WE have already looked at The Salter the best known of the lost Weaverham pubs, so now we look at the rest of them this week. 

We are starting with the Ring o’Bells, not the one in Northwich Road but the original situated at the end of Church Street in what is now the church car park. 

It was built in 1822 with Margaret Corker as the first tenant and continued to serve the folk of Weaverham and, dare I say it, the people leaving St Mary’s church next door. 

It’s proximity to the church gave it the name Ring o’Bells but this changed to The Church Stile and the Church Gates before reverting to its proper name. 

In 1923 an application was made to transfer the licence to the new pub of the same name in Northwich Road. In 1924 this was confirmed and the old pub closed.  

The building remained in service for church and the community until the early 1950s when it was demolished to make way for the car park.

Into the village centre now and we find the Wheatsheaf pub, but this is still open. 

The pub across the road was The Star it was built in the 18th century and became a Greenalls pub in 1872, and in 1896 Thomas Chapman was the tenant. In 1908 it was closed, Greenalls received £842 and the licensee at the time, William Wood, £100. The building is still there and was converted into a shop for the Buckley family. It now houses Toppers Hairdressers. 

Northwich Guardian:

The site of The Star Inn, which is now a salon

When it was a pub, it was said to be the meeting place for the Weaverham Virgins. Those good ladies being from the Mothers Union in St Mary The Virgin, Weaverham parish church. 

Continuing along the High Street on the same side as The Wheatsheaf could be found The Rifleman. In 1871 it was listed as a beerhouse and situated at the junction of Smith’s Lane, the landlord was George Catley, in 1865 he was recorded as the tenant of our next pub, The Maypole at Acton Bridge. 

Mr Catley left The Rifleman around 1901 and resumed his trade as a joiner living at Grange View, Tarporley Road, Weaverham. 
The Rifleman building dates back to the 1600s and is still in a block numbered 14 to 16; it is still there.

Northwich Guardian:

The Rifleman building dates back to the 1600s

It was for some time a Westminster Bank. The block, 14 to 16 High Street was originally one large house called The Manor House, number 14 still has a grand staircase, and the houses are Grade II listed. I was told by a gentleman there today that the cellar still has racks for beer barrels.

Onwards now to our final pub The Maypole, currently closed and in Acton Bridge. It came under Weaverham or to give it its proper name at the time, Weaverham cum Milton. 

The Maypole was an ancient pub with licensees dating back to 1745; it was initially known as The Cheese being renamed The Maypole in 1827, Greenalls leased it in 1903 from the Milner Estate, owners of the land. 

George Catley was the licensee from 1861 to 1871. 
At which time he will have taken over The Rifleman in the High Street. 

Northwich Guardian:

The Maypole was an ancient pub with licensees dating back to 1745

In 2018, the Maypole landlord passed away, and it was decided that the pub which had been running at a loss for a few years would close. 

What to do with it then was a matter of discussion; unfortunately, the obvious choice would be to demolish it and build houses on the site. 

A decision to do that, I believe, has now been reached. So another traditional old pub has gone the way of many others. 

Have you got any memories to share of local pubs from the past?