Discovery of a second Public House in Ashton Hayes in the 1800s


Whilst researching a local family living in Ashton Hayes, as part of my son’s partner’s family tree, I learned that historically Ashton Hayes had boasted two public houses back in the 1800s and two family members I was studying had run one of them.

I had been studying a child called Richard, who had been baptised by his parents Edwin and Sarah in Weaverham in 1834. Strangely, Richard wasn’t listed with his parents in the first census in 1841, although he would have been only seven.  I eventually found him living on a farm in Ashton with a couple called Jim and Emma. Why, I wondered? Had his parents died?  But no, Richard’s parents were still living in Ashton with three very small children in 1841.  Some deeper delving into records showed that Emma was Edwin’s sister, so in fact Richard was living with his aunt and uncle, presumably to lend a hand around the farm.  Maybe his mother was struggling to feed and look after three pre-school age children?

By 1851 Richard is 17 and is still on Jim and Emma’s farm, but by 1861 Richard is 27 and married with three young children and is living at the Ball Inn, Ashton, occupation: Licensed Victualler. Well, that was a turn up for the books, from farm servant to Publican!  I looked back again at Richard’s parents for some enlightenment, and ‘Bingo’ Richard’s father Edwin was listed as Publican in 1841 and the greater detail in the 1851 census confirmed him still as Publican and the address given as the Golden Ball (Inn).  So, Richard hadn’t been abandoned by his parents after all, moreover by 1861 Richard had taken over the license from his father.

A section of the 1873 Ordnance Survey Map showing the centre of the village. The red dots show the location of the Golden Lion Inn & the Golden Ball Inn.


Similarly, the 1839 tithe map confirms that Richard’s grandfather Robert had owned the house (Golden Ball), buildings and gardens and these were occupied in 1839 by Edwin. When the railway was built through nearby Mouldsworth the license was passed to the hotel built alongside (now The Goshawk). On a roll now, I attempted to find out where the Golden Ball Inn had been located and whether the building had survived.  A local historian told me the Inn is now the older part of a large Victorian house within the village and close to the other public house, the Golden Lion. I was amazed.

My husband and I had moved to Ashton during the 1980s and thought I knew all Ashton’s secrets – obviously not this one! I wonder whether owners of the Victorian house down the ages knew of its remarkable past.

**All names have been changed for anonymity** 

Songthrush 001

Comments

  1. Kelsall Village Family Stories26 October 2022 at 23:37

    It is amazing what you can find out with some digging and collaboration! Great Blog!

    ReplyDelete

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