Introduction - On November 21st, 1855, Rev. Carr, the vicar of St.Helens parish church, addressed a public meeting at the Town Hall and called for the creation of a temperance and teetotal league, so that St.Helens would become a town "remarkable for its hatred of all intoxicating liquors" (Liverpool Mercury 23/11/1855). The cleric failed miserably in his aim and in 1884 Superintendent Johnson reported to the borough licensing committee that there were a total of two hundred and ninety-two public houses and beerhouses within St.Helens.

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.

Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, was responsible for putting the Beerhouse Act of 1830 on the statute list, keen to curb the rise of gin consumption and bypass local magistrates. Prior to the Act, drinking houses were either taverns or inns. In taverns you only ate and drank but inns also offered lodgings to travellers and could stay open as long as there was an empty bed.

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.

The borough licensing committees of around eight to twelve magistrates considered existing licence renewals plus new applications. In 1884 ten St.Helens publicans and nine beersellers were on the committee's "blacklist" for infringing their licence. Also in that year it was revealed that there were more licensed premises in Sutton per head of population than in any of the other St.Helens districts, with Superintendent Johnson informing the committee that there was a licensed house for every 310 persons in Sutton.

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 Sutton Tragedy 2 - When The Dead Went To The Pub! – Coroners Inquests in Old Sutton;
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, 1932

Alma Vaults - Alma Street / Peasley Cross Lane - Not to be confused with pubs in Duke Street, Liverpool Road and Eccleston - Closed 11th February 1922 -

Beehive Inn - 268 Berry's Lane, Moss Nook - licence transferred in March 1891 from William Jones to David Chenney - On Boxing Day 1894, David Parry of Parr Stocks Road was fined ten shillings for stealing a duck from the Beehive Inn, the property of landlord Michael Bryan - In May 1895 the licence was transferred from Michael Bryan to Jane Bryan -

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."

Henry Leather took over in 1896 and was still the publican in 1901 - On June 4th 1898, Mary Welsh of Neil's Row, Bold appeared in court charged with stealing a tumbler from the Boundary Vaults. She was caught with it in her possession but claimed that the bag she was carrying did not belong to her and she was given the benefit of the doubt by magistrates. - Renamed 'The Sutton Oak' around 1990 despite not being within the Sutton Oak district - In August 2006 it won the CAMRA Pub of the Year award for best pub within the Liverpool district - The Sutton Oak closed c. 2009 -

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

Crystal Palace - 72 Waterdale Crescent (originally Ditch Hillock) - Located on the eastern side, just before the road joined Robins Lane. It was only the size of a terraced house and part of a block of buildings. - George Parr was beerseller in 1855 and made the Liverpool Mercury of September 28th when his black Spanish hen laid extra-large eggs of 63/8 inches in circumference. He made the papers again in 1865 when he was declared bankrupt, a fate that occurred to a number of licensees. - The Bullocks ran the Crystal Palace in 1891 with James transferring the licence to Mary Bullock in March 1891. The Bullock's were still there in 1911 - When brewers Greenall Whitley asked for permission in the late 1930s to open the new Wheatsheaf pub in Mill Lane, it was made a condition that three existing pubs should close. These were the Crystal Palace, Engine and Tender and the first Wheatsheaf in Lionel Street.   (see Wheatsheaf entries for more details) - Closed 12th January, 1935

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 -

Glassmakers Arms - 22 Waterdale Crescent (originally 22 Ditch Hillock) - Opened around 1860 - In April 1874 licence transferred from Peter Sephton to Robert Bridge who was also a builder and Bridge was declared bankrupt in 1880 - In October 1884 licence transferred from William Spencer to George Brown - In 1891 census the listed publican was James Bath - On February 7th, 1894 a "respectably-dressed middle-aged man" drank a pint of beer at the Glassmakers then went out back to an outhouse where he cut his throat; the Liverpool Mercury (8/2/1894) reported that it was "dreadfully cut from ear to ear" - In November 1900 Thomas Thomley was appointed temporary licensee and is listed in the 1901 census - In the 1911 census the listed publican was Mr. Cawley - Ernie Middlehurst was licensee from c.1944 to 1965 - An article in the St.Helens Reporter of October 6th, 1972 claimed that Londoners who'd moved to Sutton to work for Sidac had taken a shine to the Glassmakers Arms and had given it their own pet name:

