An Illustrated History of Old Sutton in St.Helens
Part 20 (of 58) - Old Pubs and
Beerhouses in Sutton & District
Researched
& Written by Stephen
Wainwright ©MMXI
Contact Me 
In 1891 the temperance movement fought back and a petition was handed to the licensing committee signed by twenty-two St.Helens clergymen. They argued that there were far too many licensed houses for the population of the town and they demanded a reduction. They were especially concerned about beerhouses and the clerics hired a solicitor to argue that fourteen of them should not have their licences renewed. The Chief Constable of St.Helens, James Wood, informed the committee that a total of 1354 people out of a population of 71,200 had been summoned for drunkenness during the last year. However, the vicars' petition was rejected by the magistrates, who were chaired by Col. David Gamble and included Sutton's Arthur Sinclair, as none of the beerhouse keepers had infringed their licences.

Beerhouses were mainly small, converted private dwellings and owners had simply to pay two guineas to the Excise in order to sell beer and cider to the general public from within their property. In 1834 the opening hours for beerhouses within the Prescot division, which included Sutton, were 6am to 9pm from March to September. During the winter months, the hours were 7am to 9pm with the Sunday and Christmas / Easter opening times being 4pm to 8pm.
Later legislation placed newly-opened beerhouses under the control of local authorities, who tightly regulated them along with the public houses. The latter were able to sell wine and spirits and were managed by publicans / licensed victuallers whilst beerhouses were run by keepers or beersellers.

As well as drinking places being classified by the licensing committee as public houses or beerhouses, there was a third category of off-licences. These were often known as 'grocers licences' and could be off-beer and/or spirit and/or wine licences. Throughout the last 20 years of the nineteenth century, the numbers of beer and public houses in St.Helens were roughly equal (about 140 each) with only 7 or 8 grocers holding wine and spirit licences.
Chief Constable Wood proactively dealt with any infringements of the rules by all categories of licence-holders. Common offences committed were supplying drink to a drunken man, selling adulterated whisky and permitting drunkenness or gambling on the premises. Licence holders were even prosecuted for serving alcohol to police constables on duty!
Throughout the 1890s, there was a gradual reduction in the number of licensed places in St.Helens. In an editorial dated February 8th 1898, the St.Helens Newspaper claimed that magistrates on the licensing committee had for several years "never hesitated to take any legitimate opportunity which has offered itself to reduce the facilities for drinking in the borough." The licensing renewal days were seen as opportunities to quash licenses of those who had infringed and new licenses weren't available "either for love or money".
On September 2nd 1890, builder Peter Tickle, who also had 15 years experience as a publican, applied for a new licence. He was going to build a new pub at a cost of £2,500 at the corner of Watery Lane and Normans Road. St.Helens Corporation had approved his building plans and he had a number of supporters, but his application was rejected. There was a desire to reduce the number of pubs and beerhouses in the town, not build new ones.
This page will attempt to document all public / beer and off-licensed houses that have been situated in Sutton and its outlying areas. Please contact me if you can supply further information and / or photographs. Thank you! SRW
Memories of Sutton 5 - The Rolling Mill Tavern and the Junction Inn by Alan McDermott
A- Z of Sutton Public Houses & Beer Houses
Alexandra Hotel - 14 Fisher Street, (off Peckers Hill Road) - Thomas Williams surrendered licence to Thomas Lunt in December 1871 - In April 1899 landlord Edward Westhead, who'd been licensee since 1877, was prosecuted for allowing gambling on his premises. Westhead was still licensee in the 1911 census - Closed 7th March, 1932Alma Vaults - Alma Street / Peasley Cross Lane - Not to be confused with pubs in Duke Street, Liverpool Road and Eccleston - Closed 11th February 1922 -

Black Horse - Greenough Street, Peasley Cross 200 yards from St.Joseph's Church - The beerhouse licence was transferred in July 1892 from James Rowe to Elisha Leigh Blake and then in December to Harry Knight - In January 1898 Peter Rafter was denied an application for a temporary licence to replace Harry Knight as landlord. Chief Constable Wood objected, telling the magistrates that Rafter was a "betting man". It was alleged that three months earlier he had helped a gang of Manchester "betting men and racehorse thieves" who had worked a sting on St.Helens bookmakers. They'd had a man at the Post Office and through "some telephonic communication" had obtained race results and then quickly made bets with the bookies. - Closed 1908 -
Bold Arms Hotel - Bold Heath - Referred to in a Liverpool Mercury article of July 17th 1883 about the Liverpool Amateur Bicycle Club's annual championship race which took place between the Red Lion Hotel, Rainhill and the Bold Arms -
Boars Head - 675 Elton Head Road, Sutton Heath (formerly Mill Lane) - Joseph Large was licensee in 1800 - During the 1840s & '50s, the Sutton Heath Dancing Club held their annual ball at the Boars Head - Peter Webster licensee in 1850 - Listed in Worrall's Directory of 1871 - William Sharples in 1891 - John Knight publican in 1901 census -

