossed). In fact, some of the residents are now members of the Club and play bowls too!" Cheers, John!

The Angel Hotel (no 96, corner of Egerton Street) Site now occupied by the Chester Lodge Residential Home (illustrated right. The still-thriving Egerton Arms can just be see on the far right of the picture).
Landlord in 1880 Thomas Millington, in 1898: George Gregg, in 1902 Leonard Pearson, who was still there in 1914, in 1942 Horace Owen. Remembered by some oldies for 'the clock in the window'.

Talking of which, in 2004, time was called on The Liver Hotel (no.110, illustrated left in February 2010) We heard that the hotel next door planned to extend into it but, a couple of years later, January 2006, nothing has been done and the place sadly remained closed. In October 2006 the pub's front was suddenly covered in scaffolding and, by Spring 2007, the place was looking better than it had in years, having been superbly restored and relaunched as the Lloyd's of Chester Hotel.
liver hotel In 1910-14 the licencee was Edward Embrey, in 1942 W Humphries.
Much earlier, in the opening pages of his Stranger's Guide to Chester (1856) Thomas Hughes, adressing visitors arriving via the new-fangled railway, wrote of the Liver, "those carpet bags and cloaks, by the way, are but superfluous companions for a jaunt around the city. Suppose then, that we drop in at the Liver, a most respectable hotel within hail of the station, and there depositing our baggage in one of the cosy bedrooms of that establishment, we will sally forth upon our mission. After one night's sojourn at this house you'll know your hotel, we promise you, for all future time".
It is said that, in former times, beer was brewed on the premises, the water for which was drawn directly from a culverted stream, the Flookersbrook, that flowed- and doubtless continues to flow- beneath the building and from which Brook Street derives its name. You can see a larger photograph of the Liver in our gallery.

Chester's only surviving cocoa house sign- and a very fine one it is- is to be seen on the facade of what is now the Donato & Sandro Italian Restaurant directly opposite the old Liver. We will learn more about these teetotal establishments when we visit the first of them to be established in Chester, The Old Nag's Head in Foregate Street...

The Rose & Crown. Listed in Pigot's Directory for1828-1829 when the licencee was William Grice. Another Rose & Crown was trading in Bridge Street in 1809.

The Railway House. Listed in the History, Gazetteer & Directory of Cheshire, 1850 when the licencee was Ann Farmer. This also mentions The Railway Inn in Brook Street, which still exists.

The Liverpool Arms. Listed in the History, Gazetteer & Directory of Cheshire, 1850 when the licencee was Robert Drury, and the Post Office Directory of Cheshire in 1857, when it was called The Liverpool Arms Commercial Inn, licencee Thomas Hobday Jnr. This directory also mentions a Liverpool Tavern trading in Tower Street and The Liverpool Arms ('The LA'), but bearer of many previous names, continues to thrive in Northgate Street.

Bunce Street: (off Grosvenor Street, leading to St. Mary's Hill): The Horse & Groom. Listed in Pigot's Directory for 1828/9 when the licencee was Joseph Moss. Also in Slater's Directory of N & S Wales etc., 1880 (actually listed under 'Bunt Street' but we think this was a typographical error- or do you know better?)

Canalside: The Grosvenor Arms- situated on the corner of Queen Street, now a private house. Reader John Owen wrote to tell us, "my great great grandfather John Pritchard was the landlord in the 1871 census and he was still the landlord when he died there in 1879. I would love to hear from anyone who had further information about this pub". Contact John here: j9owen@btinternet.com.
John Perry was licencee in 1850, Joseph Wilson in 1902. Kelly's Directory at this time listed the pub as "The Grosvenor Tavern", as did the Post Office Directory of Cheshire in 1857 when the licencee was J Perry. Curiously, Slater's Directory for 1880 still lists John Pritchard as licencee even though, according to John's letter, he'd apparently passed on the previous year.