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

Locomotive Inn - 78 Ellamsbridge Road on the corner of Peckers Hill Road (78 Peckers Hill in the 1871 census where it is listed as Round House) - Listed in Worrall's Directory of 1871 - The Locomotive was nicknamed 'The Round House' by Suttoners because of its curved structure - Jeremiah Haslam was licensee in 1871. - Thomas Fenney became licensee during the 1880s after his marriage to Louise Moyers, a relative of the Haslams. Tommy Fenney is said to have let the pub run down and so his wife's niece, Ellen Haslam, assisted by her sister Margaret, were allowed to take it over and are so recorded in the 1891 census - On December 1st 1896, two sinkers at Bold Colliery, Michael Flannery and Lawrence Garrity, got into an argument at the Locomotive whilst having a drink; the row spilled outside and the dispute led to Garrity of Normans Lane, Sutton receiving a serious stab wound to his neck; "blood", according to the Liverpool Mercury, "flowed profusely" (December 2nd, 1896) - In 1900 Ellen Haslam's licence was reviewed after one of her staff sold threepennyworth of whisky to a seven-years-old boy. Chief Constable Wood opposed her licence renewal. He said there was no necessity as there were three fully licensed houses, a beerhouse and an off-licence within 200 yards. As it was proved that the boy had bought the whiskey for a sick adult, Ellen Haslam's licence was renewed. The Mayor Cllr. J. Beecham, as chair of the bench, pointed out that she had a long and creditable record but must be more careful in future. She had been caught in a drive against under-age drinking. In October 1897, the St.Helens Watch Committee had instructed the police to warn all St.Helens licensed houses against serving children under 13 years of age with liquor and in offering them sweets and toys as inducements to enter their premises. - A niece of the Haslams, Anne Mary, was brought up in the Round House and she married brass moulder Charles Heyes. He took over the licence around 1905 and their family of nine was brought up in the pub, although Heyes continued to work at a local foundry. In 1913 Charles Hayes and Jack Yates patented a safety device that was intended to prevent mine cages from plummeting if ropes or chains broke and an improved version was patented in 1921. Heyes became a director of the British Quick Fire Light Company based in Hoghton Road but was made bankrupt in 1924. Charles Heyes left the Locomotive and moved to Croydon to find work - George Almond was a licensee early in the 20th century - About 1949 John Leslie Houghton took over the pub, initially in the name of his wife Ann. He bred and showed Irish Setters and kept dog kennels in the large stables at the rear of the Locomotive. Between 1961 and 1987, John was Chairman and President of St Helens Canine Society and left the pub c.1954. - The Locomotive Inn closed during the mid-1970s - Manor Arms / House - 351 Sutton Road - Renamed 'The Pickled Egg' after pub-goers' nickname for the hostelry - In April 1873 the licence was transferred from Maria Lecomber to Thomas Bullen - In August 1878 it was transferred from James Mitre to Samuel Burrow - In March 1880 the licence was transferred from James Clough to Paul Rigby - In December 1892 it was transferred from Charles Green to Thomas Waywell and in February 1894 from Waywell to Valentine Walls - Licensee in 1911 was Mr. Brown -

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' - Mill House Inn - 172 Mill Lane - The Mill House pub takes its name from the former water mill that was located on the opposite side of Mill Lane - On December 29th, 1881, 78-year-old labourer Samuel Helsby of Marshalls Cross was burned to death in the taproom at the Mill House; he probably fell asleep over the fire - In November, 1899 brothers-in-law Thomas Holland and Ambrose Price were convicted of wounding the licensee John Latimer by breaking a poker over the landlord's head. Holland was fined 15 shillings in St.Helens Police Court.