The Boilermaker's
in the 1960s - note Bold power station on the right –
contributed by Dave Latham
Boilermaker's Arms - 30 Hoghton Road / Norman's Road (in 1901 & 1911 census as 96 Hoghton Road) - In August 1882 licensee Catherine Makin was charged with selling drink during prohibited hours, but the summons against her was dismissed. - In September 1890 and again in September 1892, an application by Alfred Hardy to convert his beerhouse licence to a full licence was refused. It was stated in '92 that a new pub was about to be built on the same site. - On January 19th 1891, landlord Alfred Hardy, who was also a coal miner, was fined £2 by Coroner Samuel Brighouse for refusing to participate on an inquest jury. - In August 1893, an application to make alterations to the premises was again refused by the licensing committee. - In November 1897 William Donnellan was fined 5 shillings for being disorderly and refusing to leave the Boilermaker's when asked by landlord Alfred Hardy. He was still the licensee in 1902 when he then had eight children. Hardy gave evidence at the murder trial of James Shaw after Michael Noonan was shot on August 5th of that year after a row in the Boilermakers. - Hardy's son Billy, who was born in the pub c. 1897, claimed to have drunk beer there from the age of five. He became a preacher at the Methodist Chapel in Herbert Street and then the Emmanuel Mission where he preached against the evils of drink. - Bessie and Edward Armitstead ran the pub early in the 20th century and are listed in the 1911 census - Nicknamed 'Arky's' or 'Arkie's'. The monicker was as a result of a customer named Arkwright who kept a regular slate at the pub and one day, unable to pay his debt, had a big argument with the Armitsteads over it. In more recent times, rugby league legend Jack Arkwright kept the Boilermakers and it has also been suggested that the pub was nicknamed after him. 'Big Jack' played rugby league for Warrington and for St.Helens and was the grandfather of Chris Arkwright who played for Saints from 1978–1990. Dave Latham writes to this website:
The Boilermaker Arms
known as 'Arkies' in Hoghton Road photographed in June
2006

Boundary Vaults - 73 Bold Road - Listed in Worrall's Directory of 1871 - On September 23rd, 1874 labourer John Dixon of "Pecker's-hill" died of "excessive drinking of whisky" after entering the pub already drunk then gulping down half a pint of whisky followed by a gill. "Immediately afterwards he fell down insensible" reported the Liverpool Mercury (25/9/1874) - Joseph Greenough licensee in 1891, declared bankrupt in October 1895. Carl Boddy has written to this website to say: "My great-grandfather was Joseph Greenough on my mums side. My mum used to say that her granddad was a drunken old sot who used to drink the pub dry, regularly. That probably explains why he went bankrupt in 1895."

Bowling Green Inn - 220 Watery Lane, Moss Nook - In 1873 the licence was transferred from Thomas Peers to James Bullen - Thomas Whalley publican in 1891 - In December 1892 the licence was transferred from John Arrowsmith to Charles Green who moved from the Manor Arms - On February 7th 1893 the Liverpool Mercury reported that the Bowling Green had been refused a new music licence but no reason was given - John Thomas Addison granted licence in 1894 - The inn was put up for sale by auction in April 1896 and then covered 2506 square yards including the bowling green, outbuildings and a cottage at the rear. Charles Green was the licensee - Licensee in 1911 was Mr. Keenan - Closed 9th July 2006 -
The original Bowling
Green Inn in Robins Lane - contributed by Brenda
Macdonald
Bowling Green Inn
-
125 Robins Lane (no. 93 in 1881 census) - In October 1873
licence transferred from Thomas Peers to James Bullen - In
August 1876 the licence was transferred from Thomas James
Kelson to James Lawler and in August 1878 from Charles
Turner to James Millward - James Grice was publican in 1891
and his licence was transferred in 1894 to John Addison -
Alfred Hunter was 'licensed victualler' in 1901 and 1911
census - Mr. Baines was licensee c.1930 - Brenda Macdonald
writes to this website from Sydney, Australia: "Mum's
school friend Margaret Baines was the daughter of the
licensee and although Mum was never allowed in the front
door of the pub (only children who lived there were
allowed), the girls used to play on the footpath outside
the pub door, which is now fenced off, and were given milk
to drink on hot days."
Bridge
Inn / Tavern
-
37
Sutton Road, Peasley Cross in between St. Joseph's Church
and Sutton Road railway bridge. It was single storey and
painted blue and white and was known for having chained
monkeys in the back yard - William Newton was licensee in
1861 - In August 1882 licence transferred from Thomas Rigby
to George Milne - in October 1884 licence transferred from
Joseph Parr to Thomas Halton - in May 1900 licence
transferred from Henry Bickerstaffe to Alfred Smith who was
still licensee in 1911 - Jack Ashton was both publican and
undertaker - Closed 10th August, 1929 and now the site of
Peasley Cross Labour Club -
Broad
Oak
-
The sole reference to this pub is in a Liverpool Mercury
report of April 15th, 1873: "The license of the Broad Oak,
Sutton, was temporarily transferred from William Pilling to
William Roberts." -
Brynn-y-Fillin
-
Watery Lane (formerly Brynn-y-Fillin road, Moss Nook) -
James Yates Jnr. recorded as taking over the licence from
Ann Ingleby in 1892 -
Bull
& Dog Inn
-
2 Clock Face Road - John Greenhaugh the licensee in 1800,
Thomas Brown 1891, Mary Brown in 1901, Tom Jones in
1914;

