Pepper Alley: The sign and licence of the ancient Three Crowns Inn in Northgate Street- first recorded in 1272- was transferred here when the old inn was demolished to make way for Thomas Harrison's Commercial News Rooms in 1808. W Wilkinson is recorded in Pigot's Directory for 1818-20 as being the licencee. Around 1831 its name was changed to The Bridgewater Tavern and it remained that in 1856.

“No poems can live long or please that are written by water-drinkers.” Horace 65 BC

Pitt Street: The Red Bull Inn (corner of Thomas Street). Our photograph shows it in 1899. Reader Peter Wright wrote to tell us, "When I grew up in the early 50s the Red Bull was actually Deponeo's chip shop. We lived next door at No 1 Pitt Street. You can actually just about see our front door, on the extreme right of the picture... brings back memories of the constant smell of Fish and Chips..."

Princess Street: The Crown & Anchor (no. 7/18) In 1818 the Crown's licencee was T Lawson, in 1828 John Kendrick, in 1850 Jas Colecough, in 1857 Mrs E Matthews, in 1880 William Fisher, in 1910 John William Watson and in 1914 it was Joseph Kelsall.

The Swan With Two Necks is listed in Cowdroy's Directory in 1782, its licencee being Edward Lloyd. Another inn with the same curious name once traded in Bridge Street.

The Ancient Shepherd appears in the 1871 census.

The Coachmaker's Arms (no.14) stood directly opposite the Crown & Anchor midway down the street. In 1850-57 its licencee was William Jones.

The Horse & Jockey (no 33). Landlady in 1902 Mrs Martha Swindley, who was still there in 1914.

The Market Vaults. Slater's Directory lists an inn simply called The Market trading in Market Square in 1880 (licencee Jas. Whitefoot). Where they the same place?

The Manchester Arms (no 8). Licencee in 1891 Frank Killimede and his sister Anne, in 1902 John Bolesworth, in 1910-14 Thomas Murray.

The Town Hall Vaults (nos 1 and 3). Landlord in 1902 Robert W Jones, in 1910-1914 T H Jenkins, in the 1930s Mr Thomas Shrives Evans.

The Three Tuns (named for the armorial bearings of the three barrels of the Vintners' Company)- first tavern on the right after entering the street from Market Square. A old house, first recorded in the 17th century, Sarah Bennett being the licencee in 1668. It is listed in Cowdroy's Directory in 1782, its licencee being J Keeling. Recorded as being used as a polling station in 1809. Pigot's Directory for 1818-20 gives the licencee as Jonathan Keeling. In 1828/9, according to the same, it was John Sant.

Author and guide Thomas Hughes, writing in 1856, commented that "the present holder, having regard, one might suppose, to the swinish character of his guests, mercilessly "staved in" the Three Tuns and put up in their stead the whimsical sign of the PIG & WHISTLE". The head of a pig was a popular inn sign as far back as Pompeii, where it commonly was to be found, inviting its human hogs to enter, but that of the 'Pig & Whistle' dates from our Saxon ancestors and is a corruption of 'Peg & Wassail Bowl". In those distant times, strong drink would be enjoyed from a common bowl and pegs were inserted at regular intervals into the vessel to indicate the quantity to be imbibed by each drinker. The still-common phrase 'to takes someone down a peg" also has its origins here.

The Rising Sun changed its name to The Oddfellow's Arms sometime in the mid-19th century and it is listed as such in the Chester Trades Directory in 1850 when its licecee was Mary Burton, in the Post Office Directory in 1857, licencee C E Davies, and in Slater's Directory 1880, licencee Maria Young. It is listed in Pigot's Directory 1828-1829 when it was called The Sun, the licencee being Mary Tapley. Ten years earlier, The Sun appeared in Pigot's 1818-20 Directory, licencee Joseph Sadler.

The Tanner's Arms. Listed in Pigot's Directory 1828-1829 when the licencee was Ann Parry.

The Farmer's Arms is listed in Pigot's Directory 1818-20 when the licencee was Charles Speed.

The Pig & Whistle is listed in the Chester Trades Directory in 1850 when its licencee was Robert Jones.

Today, Princess Street is a sorry place, a victim of 20th century 'improvements', with the ugly bulk of the Market Hall and Council Offices on one side and, for the moment, the Bus Station on the other. It is difficult to imagine it as it was and not a single pub exists there today.

"Malt does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man".
A E Houseman: 'A Shropshire Lad'

Queen Street: The Plumbers Arms (no. 39), the site is now built over by the Tesco and British Home Stores rear entrances as well as Union Walk. Our photograph, right, shows it in 1971.

