The Old Wellington Inn

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A timber-framed building, three floors high with a gabled roof. There are tables and chairs outside
The Old Wellington Inn in 2003

The Old Wellington Inn is a half-timbered pub in Manchester city centre, England. It is part of Shambles Square, which was created in 1999, and is near Manchester Cathedral. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]

History[]

The oldest building of its kind in Manchester, the Old Wellington Inn was built in 1552 next to the market square which led off what is now Market Street, in what was known as the Shambles.[2] In 1554 part of it became a draper's shop, owned by the Byrom family,[3] and the writer John Byrom was born there in 1692.[4] The building had a third storey added to it in the 17th century.[5] In 1830 the building became a licensed public house, known as the Vintners Arms, and later the Kenyon Vaults. By 1865, the ground floor of the building was known as the Wellington Inn, while the upper floors were used by makers of mathematical and optical instruments. Later, in 1897, the upper floors were used as a fishing tackle shop, known as "Ye Olde Fyshing Tackle Shoppe".[2]

In the 1970s the Old Shambles was underpinned with a concrete raft and raised by 1.4 metres (55 in) designed by draughtsman Fred Kennedy, to fit in with the development of 'The Market Place Centre.' This completely separate development was designed to provide a single level walk, from the Arndale Centre;[5] to which it was connected by a glass bridge over Corporation Street, and then on to Deansgate. The Inn was reopened in 1981.[2] But what was not appreciated by most was the extent to which the building had been changed.[citation needed] Prior to the jacking operation, the entire internal structure of the whole block was removed and replaced by an internal, steel bracing framework. Only the curtain walling remained of the original Tudor building. Moreover, when rebuilt it was necessary to do so to all the latest building regulations. Originally, due to centuries of settlement, there was not a straight line in the place. The floors, ceilings and windows were all awry, and there were several low beams in the bar area which had to be ducked under by all but the shortest clientele. The main one bore the legend 'Duck or Grouse.' In its new position, built onto the rear of the Marks & Spencer's store, at first-floor level, it was all but a new building. All the eccentric charm had gone.[editorializing] It was damaged in the 1996 Manchester bombing, and was reopened in February 1997, with costs of £500,000 paid to repair the damage.[6] However, in preparation for the city's development in the bomb's aftermath, it was decided that the building, alongside its neighbour Sinclair's Oyster Bar, should be dismantled and rebuilt 300 metres (980 ft) towards the cathedral to form Shambles Square.[7] The move was completed by November 1999, when the pub reopened.[5]

See also[]

References[]

Notes
  1. ^ "Listed buildings in Manchester by street (S)". Manchester City Council. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "The great survivors". Manchester Online. GMG Regional Digital. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  3. ^ Worthington, p.9
  4. ^ Worthington, p.10
  5. ^ a b c "Wellington Inn". Greater Manchester County Record Office. Retrieved 27 March 2010.[dead link]
  6. ^ Williams, p.218
  7. ^ Williams, p.219
Sources
  • Williams, Gwyndaf (2003). The enterprising city centre: Manchester's development challenge. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-415-25262-8.
  • Worthington, Barry (2002). Discovering Manchester. Sigma Leisure. ISBN 1-85058-774-4.

Coordinates: 53°29′05″N 2°14′38″W / 53.4847°N 2.2440°W / 53.4847; -2.2440


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