Bowlers at the
Bull & Dog c.1914. L to R standing: John 'Scotty' Lamb
(wounded / POW in WW1); Bill Bannister
(wounded on Somme 1916 ); L to R seated: Joe Smart
(champion runner); Joe Bannister (killed at the
Somme 26/4/1917); Tom Jones (landlord); Bill Round; Harry
Ashton; H. Brown - contributed by Jim Lamb

The Bull & Dog
pictured in 1963 by the old Marshalls Cross Road bridge -
contributed by Jim Lamb

By the time this
picture was taken 25 years later, the Bull & Dog had
had a makeover - contributed by Jim
Lamb

Tom Austin of 293
Mill Lane and James 'Bud' Lamb of 7 Chester Lane enjoying a
pint in the
Bull & Dog in 1952 after finishing work at Roughdales
brick works - contributed by Jim Lamb
Bulls Head Inn
-
13 Worsley Brow - Held an inquest on 5-years-old Archibald
McKinnon of Ditch Hillock in December 1865 - Ann Hope
licensee in 1891 - In February 1895 the licence was
transferred from William Clare to John Kane - In November
1899 from F. Sutton to John Brown -
Chester
Lane Tavern
-
14
Chester Lane - Samuel Harrison was licensee from 1874 and
he and his wife Jane kept it until 1900. In 1884 Samuel was
placed on the licensing 'blacklist' for breaches of his
licence - On January 17th, 1894, the Liverpool Mercury
reported that Thomas Howard of 147 Appleton Street had
appeared at St.Helens Police Court the previous day,
charged with stealing five meat pies valued at 10d. The lad
had entered the Chester Lane Tavern, found it to be
seemingly empty and then "took off his clogs, crept
behind the counter, and helped himself to a plate of meat
pies". He was given six strokes with the birch - On
February 6th 1900, 65-years-old licensee Jane Harrison died
under unusual circumstances. On December 27th 1899, two
boys were fighting in Chester Lane. The mother of one boy
ran towards the pair and accidentally collided with Mrs.
Harrison who was knocked down and fractured her thigh.
Pneumonia then set in and she expired despite the efforts
of Dr. Casey. In May the beerhouse's licence was
transferred to daughter Mary Jane Harrison and then in
November 1900 to J.T. Greenall - Mr. Rennie kept it in 1911
- Closed 16th July 1919 -
Church
Inn
-
The Liverpool Mercury of August 15th, 1871 mentions in a
report of St.Helens licence transfers that the Church Inn,
Sutton had passed from Thomas Woodward to Ann Woodward -
Clock
Face Inn
(1st)
-
Clock Face Road - Thomas Grace was the licensee on records
dated 1800 but it is believed to date back further,
probably as a coaching inn - On an 1842 Tithe map it is
registered as a public house and smithy - William Bromilow
was the landlord from the 1860s to the 1880s - Bold Estate
owner William Whitacre Tipping, locally known as 'Squire'
Tipping, owned the inn around this time. - In February 1894
the licence was transferred from Elizabeth Colquitt to
Richard Colquitt - Henry Hibbert was licensee when the
first photograph below was taken - In February 1903 the inn
with gardens, land and outbuildings were put up for sale.
Advertisements described the "Total area, including the
site of the buildings and one-half in width of the intended
new street, 3,595 square yards or thereabouts". -

The original Clock
Face Inn then run by Henry Hibbert - contributed by Sutton
Historic Society

The original Clock Face Inn - a smithy is probably on the
left - contributed by Susan Davies
Clock Face Hotel (2nd) - Clock Face Road - Opened 1909 - H. Trowill was licensee during the 1930s with L. Trowill listed in an advertisement for the pub in the 1950 programme for the Clock Face Colliery Athletics Sports. The advert had the strapline 'The House Where Sportsmen Gather.' - James Lawrence Snr., the owner of Clock Face Crisps, left £100 in his will to the staff of the pub when he died in March 1985 -

Clock Face Hotel
advert in the 1931 programme for the foundation stone
laying of St. Theresa's RC Church
Coppersmiths
Arms
-
296 Watery Lane - Beerhouse keeper Peter Lees who'd been
licensee since 1892, appeared in court in 1896 charged with
being drunk on his own licensed premises. He was arrested
by Sergeant Jackson on 4th July after celebrating the
festival of the Rose Queen in Sutton but the case was
dismissed - Licensee in 1911 was Mr. Garner - Ian Jones
writes "The Coppersmiths Arms was known locally when I was
there from the 1940s to the 1960s as 'Bobby Garner's' (or
Gardners). It was the very first pub I had a pint in. I
notice in the photo on your site that the door is to the
left, originally it was in the middle of the front of the
building where the arched window is shown." - The
Coppersmiths was one of the three last remaining beerhouses
in St.Helens. It was granted a full licence after
modernisation. -

The Coppersmiths
pictured in the mid-1970s – contributed by Dave
Latham

The Coppersmiths
in Watery Lane pictured in the mid-1970s –
contributed by Dave Latham
Crown Inn / Vaults
-
28 Clock Face Road (Chester Lane in 1891 census) - Enoch
Austin obtained the licence in October 1884 from Thomas
Griffith after the beerhouse had been placed on the
licensing 'blacklist' for breaking the law. On July 5th,
Police Sergeant Sheriff had found Griffith drunk and
staggering about his bar and had to help him to his bed. He
was subsequently fined 10 shillings. - The licence was
transferred from Enoch to Joseph Austin in March 1891 -
Samuel Holden was licensee in the 1901 census, Mr. Taylor
in the 1911 census - closed 31st December 1930 -
Crown
Inn
-
Beerhouse at 99 Peasley Cross Lane - In November 1899 the
licence was transferred from Thomas Atherton to Thomas
Bridge - Mr. Foster in 1911 - Closed 13th January,
1917

