SUN INN #
35 or 37 Main Sprit Weind
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It is certainly true that this is an ancient inn, but could it have been the 'Ratcliffe's' referred to by Laurence Rawsthorne in his Diary, June 30th 1687, "Ratcliffe's i'th Weend and Rigbys, and was at Bull. This day bottled wine."
AND
Thomas Bellingham's Diary, October 11th 1688, "....att night dranke 3 cans at Ratcliffes."
November 10th 1688, "Bostocks, Mitre and Ratcliffe's."
February 3rd 1689, "....took three cans in ye Weend."
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It's hard to believe, but Main Sprit Weind was
at one time an important access route to the
town centre.
The "Sun Inn," as was, can be seen on the right-hand
side of the street, where you can see the hanging sign.
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MINE HOSTS:
1796 -1818 John Clowes
1808 John Webster (not necessarily this 'Sun') see death notice, below.
1808 Mrs. Clowes
1818 - 21 George Burns (Barnes)?
1825 - 28 William Kellett
1838 Henry Forshaw - went to the 'Wellington' in Glovers Court.
1838 - 40 Robert Gibson d. 26.8.1840 aged 43 years.
1840 - 41 Betty Gibson
1844 - 46 Mr. Holland
1851 Mr. Huntington - Daughter Alice, married James Harvey, Sergeant of the 85th Regiment on 26.3.1851.
1851 - 52 William Snailham
1853 - 54 Richard Aspinall
1855 - 58 William Skelton
1858 John Fearnley
1858 Henry Holmes
1858 - 67 Jonathan Westray - death of wife, Mary A. aged 40 years, reported in P.C. 20th April 1861
1868 - 71 Richard Hoyle
1875 Joseph Edwards - Mr. Edelston, Solicitor, on behalf of the owners of the Sun Inn, objected to Mr. Edwards sub-letting the inn, but the magistrates saw no reason why he
should not, and the matter was allowed to stand over till the next General
Licensing Sessions, the applicant meanwhile to take possession. P.C. 5.6.1875
It isn't known to whom it was sub-let, or who the owners were.
1875 - 79 William Edwin Mitchell
1879 Miles Dent
1881 - 84 Joseph Edwards
1884 - 86 Henry Baldwin
1886 Thmas Henry Hayward
1886 - 91 John Coward
1891 Joseph Bond
1891 - 92 Thomas Harrison
1892 - 95 Joseph Denham
1895 - 96 Thomas Harrison
1896 - 97 Richard Bailey
1897 Robert Harrison
1898 Richard Bailey
1898 Robert Harrison
1898 Peter Yates of Peter Yates, Ltd., 1 Chapel Street, Oldham.
1904 - 40 Yates Bros.
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NOTES: Written by J.H.Spencer of the Preston Herald in 1941:
To the ordinary pedestrian passing down Main Sprit Weind, this is just a narrow alley-way, dismal, steep and uninviting, overshadowed by large buildings on each side, and without interest. It is known that it was a popular residential quarter of the town years ago, though you wouldn't think so by modern standards. On the east side of the weind near the bottom, is a plot of land overgrown with bushes and weeds, enclosed with a high wall, and the place now (1941) appears to be used as a dumping ground for old bricks and coke breeze. This land is the remaining portion of the Old Coffee Garden referred to in the Court Leet Records, and famous in the annals of old Preston. In Rawsthorne's diary there are many entries recording visits to Swansey's in the Weind, and on two occasions Bellingham mentions the place.
Evidently they refer to an inn or place of refreshment which probably occupied the same site as the Coffee Garden of later years, for it had a bowling green attached to it where the diarist often bowled. It was a place of importance and considerable size, for in Rawsthorn'e diary there is an entry stating that 17 gentlemen dined there at one time. The name of this inn is not known, but apparently it was a much frequented place at the time of the diarists, (1689).
The Sun Inn was on the west side of the Weind, and next door to the Golden Ball, and opposite, on the east side was the New Town Hall Tavern. In the 1940's the Sun Inn had become the Yates' Wine Lodge, although the sign and name had vanished externally.