The Crown Vaults- no. 33, corner of Seller Street, opposite what is now the Mill Hotel. Illustrated right in February 2010. Landlord 1895-c1901 John Probert (read more about him on the Seller Street entry). In 1910 Thomas Gilbert Davies.
The Grosvenor Arms and The Crown Vaults were both founded in the 18th century to cater to the boatmen on the canal and the workers in the chemical works, sawmills, corn mills and other industrial establishments that once proliferated in this area. Find out more here...
Another Crown Vaults was trading at 22 Lower Bridge Street in 1890.

Canal Street: The Canal Tavern. Listed in the History, Gazetteer & Directory of Cheshire, 1850 when the licencee was James Knight.

The Brown Cow was situated on the north side of Canal Street (then called Dee Lane) and opposite the still-thriving Bull & Stirrup until that road was widened in the 1870s. Its cellars doubtlessly still exist beneath the roadway. In 1880 the licencee was Henry Dodd.

Castle Street: The Robin Hood Inn (no 10). Thanks to Mr Roger Moore for this one. He tells us his grandparents, Mr and Mrs Penn, ran the pub at one time. The licencee in 1880 was Nesbitt Hull, in 1857 W Musgreave, in 1902 Edmund Jones.

The Spread Eagle- existing in 1725. This inn was listed as The Spread Eagles in Cowdroy's Directory in 1789 when the licencee was Mrs Griffith. It was recorded as being used as a polling station in 1809. In 1828 it appears in Pigot's Directory as simply The Eagle, landlord William Foulkes. Possibly The Golden Eagle (no 18 Castle Street) of today? The licencee there in 1910 was Mrs Catherine A Hunter.

Also of an avian persuasion, there was a pub by the name of The Crow in Castle Street in 1809 when it also appeared on the polling station list.

Yet another strange bird: The curiously-entitled Split Crow was listed in Pigot's Directory for 1828/9 when the licencee was William McConnochie, and in the History, Gazetteer & Directory of Cheshire, 1850 trading in Castle Street. Its licencee at the time was Ralph Gregory.

The Globe. Listed in the History, Gazetteer & Directory of Cheshire, 1850 when the landlord was John Davies, who was still there in 1857. It is also in Pigot's Street Directory for 1828-9.

The Cock (or Golden Cock) belonged to Seller’s Brewery of Foregate Street by 1840. In that year they advertised it as to be let (Chester Chronicle, 14 February 1840):

"Public House to be Let. That old established Public House, known by the sign of the COCK, in Castle-street. It may be entered upon on the 3rd of February next. Apply to Seller & Sons, Brewers, Chester".

It seems that it was taken on by Charles Edwards and renamed The Castle Inn and Owen Glyndwr Tavern. According to an advertisement in the Chester Chronicle, 3 July 1840:

"CASTLE INN AND OWEN GLYNDWR TAVERN, adjoining the Castle Yard, Chester. J. Edwards (Son of the late Mrs. Edwards, of the Holly Bush) begs respectfully to inform the inhabitants of Chester, and especially the farming gents in the neighbourhood, that he has entered upon the above house, and he trusts from the accommodation it is capable of affording, and by observing the strictest assiduity and attention, to merit a share of their patronage and support. Gentlemen attending the Assizes, Races, or on pleasure &c. will find it replete with every comfort, on moderate terms. Wines, Spirits, Ale, and London Brown Stout, of the finest quality. Breakfasts, Dinners, &c. on unusually moderate terms. Good Stabling".

The advertisement was repeated on 10 July 1840, with the name corrected to Chas. Edwards, and again on 14 August 1840 in connection with the Assizes. The whereabouts of the Holly Bush is unknown.