Dog and Gun - Ell Bess Lane - beerhouse listed in the 1871 census with James Marsh as beerhouse keeper. His son Peter was landlord in 1881 - the censuses suggest that it was located next to the Ell Bess Arms (see photo in Ell Bess Arms entry) -
Ell Bess Arms / Hell Bess Inn - Originally in Hell Bess Lane. There were two street name changes; from the 1870s it became 206 Ell Bess Lane and then 206 Sherdley Road from 1902 - According to the St.Helens Newspaper of 1/4/1938, it used to be kept by a Betty or Bess Seddon "whose vigour in keeping unruly customers in order was such that she was given the name of Hell Bess" - The Brownbill family ran the beerhouse during the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1851 James Brownbill was licensee, Elizabeth Brownbill in 1861 and son James in 1871. James's widow Rosanna Brownbill was licensee in 1881 - In February 1894 the licence was transferred from Rosanna to Henry Johnson - Mary Cosgrove licensee in 1911 - Closed March 8th 1938 although still listed on Ordnance Survey map of 1960 - The Ell Bess garage took over the site, prior to relocating to the old Sutton 'Bug' cinema site. Since the late 1970s, Sherdley Caravan Park has housed travellers on the site - Also see this article here -

Ell Bess Arms
c.1900, probably the building on the right with the former
Dog and Gun on the left - contributed by Allan
Isaacs
Elephant
Inn
-
Edward Bromilow, licensee in 1800 -
Engine
and Tender
-
Leach Lane / Reginald Road, Sutton Leach - It was set back
on the north side from Reginald Road and on the west side
of the railway line, close to the bridge. The old
Abbotsfield Road that linked Leach Hall with Bold Hall came
up the south side of the Hall and passed in front of the
Engine and Tender. When the railway and Reginald Road was
built, Abbotsfield Road was relegated south of Reginald
Road to a footpath
(source Chris Coffey).
- The Engine and Tender served as both a farm house for
Leach Hall Farm and a public house - In 1884 Jacob Wood was
placed on the licensing 'blacklist' for breaches of his
licence - In November 1897 the licence was transferred from
James Wood to Ralph Fenney - In November 1901 landlord
Edward Almond was fined 10s. for being drunk on his
premises after drinking in the Vulcan Inn - The Engine and
Tender was renowned for gambling both on and off the
premises - Closed 1st March, 1938 - last landlord and
farmer was Mr. Garton who was licensee from before 1918. He
was offered the new pub that was being built in Mill Lane,
which was to have also been called the Engine and Tender,
but turned it down
(see Wheatsheaf and Crystal Palace entries for more
details)
-
Engine
-
John Bromilow held the licence in 1800 -
Engine
Shed Inn
-
104 Baxters Lane - John Thomas Addison was granted licence
of the beerhouse in 1891 from John Pennington, George Shaw
licensee in 1894 and John Morris - who was also a joiner -
became licensee in 1895 -
Farmers
Arms
-
1 Bold Road at its junction with Normans Lane - From the
late 1870s it was managed by the Tinsley family. John
Tinsley died in 1877 and his wife Ann became publican/beer
seller until she died in 1895. By 1901 their son John had
taken over as licensee (thanks to Chris Carson for the
details) - Owners Greenall Whitley were given
permission to make alterations in November 1894 - During
the 1940s / early '50s 'Nellie' Brown had the licence and
from 1970 to 1972 it was Oz Atherton and his wife
Christina.
George
and Dragon
-
Peasley Cross Lane - William Duxburry licensee in 1891 -
Glasshouse
Tavern
-
Watery Lane - In the Liverpool Mercury of July 19th, 1878
the Glasshouse was offered for sale by auction - In August
1878 the licence was transferred from Thomas Brown to Job
Heath -

The Glassmakers in
Waterdale Crescent c.1900 - contributed by Sutton Historic
Society
Tap Room of the
Glassmakers Arms, 1965 from L to R: 1) Tommy Spencer,
railway shunter who travelled by autocycle; 2) Unknown; 3)
Ernie Middlehurst - landlord - one of the last of the old
school - Jack Walker of Coronation Street could have been
modelled on him; 4) Enoch Westhead and 5) Jimmy(?) Westhead
(Contributed and comments by Ken Whittaker)

Golden Cross / Golden Ball
-
5 Church Street / Woodcock Street, 'Pudding Bag' - Tom
Woodcock was said to have been the first landlord of the
Golden Ball pub. It has been claimed that when the street
changed its name to Woodcock Street in 1902, it was renamed
after him. - The pub itself was renamed The Golden Cross
because it was usually the first port of call for people
leaving the 11am Sunday Mass at neighbouring
St.Anne’s church. - In 1884 Thomas Archer was placed
on the licensing 'blacklist' for breaches of his licence -
Samuel Cox licensee in 1891 - Peter Almond was licensee in
1911 - Ann Foster licensee in the early 1930s with Louie
Holland mine host in 1935 and later Louise Hunter - It's
said that St Anne's football team, with a priest as their
trainer, sometimes changed at the Golden Cross. - The last
licensee was said to be Mick Caulfield although another
source says Joe Holland. Mr. Caulfield had a couple of
geese that roamed around the front of the pub and chased
anyone who came close. - Closed mid-sixties and demolished
early '70s -