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Lancashire Evening Post 15th October 2012
I have replied to the query in the above letter (LEP 16.1.2013)
in which I explained that the building dates back to the 1600's,
when the (thatched) roof will have been higher, and the slope of it more pitched - to dispel snow from the roof more readily.
The image will have originally have been surrounded by 'sun's rays' and will date from a time when inns and taverns were known "by the sign of............" and identifiable thereby, to the illiterate.
When the thatch was replaced, and the ridge lowered, the
sun's rays will have been lost.
This information has come from local historian, Colin Stansfield. Thank you, Colin
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Lancaster Gazette 8th August 1801
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DEATH On Thursday se'enight (14th),
Mr. John Webster of the Sun public-house
in Preston.
Lancaster Gazette 30th January 1808
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DEATH On the 8th inst., Mrs. Clowes
of the Sun public-house, Preston. She was
a loving wife, a tender parent, and an
affectionate friend.
Lancaster Guardian 16th April 1808
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MARRIAGE: On Thursday last, Mr. John Clowes,
of the Sun public-house, to Mrs. Medcalf, relict of
Mr. Medcalf, both of Preston.
Lancaster Gazette 29th May 1813
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Lancaster Gazette 30th November 1816
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DEATH: On Sunday last, Mr. John Clowes,
innkeeper, and High Constable of Preston, aged 56 years.
Lancaster Gazette 18th April 1818
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TO BE SOLD
by Private Contract
LOT 3 All that Public-house, known by the
sign of the Sun, situate in Main Sprit Weind,
in Preston, with Brewhouse, two Stables, and
appurtenances thereto, belonging, now in the
occupation of William KELLETT
Preston Chronicle 1st March 1828
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Blackburn Standard 29th November 1837
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ROBERT GIBSON
Late of the Star Inn, Lawson Street,
BEGS to inform the Public in General and his
Friends in particular, that he has REMOVED
to the SUN INN, MAINSPRIT WEIND, where
he hopes by care and attention to gain a share
of public patronage.
N.B. Good Stabling, and excellent accommodation
for travellers.
Preston Chronicle 24th November 1838
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ROBBING A PUBLIC HOUSE
On Monday, at the Town Hall, a man named John Brown, who stated that he was a mechanic, residing in Bolton, was charged with stealing a coat, the property of Mr. Gibson, of the Sun, public-house, Main Sprit Weind. It appeared that on the Saturday preceding, the prisoner went to the prosecutor's house, and after taking two glasses of ale, he took the coat which hung up in the room, and contrived to leave the house with it unobserved. He was shortly afterwards apprehended, offering to pledge it at a pawnbroker's. The prisoner was committed for trial.
Preston Chronicle 5th October 1839
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Preston Chronicle 30th March 1844
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Preston Chronicle 18th April 1846
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MARRIAGE - On Wednesday last, at the
Register Office, Mr. James Harvey, sergeant
of the 85th Regiment, to Alice, youngest daughter
of Mr. Huntington, of the Sun Inn, Main Sprit Wiend.
Preston Chronicle 29th March 1851
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SALE IN MAIN SPRIT WEIND
TO INNKEEPERS, BREWERS, AND OTHERS
MR. HENRY FARNWORTH
Has received instructions
TO SELL BY AUCTION
On TUESDAY NEXT, the 9th November at 11am.
THE whole of the HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE,
Brewing Utensils, and Bar Requisites, of
Mr. William Snailham, of the Sun Inn, Main
Sprit Weind, Preston, who is declining the public
business.
For particulars, see poster.
Preston Chronicle 6th November 1852
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| Preston Chronicle 17th September 1859 |
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A PERILOUS POSITION FOR A CHILD
A four-year old child, the son of Mr. Westray, Sun Inn,
Main Sprit Weind, yesterday climbed up a ladder, reared
against a house in that street, upwards of two storeys high.
From that, he climbed up another placed upon the roof,
which was being thatched; and finally, gained the rigging,
upon which he sat with the self complacency of thousands
of other little fellows, who, in imagination, have "rode their
cock horses to Bambury Cross."
The young aspirant to an "elevated position" in his native
town was seen by a neighbour, who, in terror, informed the
child's father, whose feelings may be imagined on seeing
his little favourite in so dangerous a position.