The Golden Cock. Its landlord in 1828 was William Owens. In 1850 (when it was listed in the directory as The Cock Tavern) the licencee was John Neild.
It later seems to have been renamed The Castle Inn & Royal Canteen in the 1850s. The Royal Canteen was listed in a Cheshire directory for 1880 when the licencee was William Edwards but was called The Royal Standard from 1888. The licencee in 1902 was David Clements. It appeared in Kelly's Directory in 1910 as The Royal Standard, licencee William H Hughes. Located at 29 Castle Street, it closed in 1912.

The Castle Tavern appears in Pigot's Directory in 1828 and The Castle Inn is listed in the 1857 Post Office Directory of Cheshire (licencee P Williams).

Cowdroy's Directory in 1789 listed an inn called The Granby's Head trading in Castle Street, the licencee being John Hitchins.

"The function of the pub is company, human nearness... snugness not smugness". Nikolas Pevsner

Christleton Road: (see also Boughton): The Foresters' Arms (no 24). Licencee in 1902 Charles Mortimer.

Ye Olde Wheatsheaf (no 57). Licencee in 1857 T Tapley, in 1942 Ernest Wilbraham. Now Wheatsheaf Antiques.

The Peacock. Regarding the Peacock, we recently received this: "My name is Dave Holroyd and I am the current owner of Peacock Garage in Great Boughton, having taken over from my father three years ago. We have been in business at this site since 1975, the people who had it before us were Faichneys of Chester, who had the place built around 1950. I have always been led to believe that the site was the original Peacock pub and am interested in finding out more. Perhaps you can help, or put me in touch with someone who can.thanks very much, Dave. PS. I like the site". If any readers can be of assistance to Dave, email him direct: Dave@peacockgarage.fsbusiness.co.uk (and we'd like to know too!)
The Peacock's licencee in 1850 was William Moore, in 1880 William Jones, in 1902 Mrs E Cunningham, in 1910 John Atkin, in 1914 Mrs Mabel Atkin.

The Chester Trades Directory for the year 1850 mentions a pub in Boughton with the cheerful name of The Jolly Gardener, landlord Joseph Horrocks. Was this an earlier name for the still-thriving Gardener's Arms (33 Christleton Road)?

City Road: The Memphis (nos. 51 & 53) Licencee in 1942, Mrs G Edge.

The Cestrian Inn (no. 21). Licencee in 1880 Benjamin Carter, in 1902 Thomas Wooliscroft, in 1914 Francis Massey.

The Four-in-Hand (no.12, near the recently-demolished Royalty Theatre- now a garage forecourt). Landlord in 1942 John D Gray.

The Grosvenor Park Hotel, (actually no.168 Foregate Street, corner of City Road). Landlord from 1902 to at least 1914 John Hayes. Known in the 1940s onwards as Dick Scott's after landlord E J H Scott who was here in 1942. The pub is illustrated below, decked out for King George VI's Coronation Day in 1937. The licencee 1957-1963 was William A. Wikeley. His daughter Geraldine, now in Canada, sent us some memories of the place which you can read (and see another photograph) in our gallery. See also Jacqueline Naylor's reminisciences below...

Next door to the Grosvenor Park was The Ring-O'-Bells (see letter below).

The Queen's Head. These last three were demolished to make way for the Inner Ring Road. Their site is now occupied by the Grosvenor Court offices and the City Road roundabout. Pictures of the Queen's Head, Ring o' Bells and the Grosvenor Park Hotel may be seen in our gallery.

Reader John Cooper recalled the area, "The Grosvenor Park Hotel was situated on the corner of Foregate Street and Earl's Villas (City Road) opposite what was Slade's Garage. My Dad used to take me there on Sunday lunchtime to see my Grandad, I guess I was about five at the time, but I do remember itquite clearly, it was a Greenall Whitley house.
Just a few doors away (directly opposite Slade's Garage) was The Ring O' Bells, a Threlfall's House and that was run by Cec Lucas before he took over The Bridgewater. Then there was The Queen's Head on the corner of Seller Street (opposite what was Bradley's outfitters) that also was a Threlfall's house, although when I used to go there in the early 1970s to gamble away my wages playing snooker on payday ;-) It was a Whitbread house".