The Britannia Inn (no. 11- but the 1859 Post Office Directory of Cheshire says no.6). Landlord in 1850 Charles Weaver, in 1859 Mrs E Peake, in 1880 John Evans, in 1902 Walter Bevins, in 1910-1914 Mrs Sarah Price.

The Drum Major appears in Pigot's Directory for 1818-20 when its licencee was W Evans.

The Queen Street Tavern - recorded as being used as a polling station in 1809.

The Grosvenor Arms is listed in Pigot's Directory for 1828/9 when the licencee was Edward Morgan.

Saltney: The Railway Inn (illustrated left) No.3 Wood Street, on the corner of Cable Street, directly below Saltney Station, which was on top of the embankment opposite (on the right of the photo, out of shot). It opened in 1852 as self-owned pub and was taken over by Greenalls in 1880. It was known locally as 'The Engine'. The licencee in 1857 was E Pugh, in 1880 was Edward Richards, in 1902 Charles Bennett, in 1910-1914 Mrs E Bennett. The last licencee was Henry Jones whose brother Tommy had the still surviving Brewery Arms on the High Street. Their father had originally owned both pubs. The photo shows it sitting empty and derelict prior to demolition in 1966. The area has long since been redeveloped into a modern housing estate surrounding Shrewsbury Way.

The Red Lion was opened 1860 as self-owned pub, but was taken over by Northgate Brewery around 1875. The building now houses a tile shop/fireplace shop. The landlord in 1880 was Thomas Blayney, in 1902 it was Charles Lovatt, who was still there in 1914.

The Neptune Inn was opened in 1851 as a West Cheshire Brewery House but taken over by Threlfalls in the 1920s. Its landlord in 1880 was John Jones, in 1902-1910 Arthur Ryland, in 1914 Isaac Lovatt. Now houses Foden's DIY store.

The Farmers Arms was opened 1860 as a Birkenhead Brewery house. Its license ceased in 1932 and it was eventually demolished in 1972 to make way for new houses at Shrewsbury Way. Its licencee in 1902 was Michael Gibbons.

The Prince of Wales was opened in 1860 as a Wilderspool Brewery house. It was hit by lightning in WW1 but survived, and eventually closed for good in 1966, and now replaced by a hairdresssers and a TV aerial shop. Licencee in 1880 Thomas Evans, in 1902 Joseph Ross, in 1910-1914 Mrs Margaret Ross.

The Queen's Hotel was opened 1869 as Yates house and demolished in 1960 as part of re-location work. It used to stand where industrial units are now, behind the Social Club. Licencee in 1880 Ellis Ryley, in 1902-1910 James Wood.

The Wellington Inn. Opened in 1860 as a Fox`s Brewery house (Ewloe) and closed in 1931 but not demolished until 1960, along with the Queens Hotel. It was located at the Bridge St / High St junction. Licencee in 1880 Charles Connah, in 1902 Thomas Gibbons, in 1910-1914 Mrs Catherine Law.

The Anchor. Listed in Slater's Directory 1880. Licencee in 1914 Edward Morgan.

The Brewery Arms (36 Chester Street). Also listed in Slater's Directory 1880 when the licencee was Evan Jones. In 1910 Mrs Mary Jane Dodd was the licencee- when it was listed as The Brewery Hotel. In 1914 Thomas Henry Jones was the landlord.

The City Arms. (56 Chester Street). Also mentioned in Slater's Directory 1880 when the licencee was James Knight. Kelly's Directory for 1910 lists the licencee as the splendidly-named Thomas Sydney Walter Poingdestre.

Sandy Lane: The White House (now a block of flats). This fine photograph, apparently of the 1930s, shows genteel customers of the 'White House Cafe' (the name is written on the wall) partaking of tea and cakes, with nary a pint or a short to be seen. See our Dee Banks entry for more about the White House and the nearby, still-surviving (albeit as an 'upmarket' bar/restaurant) Red House.

Saughall: The Swinging Gate Inn- now a private residence. Landlord in 1561 George Martyn, 1812 William Fenna, 1820-28 William Wynne, 1857 J Stubbs- when the pub was simply called The Gate, in 1860 Joseph Dunn. The licencee in 1902 was Mrs Mary Jones, who was still there in 1914. Illustrated right: the ancient Swinging Gate today.

The Anchor- rcorded in a list of alesellers in the Hundred of Wirral in 1822 when the licencee was Nathan Grimes.

