Book Review BOB Magee Middleton Pubs AND Their Licensees 1737 to 1993
Welll researched history of pubs in a North Manchester district – one of a series.
BOOK REVIEW – BOB MAGEE – MIDDLETON PUBS AND THEIR LICENSEES 1737-1993 1993 Neil Richardson Press.
One of several volumes by this prolific Manchester historian. I have matching volumes on the pubs of Royton, Oldham and Crompton & Shaw.
The format is beautifully simple. After a brief potted history of the town covered, Magee gives a series of alphabetically listed essays on the pubs of the town, many of which have long since closed down, but some of which are still open. He lists their landlords, with anecdotal stories of the pub’s history.
Reading the series overall, several bars were affected by a local master forger who spent home made currency in the bars and seriously harmed their takings before his capture.
Other stories are of the struggle against harsh licensing laws – pubs could be closed or refused permission to open if Magistrates felt there were enough other pubs operating in the area. Landlords were fined or fired for organizing after hours drinking or gambling. One bar ran into trouble for having two entrances (and exits) as suspects taking flight through the other exit could foil it meant police raiding through the front door too easily.
Magee’s research is meticulous and thorough. The books, presented as large pamphlets, are also well illustrated and carry photos of pubs now sadly long since gone. It’s the pubs long since faded from living memory that most come to life in these studies.
Arthur Chappell
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