HAVING travelled down Station Road, through the Market Place in search of Winsford lost pubs we continue up the High St from where we left off.

Up towards Delamere Street but before we leave, we have The Albert in the High Street, believed to be part of Victoria Terrace at the top.

It opened in 1869 and closed in 1911 but no photo here. There is also mention of a Drum & Monkey pub in the same location, but I can find no other mention of it. Sometimes small beerhouses are listed merely as a beer retailer.

But on to Delamere Street and the first lost pub, we come to is the Black Bear, now still standing as a private house. Lord Delamere owned the pub until 1892, and the first licensee was John Dean in 1810.

Northwich Guardian:

The Black Bear Inn

Next door was the Over Brewery who took it over in 1894. It had stabling for seven horses, and It was forced to close as a pub in 1923.

The owners received £850 and the last licensee Frederick Wild also £850 which was quite a lot in 1923 and in today’s money would be about £52,200.

Northwich Guardian:

The Over Brewery behind the Black Bear Inn

Over the road was the Wheatsheaf at 7 Delamere Street, the first licensee recorded was in 1810, and was Elizabeth Mather. However, it dates to the 16th century when a Coaching Inn is recorded as being on the site with stabling for 14 horses and six beds for travellers. The pub was owned by the Edwards family until 1897 when Wilsons Brewery took over. There was a significant turnover in licensees amounting to over 33.

It was eventually re-named Saxons, and then it became a short-lived Tapas Bar called Rangos.’ This finally closed in 2019, leaving the building empty since then.

Continuing along now past the George and Dragon, across the road we would have found at number 104 Delamere Street the Bricklayer’s Arms it was opened in 1871 and closed in 1912. This was next door to the White Lion and in 1939 a butcher’s shop owned by a Mr Pickstock.

Northwich Guardian:

Delamere Street in the 1920s

Then next door to the White Lion at number 108. It was opened in 1810; the first landlord was John Hamlet.

Until 1900 William Hopley owned it, then Wilsons Brewery took it over.

In 1880 Thomas Blackburn was the landlord and also traded as a butcher. In the 1900s, it was demolished and re-built further back with parking front and rear. It is now a supermarket.

Northwich Guardian:

The former Wheatsheaf in Delamere Street

Also, in Delamere Street was The Crown, also known as the Wine & Spirit Vaults. It was opened in 1850 and closed in 1910. In 1880 Edward Williamson was the landlord.

Delamere Street also boasted a Red Lion that was opened by Thomas Whitby in 1810 and closed in 1914. Another pub with a steady exchange of licensees, 26 in number over the years.

In the next lost pubs article, we look randomly at other lost pubs of old Winsford town.