ALEXANDRA HOTEL, 53 Fishergate

ALEXANDRA HOTEL   #

53 Fishergate
Tel: 411     (1916)

The 'Alexandra Hotel' became the 'Rowntrees Restaurant'.

In 1949, number 53 and the first floor of 54, were licensed to sell alcohol.

Number 54 had previously been ocupied by Mr J. Heyworth, music dealer.

It was demolished in 1985 / 86 to make way for the Fishergate Shopping Centre

                                                                                                 [John Garlington]

This plan clearly shows the hotel's position at the top of Corporation Street.

MINE HOSTS

1871                     George Butler [at this time it was a Temperance Hotel]

1890 - 1916         Hannah Richardson (Miss)

1917 - 1932         Bennett and Johnston Dining Rooms.

1936 - 1944         Ann Hill

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Taken from the P.N.E. Handbook of the 1898 - 99 Season

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Census

1891

Hannah Richardson                38 years, single.  Confectioner                         b. Barton, Westmorland

Sarah Whalley                        42  sister                                                                   do

Kate A. Whalley                     14  niece              Scholar                                 b. Chorley

Frank Whalley                        12  nephew                do                                            do

Edith H. Richmond                  7  niece                     do                                            do

Elizabeth Plumchet                42                    Confectioner's assistant             b. Liverpool

Emma J. Cook                       19                     Confectioner's Shopgirl            b. Clitheroe

Elizabeth Fowler                   16                              do          Apprentice         b. Garstang

Mary Ann Richard                23                              do                  do               b. Longtown, Cumbria

Harriett Patten                       17                             do                   do               b. Runcorn

Rebecca Drewery                  21                             do                   do               b. Fleetwood

Emily M. Crook                    15                             do                   do               b. Penwortham

Alice Ann Bonny                  15                             do                   do               b. Merton

Jenny Brown                         20                        Waitress                                 b. Whitehaven

Margaret Graham                  19                       Housemaid                                        do

Sarah J. Graham                    17                       Kitchen Maid                                    do

John Petty Muspratt              33     Boarder.     Solicitor                                 b. India 

1901 

Hannah Richardson                48 years, single.  Confectoner / Baker              b. Yanworth, Westmorland

Sarah Whalley                        51 sister, widow             do                                        do

Frank Whalley                        22 nephew          Analytical chemist                b. Chorley

Edith Richmond                      17  niece                                                                   do

Ellen Duckworth                     19                      Confectioner's assistant         b. Meaboro', Yorks.

Lottie Moorhouse                    18                     Confectioner's apprentice         b. Preston

Alice Moorhouse                     41                           Cook  /  Domestic                     do       

 

1911 

Hannah Richardson                59  single             Confectioner                         b. Yanwath, Westmorland

Sarah Whalley                        62  widow                  Cook                                            do

Frank Whalley                        32  nephew          Analytical Chemist                 b. Chorley

Alice Carter                            70                             Domestic                            b. Ackton Round, Shrops.

Elizabeth Bryan                      28                                   do                                 b. Barrow-in-Furness

Beatrice Brown                      20                                   do                                  b. New Eltham, Kent

Mary Knowles                       24                                   do                                  b. Bury           

Thomas Jeffrey Vince            51   Boarder      Political Secretary                     b. Handsworth, Staffs.

 

1921

James Hindle Johnston           35 years             Cafe & Hotel Keeper                  b. Preston

Alice Johnston                        37   wife                 Confectioner                          b. Leyland

Annie Bennett                        36                          Shop Assistant                                 do

Anna Eliza Johnston              33                            Waitress                                 b. Preston

Annie Rhodes                        35                        Vegetable Cook                          b. St. Annes 

Ellen Dwyer                          28                           Kitchen Maid                          b. Liverpool

Ellen Dignall                         23                          Scullery Maid                                     do

Eva Carr                                20                          Confectioner                            b. Preston

May Duckworth                    24                            Waitress                                 b. Liverpool

Daisy Malone                        19                           Pantry Maid                            b. Dublin

Madge Faulder                      20                            Housemaid                             b. Blackburn

THEATRE TAVERN, Fishergate

THEATRE TAVERN    #

49 Fishergate

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Photograph courtesy of Glenn Woolley

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Here's the replacement that most of us remember. I'm sure there must
be plenty of stories about the Theatre.

