IN AN ATHERTON WALK
A piece about old Atherton pubs...
I can't claim credit for the next piece of Atherton memorabilia. It's something we've had knocking about the house for years. The anonymous writer has cleverly woven into the walk around Atherton the names of some of the pubs that were standing at the time - probably towards the early part of the century. Some still are - others are but a memory.
I particularly regret the passing of the Prince Saxe-Coburg or "Mick's" as it was better known, after Mick McCabe, a former landlord.
It was frequented by our family for years - my grandmother Mrs Frances Dutton used to enjoy a Mackeson or two there. The tap-room was brilliant - I spent part of my formative years there enjoying the company of a rich mixture of characters, quaffing Magee's Best Bitter (and sometimes if I was feeling reckless, the Indian Pale Ale) and learning the finer points of dominoes.
There were Lancashire lads, Poles, Irish, Ukrainians, miners, millworkers, undertakers, old soldiers, railwaymen in fact blokes from all walks of life, most of whom enjoyed their dominoes and took it really seriously in view of the fact that a tanner was at stake and sometimes penny a knock. And the inquests after a game - oh the inquests!
No women were allowed in - except Ethel who brought the beer. You wouldn't get away with it in these politically correct times but it was somewhere the lads could go to relax, let loose a few cuss words and generally have a ruddy good laugh and a natter without disapproving feminine glances. And where's the harm in that?
The pub sold a beer by the name of Magee's IPA (Indian Pale Ale). The potency of this lethal brew can be gauged by the effect it had on my mate Eric who, one night, went home the worse for wear and halfway through the night, got out of bed, peed on the baby in the cot then climbed in the bath and pulled a fireguard over himself.
You don't seem to get the same laughs in pubs these days or the same amount of characters. Perhaps the pool tables and the juke box have killed conversation - not to mention the price of the booze.
Here are some Atherton pub tales. They're all true - honest...
*An argument once started in the Letters Inn about who had the biggest canary. The next day, one bloke came in with a whopping great canary and claimed victory. On closer inspection by the landlord, it was found to a blackbird that he'd painted yellow...
*A regular at the Rope and Anchor used to worry rats with his teeth and take bets on how long it would take him to dispatch them.
*One regular at the Bear's Paw swore that he had a tame sparrow and made a bet with the other customers who didn't believe him. He came in the next day with it on his shoulder (He'd caught the unfortunate bird and sewed its legs to the shoulders of his jacket.)
*A few years ago, there was the regular at the Spinner's Arms who used to take his bowls in a plastic bag. Someone substituted them and when he got to the bowling green, two turnips rolled out!
*The landlord of the Prince Saxe once glued a half crown piece to the floor next to the gents and the regulars used to laugh at people's attempts to pick it up or kick it through the door of the toilets.
*Bob Ellis, the brilliant former mine host at the Concert Inn, had many a pub trick to keep people amused but his best party piece was to come out dressed as the Pope blessing the astonished people at the bar! (A friend of mine who was causing a nuisance of himself was once hung up on a hook on a beam in the pub until he promised to be quiet).
*At the turn of the Century, my grandfather Sam Dutton put laxative in the beer of a brass band playing Christmas carols in the Mountain Dew causing them to stop blowing and beat a hasty retreat to the gents!
Here then is a walk round the old pubs of Bent a long long time ago. Where were they all though? (That'll cause some arguments...!)
IN AN ATHERTON WALK
As I was coming from Atherton Central Station the other day, I saw the Blue Bell deliberately plucked by the Spinners Arms. As I sat under the Oak Tree on the Traveller's Rest gazing at the Swan, I was tapped on the shoulder by the Bear's Paw which gave me to understand that I was being chased by the Red Lion.
In making for safety, I ran against the Bull's Head, where I was tossed up right above the Rising Sun but fortunately, I alighted on something soft which turned out to be the Wool Pack.
The King and Queen seeing my dangerous position, rendered first aid by giving me a sip of Mountain Dew.
In a little while came the Jolly Nailor who, with the help of the Bricklayer's Arms carried me and laid me safely behind the Wheatsheaf where I was attended by another royal friend - the Prince Saxe-Coburg who seeing that I was New Inn Atherton mixed me a bottle from the Punch Bowl and seeing that I was a stranger and a man without a name had me placed very gently on the arm of Shakespeare and taken from down Bag Lane to be laid to rest in the Ancient Shepherd's Home.
After regaining my strength, I was taken on the back of the Elephant and Castle and put on the London and North Western Railway where I resumed my journey in safety...
Atherton Heritage Society - join them!
If you are interested in the history and heritage of Atherton, you could not do better than to join the Atherton Heritage Society. They have been around for over 21 years and are a thriving and essential part of Atherton. Details as follows...
Atherton
Heritage Meetings, St Richards Jubilee Hall, Mayfield Street, Atherton.
Members £1.00. Non Members £1.50.
Meetings held 2nd Tuesday of each month. For further information, Tel (01942)
884893.