GREAT HARWOOD

PUBLIC HOUSES 1860 TO 1870

With the town growing rapidly there was obviously greater demand for a refreshing pint after a hard shift in t' mills or down t' pit and when the next Blackburn and District Directory was published in 1865 additional licences had been granted to meet this demand.

Walmesley Arms

On the corner of Queen Street and Barnmeadow Lane this had been a farmhouse occupied at some time by Robert Smith builder of Wellington Mill. One of its buildings is dated 1788 but with mills strung along the streams in the centre of town it was adapted to another, perhaps more profitable, use. Above the door is the coat of arms of the Walmesleys of Dunkenhalgh.

Here with the Mathew Brown sign it is now another Scottish and Newcastle house.

Commercial Hotel

Built in 1865 the Commercial was the first purpose built pub since the Lomax Arms. Close to Delph Road it meant that the Crab Tree Inn at Butts was deemed no longer necessary and it lost its licence.

With its high ceiling and large windows the Commercial has a different "feel" to the older pubs and has, as yet, retained its games and smoking rooms.

Weaver's Arms

Listed in the 1865 Directory as :
Edwin Dugdale, retailer of beer,
Cross Gates.

A small, cozy, pub.

Stop and Rest

As the roof line shows these cottages were built at different times mostly during the early nineteenth century. Called Edge End they were on the edge of Harwood moor and even with recent housing developments they are still set apart from the rest of the town.
In 1864, however, this area was busy with traffic to and from Edge End Quarry which the Local Board had taken over to supply materials for the paving and sewering of the town. Geoffrey Taylor saw the opportunity and applied to the Local Board to alter the two end houses and erect an additional bulding. Plans were approved and the Stop and Rest beer-house was opened in 1866 though it is now long gone.

Church Street Tavern

The 1870 Directory, in addition to the other ale-houses, lists :
Ainsworth Chew, beer retailer, 28 Church Street.

A small pub which has had problems over the last few years changing tenents frequently and latterly its brewer from Thwaites to Mitchels.

Pub Map

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Last updated 11th June 2004
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