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. -

Navigation Tavern Inn - William Bate licensee in 1800, George Nortcliffe in 1863 - Numerous inquests were held at the pub during the 19th century - It was in close proximity to St.Helens Canal and many suicides or accidental drownings took place there. For example, on December 10th, 1866, the unfortunately-named Mary Death fell in and on June 20th, 1868, 50-year-old William Gillibrand of Greenough Row, Sutton threw himself into the canal by the tavern - In 1876 new premises were built - New Vaults - 90 Peasley Cross Lane - listed in Worrall's 1871 Directory - James Moyers licensee 1891 -

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 -

Phoenix Brewery - 78 Peckers Hill Road - it supplied ale both to pubs and (from 1892) direct to the public - Founded by Jane Barrow, by the 1860s it was run by Thomas Barrow. It was later owned by the Wilcock and the Finlay families. - Proprietor Charles Wilcock also owned a wholesale provision and provender warehouse at the corner of Baldwin Street and Cotham Street and a wholesale wine and spirit business in Barrow Street. Wilcock represented Sutton on the Board of Guardians for four years prior to his death on January 28th, 1877 aged 58 years. According to the St.Helens Newspaper's account of 3/2/1877, he died in his carriage on his way home from Sunday mass at Lowe House: "...he suddenly threw up his arms and exclaimed "The Lord have mercy on me," and fell towards Mrs. Wilcock and expired." Wilcock was a benefactor to the poor and was said to have given gifts to 50 people each week. - On August 31st, 1892, Phoenix Brewery was granted an off-licence in addition to its wholesale licence. It promised the magistrates that there would be no "jug" sales. The brewery was moving into the bottling business but would not make any sales to the general public of less than a dozen bottles. It was then run by Thomas Charles Wilcock, who was also a Lieutenant-Colonel and Chairman of the St.Helens Committee managing the Saints rugby club. - In February 1894 the licence was transferred to Ann Wilcock - The Finlays are listed in the 1911 census -

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 -

Prince of Wales Hotel - 2 Junction Lane - In April 1874 licence transferred from Margaret Houghton to Ellen Kenyon who in the 1891 census was listed as the 78-year-old licensee with Ellen's grandson John Houghton as manager and later licensee - In 1911 widow Julia Houghton was the publican - Norman Edwards wrote in Whalley's World in the St.Helens Star (3/8/2006), that every Sunday his grandfather preacher Lott Kitts and his mission would position themselves in Junction Lane in front of a small police-box to "blast anyone entering or leaving the Prince of Wales pub" with fire and brimstone warnings for "anyone sober enough to listen". -

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: Pilkington did win his licence but in February 1893 it was transferred to Charles Nicholson - In August 1893 the licence was transferred from Nicholson to Peter Webb and in November 1894 from William Lythgoe to William Albert Battersby - The pub was put up for sale by auction in April 1896 and was said to cover 351 square yards, including outbuildings. - In September 1896 permission was granted by licensing magistrates to convert two rooms into one - Sarah Battersby, widow of William, was granted the licence c.1896 and in 1898 she married railway labourer John Armstrong. He was dismissed by LNWR as they wouldn't allow him to live in a pub. Sarah was forced to give up her licence after getting into arrears with payments to the brewery. John Armstrong who acted as her manager, was declared bankrupt in February 1900 after borrowing a total of £70 from four moneylenders to help develop the business. - Sutton Harriers met at the Red Lion and in October 1899 their "first annual smoking concert" was recorded by the St.Helens Newspaper - Charles H. Rainford granted licence in February 1900. - On November 15th 1900 James Shepherd was fined 40 shillings for stealing 7s. 6d. from the Red Lion's till after ordering a pint. - Elizabeth Cole granted temporary licence in June 1916 as her licensee husband had joined the army -

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

The Soldier - Peasley Cross Lane - Closed 1906

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 - Sutton Oak - See entry for Boundary Vaults above

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

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