Jacqueline Naylor (nee Billington) wrote, "Have just found your website and to my joy I see a photograph of my Great Grandparent's hotel, the Grosvenor Park Hotel in City Road. My great grandfather's name was Frederick Billington (1852-1892). He died actually in the pub. His death certificate names it as the 'Park Hotel' which may have been a colloquial name regularly used.
His widow, Hannah also died at the Grosvenor Park Hotel (proper name) in Dec. 1899. Her death left two orphaned children, my grandfather John Arrowsmith Billington (1885-1965) and his sister Gertrude Annie. She was born in 1888- but I do not know what happened to her other than she married an Isaac Roberts in 1913 and had a daughter (1913) and a son (c. 1916). Isaac died in 1917 and is interred in my Great Grandparent's grave in Overleigh Cemetery, Handbridge.
When Frederick and Hannah married they set up business together at the Iron Bridge Hotel in Egerton Street. This had been the business of William Scott Holmes, first husband of Hannah (he died 2 years after their marriage). My Grandfather, John Arrowsmith Billington was born at the Iron Bridge Hotel. At some point (yet to be established) they sold that and moved on the Grosvenor Park Hotel.

Also on your website I see you have the name of Absalom Hayes as landlord of a pub at 132 Northgate Street. (the Grosvenor Arms- now Sayer's Bakery next to the Northgate). Absalom was the brother of Hannah. He died in 1924 and is interred in St Matthews Churchyard, Buckley in Flintshire (home town). Interestingly Absalom and his brother John Hayes (died 1915 and interred in Overleigh Cemetery also) are named as trustees of Hannah's money to benefit her orphaned children. They were also given the opportunity to purchase the Grosvenor Park Hotel for a reasonable sum and to hold the money in trust for said children (then aged 13 & 11 years). Neither of the children benefited from their mother's estate other than to finish their private education. Grandfather was educated in Mold, Flintshire. Is this a case of the 'wicked uncles' spending their charges inheritance? A belief widely held by my father's siblings and still referred to by the few remaining children of John Arrowsmith Billington." Fascinating stuff.

Slater's Directory lists a pub called The New Park in City Road in 1880 when its licencee was William A Billington.

Crane Street (New) / Crane Bank: ('The Old Port'): During the 19th century and early part of the 20th, there were numerous inns and taverns around Crane Wharf area. Nearest to the dock was The Flint & Bagillt Boathouse, also known as The Flint Boathouse Inn. First recorded in 1822 when Mr Richard Weigh was the licencee. He was still there in 1829. In 1850 the licencee was a Mr Thomas Bethall- any relation, one wonders, to today's well known riverboat family? It appears as merely The Boathouse in the 1859 Post Office Directory of Cheshire, its licencee C Jones. Kelly's Directory for 1910 lists it again as The Flint Boathouse Inn, licencee W E Peel.
The pub was owned by the Kelsterton Brewery Company of Flintshire, before being bought by the old Northgate Brewery in 1903. It finally closed on February 18th 1923.

The 1902 edition of Kelly's Directory lists The King's Arms as trading at 40 Crane Street when the landlord was Robert Buckler. The 1910 edition shows the licencee as being Mrs R E Dew. Earlier, in 1880, it had been Thomas Prescott, in 1857 J Wright, in 1850 Peter Jones and in 1828 Benjamin Jones (Pigot's Directory).

The Amelia Tavern, 53 Crane Street, appears in the 1859 Post Office Directory of Cheshire, licencee H Trelford.

The Caernarvon Tavern (no.1). Landlord in 1828 Charles Griffith, in 1850 John Jones, in 1859 J Hallewell, in 1880 Samuel Jones, in 1902 Alfred Tennyson, in 1910-14 Mrs E Tennyson (Alfred's widow?)

The Jolly Tar- recorded as being used as a polling station in 1809.