The Golden Cross
pub in Woodcock Street, formerly Church Street, 'Pudding
Bag', Sutton
Green Dragon
-
Gartons Lane, Sutton Manor - Ken Highcock in
Whalley’s World in the St.Helens Star described the
early 1950s when his mother worked at the Green Dragon. He
said the sawdust on the floor in the bar area was swept
clean every day and spittoons were emptied and polished
ready for the opening-time rush from the miners at Sutton
Manor Colliery -
Griffin
Inn
-
147 Peasley Cross Lane, corner with Sutton Road - Josiah
Foden had the licence in 1800. - The annual Sutton Township
ratepayers' meetings were held in the Griffin. - Licence in
1861 was held by Martha Helsby and in August 1876 it was
transferred from Mrs. Helsby to James Kay - In March 1880
the licence was transferred from Kay to Joseph Fairhurst -
Henry Houghton was licensee in 1891 and 1911 and
unsuccessfully stood in local elections in October 1897 as
Conservative candidate for West Sutton - Harold Burrows was
mine host in recent times - "The eyesore of an empty pub
was demolished in 2005, after five years of gradual
dereliction. The site is being cleared to make way for new
flats" (source an undated St.Helens news
report)
-

The Griffin Inn in
Peasley Cross Lane - contributed by Sutton Historic
Society
Griffin Inn a.k.a. Tipping Arms
-
184 Warrington Road, Bold Heath - The nickname 'Tipping
Arms' was after Bold Estate owner William Whitacre Tipping,
locally known as 'Squire' Tipping. - Five Farnworth weavers
were charged with assaulting parochial constable Thomas
Smith in the Griffin on September 9th, 1844 after a fight
had begun - License was transferred from Charles Knee to
Thomas Hutchinson in April 1874. - In August 1882 the
licence was transferred from James Melling to Thomas
Langhorn - On October 3rd 1882, 40-years-old Thomas
Williams, who was said to have been "tramping" from
Warrington to Liverpool and who was wearing a "hard
billycock hat", drank a pint of beer in the Tipping Arms,
gave three heavy groans and then dropped dead. - In
February 1903 the inn was put up for sale -

The Griffin Inn in
Warrington Road, Bold Heath photographed in
2009
Hawk
and Buck
-
91 Peasley Cross Lane, corner with Manor Street - James
Lawton was licensee in 1859 - Listed in Worrall's Directory
of 1871 - Carpenter Samuel Ranon dropped down dead in the
pub on March 10th 1877 - In August 1879 licence transferred
from James Bate to George Houghton who was licensee until
February 1900 when his licence was transferred to his
brother-in-law James Cunliffe - Peasley Cross Football Club
had its headquarters at the Hawk and Buck. On May 7th 1898
William Rowland of 51 Ellbess Lane was fined 20 shillings
for stealing a silver watch from John Bretherton who'd left
it in the dressing room at the pub while he was playing at
Sherdley. - Extensive alterations took place in 1899 -
Demolished in early 1970s -
Hell
Bess Inn
-
See entry for Ell Bess Inn
Imperial
Hotel / Inn
-
354 Sutton Road - Opened in 1869 as an inn under licensee
James Bullen and listed in Worrall's Directory of 1871 -
David Jones listed as licensee in the 1891 & 1901
censuses - It was described as a beerhouse in the 1911
census and run by a Mr. McConnell - In March 1980, 800
Sutton residents signed a petition to try to stop its
closure after licensee Phil Soffe was refused a new licence
because of how the premises were being run -
Junction
Inn
-
102
Junction Lane - On September 29th 1886, Joseph Neil was
committed for trial charged with indecently assaulting Jane
Davies, the 13-years-old daughter of the landlord of the
Junction Inn - The McDermott family ran the pub for many
years from 1932 - See
Memories of Sutton
5
article 'The Rolling Mill Tavern and the Junction Inn' by
Alan McDermott - Celebrity regulars included boxer Ernie
Proudlove and footballer Bert Trautmann. In later years
Gary Barlow in pre-Take That days performed twice when
Billy Robinson was licensee. Son Phil writes that he tried
to book Barlow for a third time but "he declined saying
that he was booked on a cruise ship to meet up with some
other members of a boy band he was going to be in..." -

The Junction Inn
in Junction Lane, Sutton c.1960 - contributed by Alan
McDermott

A view from the station of The
Junction Inn in Junction Lane, Sutton - contributed by
Alan McDermott

Greenall's tenancy
agreement with Michael McDermott for the Junction Inn -
contributed by Alan McDermott

The Junction Inn at 102 Junction Lane, Sutton pictured
during the 2006 World Cup


Two pictures of the Locomotive Inn, known as the 'Round House - contributed by Sutton Historic Society