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MINE HOSTS:

1802       Built in this year, along with the Theatre Royal, for the Guild of that year.
1805       See article
1812                      John Mayor
1813                      Mrs. Nuttall  - see death notice, below :  23.1.1813
1818       Elizabeth Williams   Mrs. Williams d. 15.10.1818 - don't know if this is her.

1818 - 25              Ann Anderson  d. 4.12.1825

1829                      William Croasdale   a.k.a. 'The Reformer'    d. 18. 7. 1830, aged 37 years.

1831 - 44              Mrs Ann Croasdale   PC. 31.8.1839 gave applicant for licence as Mary Robinson, and the owner of the property as Peter Catterall.   Mary R.  of 1853 - 1866 would only be about 20 years of age at this time. Was it her that was being referred to?

1845 - 52              Ann Hunt

1852 - 53              William Robinson     d.19.11.1853 aged 35 years 'after a lengthy illness.'

1853 - 66              Mary Robinson        d. 26.4.1866 aged 48 years.

1866 - 68              John McGlinchy

1868 - 70              David Kearton          d.   1870

1870 - 74              Mrs. Maria Kearton

1874 - 87              William Badger

1887 - 95              John McConnell

1895 - 1904          Eleanor McConnell

1907 - 21              Elizabeth Ann McConnell

1924 -44               William Alfred Watt  -  possibly went to the Old Black Bull, Friargate.

early 1970's          Bill Webster (I think)
1987        CLOSED

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On Tuesday 12th February 1805, a man, a
lodger at the Theatre Tavern, in Preston,
precipitated himself through a window, 
three stories high, by which he was so
dreadfully bruised, as to deprive him of
the use of his limbs.
Lancaster Gazette  23rd February 1805
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DEATH: On Tuesday last, Mr. Thomas Almond,
aged 20 years, son of Mrs. Nuttall, late of the
Theatre Tavern, in this town.
Preston Chronicle  23rd January 1813 
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DEATH:  On Thursday last, suddenly,
Mrs. Williams, of the Theatre Tavern, 
in Preston.
Lancaster Gazette. 17th October 1818
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Morning Post (London)  28th December 1818
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Preston Pilot – 5th April 1834 

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Preston Chronicle 31st May 1834

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Blackburn Standard   26th April 1837
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Preston Chronicle   4th January 1840
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.............and so it continued
Preston Chronicle   20th September 1845
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THEATRE TAVERN, PRESTON

WILLIAM ROBINSON

GOODS MANAGER, RAILWAY STATION, PRESTON.

BEGS respectfully to inform his Friends and the

Public that he has entered upon the above old-

established House, and trusts, by keeping articles

of the first quality to obtain a share of their 

patronage and support.

BASS'S SUPERIOR EAST INDIA PALE ALE

REID & Co's LONDON DOUBLE BROWN STOUT

N.B. Good Stabling and Lock-up COACH-HOUSE

49 Fishergate, Preston.

Preston Chronicle 6th November 1852

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Preston Chronicle    26th November 1853
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Preston Chronicle   8th December 1855
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EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPES

On the afternoon of Saturday 5th June, 1858,

James Hardacre and Henry Bryning were repairing 

the chimneys on the roof of the Theatre Tavern.

Hardacre was supporting the ladder on which Bryning

was standing, while painting a chimney pot, but he 

lost his footing and slid down the roof.

In passing the cornice he made a desperate clutch

at the woodwork, and actually supported himself

by his hands for some moments, but, being

exhausted, he was obliged to let go of his hold, 

and fell into Theatre Street. He alighted on his

feet, and miraculously escaped with a severe 

shaking only. 

When Hardacre let go of his hold of the ladder, 

Bryning fell with it upon the roof, and he rolled

down the slates, but his progress was fortunately

stopped by the cornice.