The Crane Punch House. This inn was listed in Cowdroy's Directory in 1789 when the licencee was Thomas Hubbert. It was used as a polling station in 1809. By 1828, when the licencee was Mary Rowland, its name seems to have changed to The Crane Tavern. In 1880 the landlord was Joseph Blackburn.

The Weigh - also appeared in the 1809 polling station list.

The Ship (no 52). This inn was listed in Cowdroy's Directory in 1789 when the licencee was Mrs Cload. Licencee in 1828 Mary Davies, in 1880 Thomas Samuel Jones. William Cowap is also listed as licencee that year. In 1902 it was William Allen, in 1914 W E Peel.

The Mariners' Arms (illustrated left). Nos 19 & 21, immediately next to the railway viaduct. Licencee in 1850 (when it was called The Mariners' Tavern) Robert Kelly, in 1857 J Robinson (it was The Mariners' Arms by this time), in 1880 Grace Owen, in 1902-1910 G H German, in 1914 A D Hughes, in 1942 Joseph Donnachie.

The Sloop.

The Victoria, 28 Crane Street, appears in The Post Office Directory of Cheshire in 1856 when its licencee was B Jones. The same source lists another Victoria, licencee G Wilson, in Upton. Is it still there?

The Railway Tavern in Crane Street was mentioned in the Chester Trades Directory in 1850 when the licencee was John Davies.

The Waggoners- sitated "at the Watergate".

The Clock Vaults- between Middle and New Crane Streets.

The Turf Tavern was renamed The Watergate Inn and still thrives outside the Watergate today- the only remaining pub in the area. The Watergate Tavern was recorded as being used as a polling station in 1809. Is this the same pub? The Watergate Tavern may not be the same as the current Watergate Inn because the Watergate Tavern is listed in the 1828-1829 directory as being in Paradise Row, but this no longer exists- unless, of course, the road is gone but the pub at the end of that road is still there...

Also appearing in that 1809 polling station list were two inns in Crane Street with the intriguing names of Mrs. Cloud's and Mrs. Roger's.

Crewe Street: The Bridgewater Arms (no. 16). Listed in Slater's Directory 1880 when the licencee was Mary Campbell. In 1910 it is listed in Kelly's Directory as The Bridgewater Hotel, licencee Mrs M A Bass, who was still there in 1914.

Crook Street: The Lamb. Listed in Pigot's Directory 1828-9 when the licencee was Peter Jones. It appears again in the 1850 directory when its landlord was Edward Piercy.

The White Lion Tavern is listed in Pigot's Directory for 1828/9 when the licencee was Peter Thomas. Other White Lions were in Foregate Street and the hotel in the Market Square.

Cuppin Street: The Star Inn (no 33, now Hill Dickenson solicitors). Licencee in 1828 Thomas Jackson, in 1857 J Davies, in 1880 Peter Parker, in 1902 Mrs Emma E Edwards.

The Recruiting Serjeant - recorded (actually in Cuppin's Lane) as being used as a polling station in 1809 .

The Manchester Arms.

The King's Arms.

The Standard.

The Fox & Barrel- junction of Grosvenor Street. Now a restaurant called Ego, formerly What's Cooking.
Reader Patrick Deedy recently wrote to us: "I live at no. 22, Cuppin Street, an 18th c town house on 3 floors. It is one of a pair with no. 20, and the inner wall between us shows traces of a wide archway, suggesting the houses were knocked together at some time. This would have made one large building. You mention that Cuppin Street contained several old pubs at one time. Is it possible that nos 20-22 formed one of those pubs- and when?"

Kelly's Directory for 1902 lists a Belgrave Vaults trading at 2 Cuppin Street and 14 Grosvenor Street when J Brown was the licencee.

"We old folks have to find our cushions and pillows in our tankards. Strong beer is the milk of the old." Martin Luther

On to Chester's Vanished Pubs parts 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | gallery | Back to part 1

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