Mechanics Arms - Beerhouse in Ellamsbridge Road (originally 38 Peckers Hill) - In 1870 John Critchley became licensee. In 1874 he sued lodger Joseph Greenough for breach of promise and seduction for getting his daughter Margaret in trouble and changing his mind about marriage. Critchley was awarded £150 damages. - In August 1882 licence transferred from Alexander Laird to James Felix - On October 31st 1892, licensee Alfred Stockton appeared in St.Helens Police Court charged with selling beer during prohibited hours. Customers John Williams of 132 Herbert Street, John Hogg of 44 Ellamsbridge Road, Thomas and James Ward of Leach Lane and Michael Murphy of Junction Lane were also summoned for being on licensed premises during prohibited hours. The bench dismissed the case. - Licence transferred from Alfred Stockton to Samuel Mason in August 1893 - In February 1894 licence transferred from Samuel Mason to Edward Williams - In November 1899 transferred from Edward to Margaret Williams - nicknamed 'Staffordshire Knot' -

William J. Cope had been a skilled sailmaker on a sailing ship and had long connections with the sea prior to pulling pints at the Mill House. When he left the pub as licensee in May 1899, he took nearby premises and became a successful tent and marquee maker. In July 1909 when King Edward V11 visited Knowsley Hall, to inspect detachments of the Territorial Army, Lord Derby ordered a tent from Cope to accommodate a shooting party. The family enterprise eventually closed in 1967. - James Walls became licensee in May 1899 - Mrs. Lawrence (pictured right) was licensee during the 1940s - In 1983 £70,000 was spent by Tetley Walker in refurbishing the Mill House. -


New Vaults in
Peasley Cross Lane - contributed by Sutton Historic
Society
Oak Tree Inn
-
8 Gerrards Lane - major building contractor John 'Bally'
Whittaker, who was 31 stone, was licensee c.1880 -
Pear
Tree Inn
-
Collins Green - built by John 'Bally' Whittaker
-


Pickled Egg
-
see Manor Arms
Pig
and Whistle
-
Ell Bess Lane (later 148 Sherdley Road) - In August
1879 its licence was transferred from James Marsh to Peter
Marsh - In July 1892 it was transferred from John Molyneux
to Albert Edward Johnson - In 1911 it was David Wilson as
licensee although the beerhouse seems to have been run by
son Harold -
Plough Inn
-
Hoghton Road - Closed September 1912 -

Queen's Arms / Head - 17 Worsley Brow - Listed in Worrall's Directory of 1871 - In June 1878, William Whittaker was granted a music licence. On January 24th 1885, Whittaker took part in a pigeon-flying match from St.George's Hall, Liverpool against another St.Helens publican, William Houghton. Whittaker's pigeon returned to the Queens Arms seconds after Houghton's bird arrived at his pub, losing Whittaker a £25 bet. - Mr. Horrocks was licensee in 1911 - Closed 10th March, 1931 -
Railway Inn / Hotel - 10/12 Worsley Brow - Listed in Worrall's Directory of 1871 - The 1881 census lists the publican as Thomas Mills and the 1891 census states the publican as William Burrows. - The pub was put up for sale by auction in April 1896 and was said to cover 250 square yards including outbuildings. - The Liverpool Mercury of October 24th, 1896, reported that during the previous day, William Burrows, who had been unwell, had "suddenly expired" after going for a walk - In February 1897 license transferred from William Burrows to Ann Burrows - On January 5th, 1900, Ann Burrows was convicted for permitting drunkenness on her licensed premises and fined 40s. - Licensee Mr. Taylor in 1911 - Closed 18th January, 1935 -
Red Lion Inn - Robins Lane - The Red Lion has been nicknamed 'The Glass Barrel' as such a barrel hung over the doorway of the original inn - The first Red Lion Hotel was demolished in 1963 and a new pub was built on land at its rear - The landlord in December 1871 was Hamlet Norris - Landlord Thomas Lunt was made bankrupt in 1879 - In 1881 the publican was Elizabeth Rigby - On December 10th 1891, the Red Lion was severely damaged by a storm and a chimney stack crashed through the roof into a room. - In 1892 an application was made to transfer the Red Lion's licence from James Baldwin to James Pilkington. However, doubts were raised as to the moral fibre of Pilkington with one newspaper reporting allegations that he was a ladies man:
The Red Lion on the
corner of Robins Lane pictured in June 2006 during the
World Cup
Red Rat Inn
-
2
Ellamsbridge Road - Opened around 1850, closed 29th
January, 1927 but not demolished until 22nd August, 1960 -
In March 1880 the licence was transferred from Ralph
Unsworth to James Barton. The Barton family ran the
beerhouse until the 1920s. - John Rimmer was the last
licensee - In Frank Bamber's 'Clog Clatters of Old
Sutton', he states his belief that the pub was so named
because of the residues of rouge used in glassmaking, which
when discharged into the Sutton Brook, coloured the water
and the creatures in it red - This was confirmed by a
Whalley's World article in the St.Helens Star (date
unknown), which also claimed that in a national survey
of 60,000 public houses, the Red Rat was found to have been
the only one in Britain with that obscure name -
Roe
Buck
-
Bold - listed in an 1800 directory of Victuallers and Ale
House keepers - Samuel Oldwright kept the house in 1800 -
Rolling
Mill Tavern
-
31 Watery Lane - A beerhouse in 1884 when beerseller
Richard Leadbetter's application for a spirit licence was
refused - Kept by Michael and Louisa McDermott from 1910
until 1932 and nicknamed 'Snig's Foot' - See
Memories of Sutton 5 article 'The
Rolling Mill Tavern and the Junction
Inn'
by Alan McDermott - In 1932 Michael McDermott moved to
the Junction Inn and his brother Patrick McDermott took
over the Tavern’s premises, running it as a coal
delivery business -
licensee of the Rolling
Mill Tavern in Watery Lane, Michael McDermott and family
Greenall Whitley's
tenancy agreement of October 1910 with Michael McDermott to
run the Rolling Mill Tavern
at 31 Watery Lane in Sutton - contributed by Michael
McDermott's grandson Alan McDermott
Ship Inn
-
William Houghton licensee in 1800. Closed by 1820 -
Smithy Manor
-
Jubits Lane, Sutton Manor
The Smithy Manor during
the 1980s in the shadow of Sutton Manor Colliery -
contributed by Frazer Nairn
The Smithy Manor pub in
Jubits Lane photographed in 1990 - contributed by Clive
Hanley