The Stag's Head (possibly an early name of the still-thriving Greyhound Inn). An excellent history of the village is here. In November 2008, we heard that the Greyhound- or at least its restaurant- was to change its name to The Horned Woman, in honour of an unfortunately deformed villager of the 17th century.

"A quart of ale is a dish for a king." Shakespeare: 'A Winter's Tale'

Seller Street: The Crown Vaults (no. 33, corner of Canalside, now a private house, illustrated right in 2010), one of the canalside pubs 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. Reader Andy Johnson in Croydon wrote to tell us of his Great Great Grandfather, John Probert. He was born around 1845 in Walsall Staffordshire, and spent most of his early years in the Royal Artillery but finally landed in Chester around 1890/1 having achieved the rank of Sgt Major. In 1891 he was a widower living at 39 Pepper Street with his 8 children. From 1895 until at least 1901 he was the landlord of The Crown Vaults. He writes, "I would be particularly interested to hear if anyone knows any more about The Crown Vaults, is it now a take away? (see above) and if there are any photos about. Also, the address at 39 Pepper Street– was that or is it still a pub? Email me at andy@pleasantgrove.co.uk.
In 1910 the licencee was Thomas Gilbert Davies.

The Queen's Head was listed in the Chester Trades Directory in 1850 when the licencee was John Shaw and the Post Office Directory of Cheshire in 1857, licencee T Walker.

“I recommend...bread, meat, vegetables and beer.” Sophocles: 'Philosophy for a balanced diet'

The Druids Arms. Reader Allen Blakeley (ap.blakeley@ntlworld.com) kindly sent us this photograph of the old Druids. He tells us that "the girl on the step is my wife's grandmother, Phyllis Webb, who was born in 1900 so I guess the year is around 1905/6. Phyllis was the granddaughter of the licensee, James Moore, whose name can be clearly seen (above the door)".
Allen later wrote to tell us that, "James Moore was a beer retailer in 1906 at 5 Seller Street and was the licensee from 1914 until 1923 at the Druids, which was located at 16 Seller Street. He was employed by the Albion Brewery Company. Its looks as if my original estimate on date was a 'little' out!"  Allen is keen to hear from anyone with information about the family.

Shipgate Street: The Royal Oak was mentioned in the Chester Directory of 1782 when its landlord was Gerard Jordan and in Pigot's Directory in 1828, licencee Reginald Tummons. An unnamed inn and garden in Shipgate Street was let by the city for a rent of 2 shillings per annum to one John Houghton in 1550. Another, better known, Royal Oak was in Foregate Street and is still with us today, albeit as a branch of Curry's.

The French Horn. Listed as being "at the Shipgate". Appeared in Pigot's Directory 1818-20 when its licencee was Richard Simpson.

The Millstone. Listed in Pigot's 1828-1829 Directory. A Millstone also appears under nearby Lower Bridge Street in this directory so may have been one pub situated at the junction of the two streets. However, the licencees names differ; Thomas Ball at the Lower Bridge Street Millstone and Charles Hilditch in the Shipgate Street one...

The Old Edgar, on the corner of Lower Bridge Street dates from around 1500. After years of dereliction it was restored and now serves as a private residence. In 1828, when it was called The Edgar Tavern, its licencee was John Moulton, in 1850 George Owens, in 1857 T Rimmer. A 1905 postcard advertised The Edgar Tavern, as it was then still called, as offering "refreshment rooms and accomodation for cyclists". The 1871 census lists the inn under the name The King Edgar.

The Hole in the Wall was listed in Cowdroy's Directory in 1785 when the licencee was William Thomas. Pigot's Directory for 1818-20 shows Mary Massey in charge.

Advertisement from Adams’s Weekly Courant, 1 July 1783: "To be LET, And entered upon immediately, AN old-accustomed Public-House, in Shipgate-street, near the Bridge, known by the Name of the HOLE-IN-THE-WALL, with good Cellaring, Brewhouse, and other Conveniences for brewing of Ale. Inquire of John Ridgway, Malster, who has for Sale, Fine old Jamaica RUM, neat as imported".

Souter's Lane: The Newgate Tavern

"Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure". Ambrose Bierce


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"Filled with mingled cream and amber; I will drain that glass again. Most peculiar visions clamber through the chamber of my brain. Quaintest thoughts, queerest fancies, come to life, and fade away. What care I how time advances? I am drinking ale today". Edgar Allan Poe, 'Lines On Ale'

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