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Tuesday, 7 February 2017

GRAPES AND PUNCHBOWL, St. John Street

GRAPES AND PUNCHBOWL
Also referred to as "GRAPES" and sometimes as the "PUNCH BOWL"
Probably just as abbreviations.
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7  or 12  St. John Street
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MINE HOSTS:
1812 - 18               Elizabeth Yates
1825                      George Clarkson
1829                      William Sandiford 
 I believe that there COULD have been a character called James 'Touch' Duckworth here in 1832.
1835 - 37              Thomas Carefoot
1838                      James Robinson
1839                      George Gray
1840                      Houghton Welch
1841                      Edward Tattersall
1847                     William Birchall
1849 - 60              Nathan(ial) Birchall
1861 - 63              James Balshaw
1863 - 65               Levi Balshaw - see below*
1865                      William Charnley
1865 - 67              Thomas Rogerson
 
*LEVI BALSHAW married 4 times.
On 5th June 1881 he married Mary Ann Craston, a talented concert singer, parish chorister, and amateur dramatist. Sadly, she ended her days in the Broughton Workhouse, dying in 1891.
BALSHAW then married a bigamist, Mary PYE / LIVESEY, in June 1895 in Blackburn.
THANKS to a reader for these Craston family-related details.
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The "Grapes and Punchbowl" was demolished to
make room for the "Imperial Hotel" at the corner
of Lord Street and St John Street (Tithebarn Street)
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Preston Chronicle  28th March 1835
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Preston Chronicle  8th July 1837
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Preston Chronicle  5th May 1838
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Preston Chronicle  March 23rd 1839
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TO BE LET BY TICKET
At the Grapes and Punchbowl Inn, St. John Street,
Preston, on Monday the 22nd inst., at 5 o'clock in
the evening, the aforesaid well-accustomed Public-
house, together with the Stables &c.
Possession may be had on the 1st May, next.
Further particulars may be had of
MR JOHN PORTER, Cross Street, Preston.
Preston Chronicle 13th April 1839
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Preston Chronicle  29th June 1839
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Disreputable Conduct:  on Wednesday at the Town Hall, Houghton Walsh, of the Grapes Public House in St. John Street, was charged with harbouring prostitutes and other disorderly characters in his house. The charge being proved the defender was fined in the full penalty of £5 and costs.
Preston Chronicle.  24th October 1840
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*
TO BE LET
For one year, or for a term of years, with possession
on the 1st May next.

The well-accustomed PUBLIC-HOUSE in St. John
Street, known by the sign of the "Grapes and Punchbowl."

For particulars apply to Mr. PORTER, Broughton, who 
may be seen at the White Horse Inn, any Saturday
previous to the time of letting.
Preston Chronicle  30th March 1844
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CHARGE OF FELONY AGAINST A
RECRUITING SERGEANT
William Walters, sergeant of the 44th regiment of foot, who has been engaged on the recruiting service, in this town, for some time past, was charged with stealing 12 pounds of tea from a bedroom of the Grapes Inn, in St. John Street, where he was billeted. The tea was found at the lodgings of the prisoner's wife, in the Vicarage, where he also was. He was fully committed for trial at the sessions.
Preston Chronicle   6th February 1847
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Preston Chronicle  3rd July 1847
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Preston Chronicle  16th June 1849
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WIFE BEATER
Nathan Birchall, the keeper of a Notorious house,
the GRAPES INN, in St. John Street, was summoned
by his wife for a gross assault.

The complainant, a cripple, stated that her husband
came home drunk and knocked her down. She got up
and went to her sister's house; he followed her there and
again assaulted her; and next morning, when she went
home, he thrashed her with a stick.

The police gave the fellow the worst of characters.

The Bench called him an inhumane monster, and
fined him 40s. plus costs; in default to be
imprisoned for one month in the House of Correction.
Preston Chronicle  10th October 1857
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Preston Herald  4th March 1865
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Preston Herald  1th March 1865
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The Punchbowl and Grapes, kept by Levi
Balshaw, has been fined 40s. plus costs 
this year, for harbouring prostitutes, and
at whose house thieves and prostitutes resort.
(1865 Licensing Meeting)
Preston Chronicle  2nd September 1865
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Manchester Courier  9th November 1895
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CENSUS RETURNS
1841
Edward Tattersall               30 years                     Publican
Alice Tattersall                   30                          
Margaret Dunn                   20                             Domestic Servant
John Williamson                 30                             Army
Ann Williamson                  30
Mary Williamson                 9
John Williamson                  7 months
Benjamin Briggs                 20                              Post Boy

1851
Nathan Birchall                  32 years                     Publican               b. Rivington
Mary Birchall                     31                              Wife                    b. Chorley
John Birchall                        9                              Son                              do
William Birchall                   7                               Son                              do
Elizabeth Birchall                 3                               Daughter              b. Preston
Sarah Birchall                      9 months                   Daughter                      do

1861
James Balshaw                  69 years                    Publican                 b. Leyland
Hannah Balshaw                65                             Wife                               do
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5 comments:

  1. Levi Balshaw had 4 wives. He married my 3rd Gt grandfather's daughter Mary Ann Craston (5 June 1881). She was a talented concert singer, Parish Chorister and amateur dramatics actor. She ended her days in Broughton workhouse 1891. Balshaw then married a bigamist Mary Pye/Livesey in June 1895 in Blackburn. Not a nice fella by the sounds of it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Simon. It's an interesting story though! Funnily, my father worked for a company, owned at the time by the Crastons of Church Brow, Walton-le-dale (Richard Gregsons, joiners and builders, on Avenham Lane. He worked for them from c.1928, and eventually took the business over in the late 60s.

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    2. Albert Edward Craston and Robert E Craston joiners and builders. There is awill for a Craston at 20 brow hill, walton le dale in 1930s (Toms Wills site) but can't find it in Ancestry. Might be spelt Croston.

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    3. Albert Edward, that's the one. I remember going to his house on Church Brow with my father. I'd only be about 10 (mid-50s). I don't recall the name Robert though.

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  2. Robert was his business partner I think. Albert was a grandson of my 2nd Gt grandfather Miles Craston and the son of Thomas Edward Craston of T E Craston & Co. Plumbers and Painters. 9 Victoria Buildings, Fishergate. There is a link to Preston Preston Digital Archive. Building on corner of Fishergate and Corporation Street.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/2759390539/in/photolist-awN7Hh-8fdjbK-5cQu6P-91NGZJ-hxPpBh-hxPWJq-2jjmJU7-5cQARt-5cUVhw-5cQAEX-5cUV7Y-5cQAvH-gjPKKZ-Bn4J85-fy5KDU-eRegwN-aqZAYA-9AQJjw-7hcaiE-Hk4LdK-7h8c7X-J9rVR4-znfEpn-h6DRCm-7ajhK5-7eYM8Z-7BJk5U-7gVnyD-pSZvVc-8icPTW-ajPAsM-9wdd8i-8VwBvS-7ZmDYm-9tx7bj/

    Abert's son was Canon Richard Colin Craston vicar of St Paul's, Bolton

    ReplyDelete