Stanley Arms / Inn - Peasley Cross Lane - Listed in Worrall's Directory of 1871 - Jacob Grayson was publican in 1881 - Thomas Knowles was landlord in 1883 and was summoned on November 12th for selling at prohibited hours but the case was dismissed - Edward Holland took over the pub in September 1884 after it had been placed on the licensing 'blacklist' for breaking the law - On November 26th, 1890 coal dealer and carter George Eccleston sued landlord William Duxbury for £50 damages as a result of Duxbury's fox terrier biting him on his thigh while he was delivering coal to the pub - A new pub was built in 1894 - On July 10th 1896, the licensee John Webster was fined 10 shillings for being drunk on his own premises. On June 19th he had been discovered by PC Adams stripped to the waist in his yard, preparing to fight his son-in-law. His solicitor said Webster wasn't drunk but was "suffering from excitement". - On August 10th his licence was transferred to John Cunliffe - In May 1900 licence transferred from John Cunliffe to William Chadwick - Closed March 7th 1932 -
Swan Inn - 88 Baxters Lane - Blacksmith Thomas Leyland was granted licence of the beerhouse in 1890 from Edward Burrows and he was also the publican in 1901 - Closed 1910 -
Sutton Arms - Corner of Sherdley Road and Elephant Lane - The Sutton Arms was built about 1970 after a new estate was constructed on land opposite the pub, formerly belonging to Jack Goodison -

Sherdley
Cottages in Sherdley Road in 1964 which became the site
of the Sutton Arms. Of the two cottages one was occupied
by Ernie Kirkman, reputedly the tallest man in St.Helens.
Nearest cottage by the Fairhurst family - contributed by
Robert Brown.
Tanners Arms (possibly Farmers Arms) - 106 Peasley Cross Lane - In 1871 it was managed by Joseph Woodward who died about 1873 (thanks to Brian Woodward for the details) -
Three Tuns - Jane Finney was licensee in 1800
Tipping Arms - See entry for the Griffin Inn
Victoria Vaults - 32 Ellamsbridge Road - Nicknamed 'The Little Pig' as it was located close to Fletcher's slaughterhouse and it has been claimed that the landlord would accept piglets instead of cash. It was so listed on the 1891 census and the pub now bears both names - In 1871 there were three pubs called Victoria in St.Helens - Licensee James Rainford on 1871 census - In December 1871 the license transferred to Ellen Kenyon - In July 1886 the Victoria Vaults was put up for auction with the licensee then (and in 1891) William Almond. Adverts said "The premises are in a populous and improving neighbourhood, and are let to Messrs. Greenall, Whitley, & Co. Limited, until the 1st November, 1888, at the low yearly rental of £42". - The pub was the home of the local Oddfellows Lodge and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants held there business meetings there - Licensee in 1911 was Mr. Leadbetter -

The Victoria on
the corner of Ellamsbridge Road and Edgeworth Road also
bears its nickname 'The Little Pig'
Vulcan Inn
-
243 Robins Lane on corner of Peckers Hill Road - In April
1874 the licence was transferred from George Sephton to
Thomas Appleton - An application for a music licence made
in June 1878 by licensee Maria Bradbury was ganted - In
February 1893, Charles Nicholson's licence was transferred
to John Makin. An application for a music licence made in
February 1896 by Makin was refused - The pub was put up for
sale by auction in April 1896 and was said to cover 276
square yards including outbuildings - The Sutton
Horticultural Society used to meet in the Vulcan around
1900 - The licensee in 1911 was Mr. Holbrooke -
Wheatsheaf
Hotel
(1st)
-
Lionel Street by the Junction Station (listed as 2 May
Place in 1891) - James Thompson kept it in 1856 - Jane
Burrows was 'public house keeper' in 1881 census - Robert
Silcock was a publican - Alteration plans were approved in
May 1895 - Licensee in 1911 was William Taylor - Last
landlord was demolition contractor Dave Rothwell - closed
1938 -
Wheatsheaf
Hotel
(2nd)
-
Mill Lane, Sutton Leach opened in 1938 - Frank Bamber in
his memoirs 'Clog Clatters in Old Sutton' described
how brewers Greenalls gave a free pint to all who attended
the opening with local preachers John Kitts and Billy
'Chippy' Southern unsuccessfully attempting to stop a large
crowd from entering the new pub, warning that it was
"the House of the Devil" - It was originally going
to be called the new Engine and Tender but after the
landlord of the old pub, Mr. Garton, turned down an offer
to manage it, the pub was offered to Dave Rothwell who in
accepting took with him the Wheatsheaf name - Pub has a
renowned sloping floor and has been prone to flooding -

