Saturday, December 18, 2010

Finding The Ancient Pubs Cheshire

By Raymond Lynch


The old English pub is a fine tradition that has been enjoyed by the English for hundreds and hundreds of years. So wrapped up with the chance to enjoy a quiet beer with your friends is an opportunity to learn more about English history since many pubs Cheshire have been serving patrons since before the New World was discovered.

There are a number of pubs around Cheshire that have been pulling pints for patrons for more than a century. These drinking institutions are a tourist attraction in themselves and a great way to come face to face with an important part of British culture and way of life.

One of the oldest pubs in the region is the Bear and Billets. The name is attached to the bear baiting that used to happen in the area and the building dates back to 1644. It was first used as a townhouse by the Earl of Shrewsbury, but was converted into an inn in the 18th century. There are medieval parts of the inn building that are dated back to the year 1200, which makes it a truly fascinating place to stop for a pint or two.

In Tattenhall, there is one of the oldest pubs in Cheshire known as the Blue Bell Inn and parts of it date from mid 14th Century. The building, which still has some of the original parts has a small cobbled forecourt and low wooden beams. But it is perhaps most famous for being haunted by a duck and having a 400 year old mummified mouse on the premises. This is a charming little piece of drinking history to visit.

At Nantwich, there is an inn that has a royal connection. The Crown Hotel was built from timber that was donated by Queen Elizabeth I after there was a devastating fire that swept through the town in 1583 and destroyed seven other inns as well as a lot of the other buildings in town. The Crown was also important as it was the last stop as a staging post on the London to Cheshire run.

At the center of Macclesfield you will find the Bate Hall Hotel, which has a particularly fascinating history that was linked to the banning of Catholicism under King Henry VIII. Many people remained devout Catholics in secret and traveling priests in disguise would come to do mass. At the Bate Hall Hotel there is a priest's hole where the priests were hidden away to avoid capture by the king's men. There are some very interesting historical tapestries on display at the inn as well.

In Warrington you will find the Barley Mow, which is believed to be the oldest pub in the area. It was established in 1561 and has some impressive Tudor style architecture still in place and the original facade.

Pubs Cheshire offer a peek into some of Britain's most important historical events as well as the continuation of a very long British tradition for enjoying a pint or two of ale with your mates. Visiting them offers a different way to learn about English history while sipping on a refreshing beer.




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