HISTORIC PRESTON PUBS
PART 9 Deepdale
I
n the latest instalment of our look-back on the closed pubs of Preston in the Ribbleton Lane area heading out towards Deepdale. These pubs would have provided slim pickings for the real ale enthusiast, as most of them did not sell any real ale for a number of years before they finally closed their doors. We start our tour this issue outside the prison and head out of town along Ribbleton Lane. In the 1950s, this road would have provided a pub crawl to challenge the most dedicated ale drinker. Before we reach the first of our featured pubs, there are 6 that closed in the early 1960s – in order the OLD OAK, FORESTERS ARMS (later known as the THIRD DUKE OF LANCASTER’S OWN), the ANCHOR’S WEIGHED INN, the ALBERT HOTEL, and finally the NEW SUN and BIRCHALLS ARMS (which were opposite each other). 4 of these pubs sold the ubiquitous Matthew Brown ales, the other choices being Tetley and Chesters. All these buildings have been swept away and replaced with modern industrial units. Despite all these missing pubs, it is only a short walk until on the right hand side we find our first featured closed pub – the FOX & GRAPES, which was situated just opposite the junction for Deepdale Mill Street. A former Chesters’ pub, it had come into the ownership of Whitbread by the time
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Ale Cry
ISSUE 127 WINTER 2021
our photo was taken. There was once a bowling green behind the pub, which would have had wonderful scenic views of the old gas works that were beyond. The pub closed in 2013 and remains empty and boarded up. At this point we will leave Ribbleton Lane and head up Deepdale Mill Street. Just before the railway bridge, on the corner of Peel Hall Street stood our next pub, the DUKE OF EDINBURGH. A completely unremarkable Matthew Brown pub of pretty standard design, this pub was serving three
real ales as late as 1989. According to the branch’s Preston Real Ale Guide of that year, you could get Matthew Brown Mild and Bitter and Theakston Best Bitter on handpump. However the pub closed the following year and has subsequently been demolished (interestingly this is the only one of the 7 pubs in this issue that is no longer standing). Further up this road at the junction with St. Georges Road was our next pub, the DEEPDALE HOTEL. A Matthew Brown pub, it was by some distance the closest