The child, however, seemed unconscious of the danger that
menaced him - indeed, his unconcerned demeanour suggested
the notion that he might have been more than a match for the
famous "Benicia Boy," in jumping hand-in-hand from a house
top for the champion's belt.
With characteristic coolness, the father called to the child to
remain where he was, and he "would come and sit beside him."
The little fellow obeyed the command, and in less time than
it has taken us to relate the fact, he was brought safely to
terra firma.
Preston Chronicle 19th May 1860
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| Preston Chronicle 1st December 1860 |
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Preston Chronicle 19th March 1862
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| Preston Chronicle 13th December 1862 |
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| Preston Chronicle 20th December 1862 |
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A MEETING OF LICENSED VICTUALLERS &
BEER-SELLERS will be held on Monday next at
2pm at Mr. Jonathan Westray's, the Sun Inn, Main
Sprit Weind, to take steps for the protection of the
local and general interests of the body, and to
consider the propriety of forming an association
with that object.
C. SATTERTHWAITE, Secretary pro-tem.
Preston Chronicle 23rd April 1864
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Preston Chronicle 16th July 1864
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| Preston Chronicle 1st October 1864 |
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| Preston Chronicle 12th November 1864 |
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Preston Herald 29th February 1868
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NEW MUSIC SALOON, SUN INN, PRESTON
- PROPRIETOR, RICHARD HOYLE -
WANTED, A LADY SERIO-COMIC
VOCALIST, and DANCER, for an
early date.
Enclose Carte.
Silence a Negative.
THE ERA. 22nd August 1869
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Preston Chronicle 20th November 1869
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The Era 19th December 1869
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Preston Chronicle 30th July 1870
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The Era 5th February 1871
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| Preston Chronicle 27th May 1871 |
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Preston Chronicle 23rd December 1871
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| Preston Chronicle 6th July 1872 |
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Preston Chronicle 21st February 1874
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| Preston Chronicle 20th November 1875 |
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Preston Chronicle 26th May 1877
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| Preston Chronicle 21st July 1877 |
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| Preston Chronicle 1st March 1879 |
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| Preston Chronicle 25th June 1892 |
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SALE OF PRESTON PROPERTY
At the Commercial Salerooms, Preston, on Tuesday night, Messrs. Jabez B. Jones and Sons, offered by auction several lots of property situated in Preston. The old-established public-house, called the "Sun Inn", situated in Main Sprit Weind, off Church Street, was bid up to £1,150.
Preston Herald 26th December 1896
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CENSUS RETURNS
1841
Betty Gibson 20 years ? Innkeeper
Margaret Gibson 15 ?
Ann Gibson 10 ?
1851
William Snailham 30 years Lic. Vict. b. Grimsargh
Ann Snailham 32 Wife b. Longton
1861
Jonathan Westray 38 years Innkeeper b. Workington
Mary A. Westray 40 Wife b. Liverpool
Mary Jane Westray 14 Daughter do
John Westray 13 Son do
Jonathan Westray 8 Son b. Preston
Harry Westray 7 Son do
Martha Westray 5 Daughter do
Hannah Westray 3 Daughter do
1871
Richard Hoyle 32 years Innkeeper b. Preston
Elizabeth Hoyle 30 Wife do
Harry Hoyle 7 Son do
Richard Hoyle 5 Son do
Anne Hoyle 4 Daughter do
Charles S. Hoyle 1 Son do
1881
Joseph Edwards 51 years Publican b. Preston
Ellen Edwards 51 Wife b. Higher Walton
Theresa Edwards 20 Daughter b. Preston
Alexander Edwards 19 Son do
Joseph Edwards 18 Son do
Mary A. Edwards 16 Daughter do
William H. Edwards 15 Son b. Farrington
John R. Edwards 11 Son do
1891
John Coward 42 years Publican b. Preston
Margaret Coward 36 Wife b. Bleasdale
Ellen Sherratt 29 Pianist & Singer b. Manchester
1901
Managed by Yates and Co. (Yates's Wine Bar)
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1859 to 1867 Jonathan Westray was my Great Grandfather.
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