WELL, it’s the end of another year, I hope Yester Years has given you a peep into the past life of Mid Cheshire.

Having given an insight into the many lost pubs in Northwich Town, this will probably be the last but perhaps a look at those lost from farther afield in later issues.

It may be worth casting the mind or imagination back to these pubs that once served the hardworking Northwich people at this festive time of year.

Warm beer, open fires and vibrant decorations. In the early days of these public houses, the working man could not travel on holiday as now, but the year’s highlights were the Hospital Parades and later Rose Fetes.

Oh, and of course Christmas and New Year’s Eve. So have that in mind when you peruse the following long gone, and not so long gone public houses of the town.

Starting in 3 London Road by Dane Bridge, we would have found the large and impressive Bridge Inn.

It was built in the late 1860s for Greenall Whitley, and when it was only nine years old, London Road began to subside being one of the worst areas in Northwich to do so.

The pub was well built and at first, only suffered crumbling plaster and other minor damage.

On April 17, 1909, the cellar could not fight off the increasing subsidence and collapsed. The ‘Bridge’ limped on until 2012 when the licensing magistrates declared that it was no longer safe and should close.

The building was demolished, and a new Bridge Inn erected on the site with the built-in ability to protect or repair it from the effects of subsidence.

Even so, it was close to the river, and further subsidence occurred. A novel way of rectifying this was used, the building was moved further up London Road, around the building next to it. And it was a success, that building still stands as seen in the photograph.

We now continue along London Road, across the crossroads and on the left after the old churchyard there is a building still standing that was the Volunteer pub.

The original Volunteer traded from 1871 to 1929 when the old Northwich problem of subsidence struck and both it and the adjoining houses were demolished.

In the same year, the building in the photo was built, later a bungalow was built for the licensee. It continued to serve the locals and the visitors to the Northwich Victoria football stadium. The pub has now closed and is being used as a chemist called The Danebridge Pharmacy.

Next door to the old Volunteer was another pub, the Victoria Vaults at number 23 London Road (no photo). It opened as The Board and later The Vaults in 1853, and due to subsidence, it was closed in 1927 and demolished two years later.

At the junction with Water Street, we had a pub that was only ever known as The Brass Rods due to the rods across the windows. The correct name was The River Weaver Inn or Weaver Vaults. It opened as a pub in 1867, and like the Volunteer, subsidence set in and in 1900 it was demolished. A new pub with the same name and the same brass rods across the window was built on the site and served Northwich well until 1965 when it was closed and demolished.

The last licensee was Eileen Pennington, who served me my first pint of ale when perhaps it should have been pop!

A very Happy New Year to all Yester Years readers and may it be a little more comfortable than 2020.