The Wheatsheaf on
the corner of Mill Lane and Leach Lane pictured during the
World Cup in June 2006
White Angel
-
Nook Lane - nicknamed 'The Blazing Stump' - built in
1762 - Described in a newspaper report of 1902 as "Mr.
Barrow's Old White House" -
Wind
Mill
-
William Liptrot mine host in 1820 -
Off Licences in Sutton
a)
253 New Street
-
In September 1896 Edward Needham was granted an off-licence
which in May 1900 was transferred to W. Stockley - see
brewery listings below
b)
10 Grimshaw Street
-
In May 1900 licence transferred from Francis Helsby to
Thomas Sephton
c)
337 Mill Lane
(near Bull and Dog & opposite Marshalls Cross
school)
-
William Bath then daughter Lucy Bath were licensees. The
beer pumps were in the cellar and customers brought jugs to
be filled. -
d)
Peasley Cross Lane
-
This was held by Jane Twist but was removed in 1891 as she
had not made use of the licence for some years - Licence
transferred from William Twist in October 1884 -
e)
111 Robins Lane
-
Grocers - John Rigby appeared in court in December 1891 for
selling beer from a horse and cart without a licence.
Police Sergeant Brooks had sent a lad with a jug to buy two
quarts of beer from Rigby, the boy telling the 23-years-old
that the beer was for a James Woods of Junction Lane. Rigby
claimed that he was delivering beer that had been ordered
at his father's house, which held an off-licence, and the
boy had misled him. The magistrates fined young Rigby 10
shillings and recommended that his father Joseph "conduct
his business in a more careful and systematic manner." - In
December 1892 the off-licence was transferred from Joseph
Rigby to Thomas Frodsham -
f)
95 Robins Lane
-
Grocers - In July 1892 the off-licence was transferred from
Edward Rigby to Thomas Frodsham and in December 1892 from
Frodsham to Elijah Mahoney. -
g)
51 Ditch Hillock
(Waterdale Crescent)
-
In 1893 an off-licence was transferred from James Smith to
James Arthur Smith then to John or James Cook in 1897 after
Smith was made bankrupt -
h)
Phoenix Brewery
-
78 Peckers Hill Road - See listing
above
i)
Four Acre House, Jubits Lane
-
For 10 years from about 1881, proprietor Edward Greenough
allowed beer to be consumed daily outside his provisions
shop and had furnished chairs and jugs. He believed he had
found a loophole in his off-license as his customers were
drinking on public land. However on September 11th, 1891,
Greenough was prosecuted after it was proven to be private
land. A deal was done and Chief Constable Wood withdrew the
summons after Greenough agreed not to allow consumption
outside his premises. On May 27th, 1895 he was fined £5 for
opening his shop during prohibited hours. A charge of
selling beer for consumption on his off-licensed premises
was withdrawn. His neighbours John Leather, Joseph S.
Almond, Peter Barrett, Richard Lacey and Mary Woodward were
fined 10s. each for being on licensed premises out of
hours. On September 24th 1895, Greenough's licence was not
renewed after Chief Constable Wood objected, stating that
his character was unsatisfactorily. He told the licensing
committee that Greenough's house was in an isolated
position and the police were unable to supervise it
properly. Several witnesses had given evidence supporting
Greenough's character and had told the hearing that he sang
in Sutton Parish Church's choir. However the magistrates,
who included Sutton's Arthur Sinclair of Waterdale, were
unimpressed. -
Breweries in Sutton
a)
Phoenix Brewery -
78 Peckers Hill Road - See listing
above
b)
Brook Brewery
-
Sutton - Owned by John Dixon Parry. In September 1853 he
sued an agent called Blenkinstone for £16 4s 1d who sold
Parry's beer but hadn't passed on all the proceeds. In 1855
Parry was made bankrupt.
c)
Leathers / John Cross & Co -
Leather Hill in Sutton at the end of Mill Lane (which
became Elton Head Road) not far from where the Black Horse
pub is now. Listed as Sutton Brewery on the 1849 Ordnance
Survey map. Probably closed around 1850.
d)
Star Brewery
- 253 New Street - elderly couple William and Sarah
Winterbottom ran it from their home - In the 1891 census,
Sarah's occupation is described as "assists Husband
Brew" - see off licences listings above

Sutton Beauty & Heritage strives for factual accuracy at all times. Please do also get in touch if you believe that there are any errors, with details of any corrections contained within the site's update history page, which also details the regular updates. Many individuals from all over the world have kindly contributed Sutton information and photographs. If you would like to participate in this project, I would be delighted to hear from you and this website always credits any assistance given. Do also consider contributing any recollections of old Sutton that you might have for the Sutton Memories pages, which are proving very popular. I respond quickly to emails and if you haven't received a response within 12 hours, do check your junk mail folder or send your message again. Thank you! SRW