Preston Chronicle 12th June 1858

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THEATRE TAVERN VAULTS

M. ROBINSON begs to inform her Friends

and the Public generally, that she has opened

SPIRIT, ALE, and PORTER VAULTS, in

connection with the Theatre Tavern, where

she purposes supplying none but first-rate 

articles at the usual vault prices.

Preston Chronicle 24th December 1859

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Preston Chronicle   23rd February 1861
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Preston Chronicle   1st December 1866
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The above advertisement appeared almost weekly from
29.12.1866 to 14.3.1868.

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Preston Chronicle   6th April 1867
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Preston Chronicle   7th December 1867
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The Creditors of Mr. J. McGlinchy, 

late of the Theatre Tavern, are requested

to send in their CLAIMS to Mr. WATSON,

Solicitor, Winckley Street, on or before

the 18th inst.

Full particulars required.

Preston Chronicle 11th April 1868

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Preston Chronicle   2nd November 1872
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Lancaster Gazette   11th April 1874
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Preston Chronicle  26th June 1880

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Preston Chronicle  24th June 1882
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Preston Chronicle   28th October 1882
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Preston Chronicle   4th November 1882
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A poor image, taken c.1912, but McConnell's
Theatre Hotel can be seen far right. The McConnell
family had been there for around 25 years at that point.

The question mark was inserted by staff at the Harris Reference Library.
I think that early 18th century is an error. Should read 19th century.

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CENSUS RETURNS

1841

Ann Croasdale                     35 years                         Innkeeper

Margaret Croasdale              85                                 Independent
Fanny Jones                         20
Mary Russell                       55
Mary Russell                       30                                  Servant
Jane Parker                          30                                      do
Elizabeth Yates                    15                                      do
John Clayton                        55                                  Man Servant

1851
Ann Hunt                             35 years                         Innkeeper                  b. Hoole, Lancs.
Elizabeth Scotson                28                       Servant /  Barmaid                 b. Clayton Green
Alice Beardwood                 22                                Housemaid                    b. Penwortham
Agnes Moss                         19                                   Cook                          b. Preston
Richard Garstang                 55                                    Ostler                        b. Longton    

1861
Mary Robinson                    42 years                Licensed Victualler              b. Bury
John B. Robinson                 15                          Son / Scholar                      b. Birmingham
Mary Anderson                    31                               Servant                            b. Armagh, Ireland
Elizabeth McCartan ?          26                                    do                                         do
Oliver Blackburn                 36                        Visitor  /  Farmer                    b. Hoghton

1871

Maria Kearton                     25 years                         Innkeeper                  b. Pilling

Ada L. Fowler                     13                                  Sister                         b. Preston
Margaret Walmsley             68                                 Visitor                         b. Goosnargh
Thwaites Standen                15                  General Domestic Servant        b. Preston
Jane Kearton                        22                           Sister-in-law                    b. Ewood, Backburn

1881

William Badger                    40 years                         Innkeeper                  b. Preston

Jane Badger                         56                                  Wife                         b. Westmoreland

1891

John McConnell                  52 years                         Lic. Vict.                    b. Ireland

Eleanor McConnell              49                                  Wife                                   do

Beatrice McConnell             18                                  Daughter                    b. Aldershot

1901

Eleanor McConnell              53 years                         Hotel Keeper             b. Ireland

 

1911

Elizabeth Ann McConnell   47 years, widow.           Lic. Vict.                    b. Preston

John Bertram McConnell    18   son                        Draftsman                            do

Charles Reginald McConnell  13  son                       Scholar                               do

Elizabeth Darville                 26                                 Barmaid                     b. Penwortham

Clara Evans                           27                                      do                         b. Wolverhampton

Clara Beck                            26                                       do                         b. Skelmersdale 

Hugh Hughes                        24                                 Barman                      b. Penwortham 

 

1921

Elizabeth Ann McConnell        56 years. widow.      Proprietress                 b. Preston

Charles Reginald McConnell   22   son                     Dentist                                 do

Elizabeth Cunliffe                    34                       Servant  /  Barmaid           b. Accrington

Frances Taylor                          21                                   do                          b. Scotland 

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