Alma Inn Baxenden
 

I am attempting to research the history of the Alma Inn,has anyone any information on past landlords etc?

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

This info is from a local history walk by the Hyndburn Society.
The Alma Inn, built around 1820, believed to be named aftr a Crimean War battle. It is built on the site of the former Magpie Hall. To the rear of the pub, was Fig Pie Hall pit. Hollins Lane was the old road to Manchester prior to the construction of Manchester Road in 1790-91 by Blind Jack O'Knaresborough.
Any help?

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Only know a couple of Landlords at the Alma, Harris Clegg a Scotchman had a few sons one of which was Peter worked for HBC, he was in the Alma during the seventies and early eighties, In the mid-eighties John Preston took the licence, John hailed from Burnley, was an ex-merchant seaman who previously had the Coach and Horses on Haslingden Old Road Oswaldtwistle

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

That bit about Magpie Hall is some more of Ainsworths fiction, Magpie Hall was no where near the Alma, and there were no buildings in that area when Blind Jack built Manchester Road.

Magpie Hall is in the 1841/51/61/71 cenus returns. Haworth Art Gallery now stands on the site, which was next to Astins Farm, and was incorporated into the grounds of the Haworth

Retlaw

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Dont know whether you are right or wrong on posting no. 4, but my ancestors lived at Lane End Farm. I have always been led to believe that this farm was incorporated into the grounds of Haworth Art Gallery.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Thanks for the input,I am researching this for the new licencees,who will be having a website with news of the pub.
One of the pieces of info I have is is that the 'beerseller'was a Sarah Ratcliffe who was 5o years of age in the 1901 census.She lived there along with her cousin Sarah Haworth age 26 years and lodger John Riley age 66 years.
I think this was before the property was extended by knocking through to the next door premises. Any further help would be apreciated.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

In August 1916. Mrs Loynd, Alma Inn, Baxenden was informed that her son John Anderton of the M.G.C., had D.O.W. July 14th 1916 (19)
John's father had died in 1900 and she married
Arthur Loynd. John's name is on the Baxenden War Memorial.
Retlaw.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Thanks for that Retlaw!

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Do you know Dave Ratcliffe who lives up Bash? His Mum lived to a ripe old age and only died relatively recently, having lived in Bash all her life. You never know, that family could be related to the Ratcliffe you mention in 1901.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Further to this question re the Alma Inn.

If you read that tripe by Ainsworth in his Old Home Steads he contradicts himself.
First he says he knew nothing about Magpie Hall,
till he met an old Baxenden resident.
Then goes on to say the buildings were demolished to make way for Manchester Rd, built by Blind Jack in 1791/2
That resident must have been bluudy old, 115 years after it was supposed to have been demolished.
Ainsworth wrote that tripe in 1928, in one sentence he says it was where the Alma Inn was, then in another sentence he says it was at Lane Ends, Lane Ends is a good 500 yards North of the Alma.

Magpie Hall is shown in the 1841/51/61/71/ census returns, a good 150 year after Ainsworth says it was demolished.
Don't blindly accept what ainsworth says, look at maps and census, and his stuff can be torn to shreds. He was a reporter for the Accy Observer their maxim as always, why let the truth get in the way of a good story.

In those days very few pepole had the knowledge to refute his statements, & the census details were not yet avalaible.

From the 1848 ordnance survey, the area where the Alma was built, was called Robin Field Nook.

The site of Magpie Hall is now occupied by The Haworth Art Gallery.

Retlaw.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Sorry for the delay in replying,I presume the Alma was named after the Crimean War Battle of Alma in 1854,if that is so then the the pub(as named )must post date the battle.
I know the future Landlord wll be asking his regulars for information,best start early in the evening I think!

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

...except the architectural style of the pub is very much 1850/60's. Just like the Blockade Pub - now offices, but also named after a Crimean War episode.

By the way - here is one for Retlaw. Which Accy/Hyndburn pub lost the most people - not regulars, but staff/landlords family in WW1? I know there were two killed from the Cross Guns in Church. Any pub with more?

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

I have two further questions: Any information on Fig Pie Hall coal mine started around 1825 and adandoned in the early 1900's.
Secondly any details about the Smallpox Hospital which was run by Accrington Corporation and was situated in Baxenden in the early 1900's?

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

I wondered about that too Lampman .. is an entry in Hyndburn Timeline saying smallpox hospital was built in 1903 and treated 86 cases.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Thanks for that input every bit helps!

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

It cost £1,300 .. is a mention in the Jubilee book, but doesn't say where it was... just within the borough. Sure someone on here will know. :)

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

I have it on the 1909 map as being situated next to the Railway Line about half a mile from the junction of Manchester Road and Hollins Lane.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Wonder if the building is still there then ... and bother, went into the 1911 census ... pulled up an Infectious Diseases Hospital in Accrington ... didn't give the blooming address !! However, have the name of the disinfector and caretaker ... LOL.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

The enumeration district was 11 ... Haslingden. Not too sure how to sort this one yet though.. :confused:

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

I have the 1901 census I will have a look in a little while.As for if anything remains of the site I will have a look on Google Earth to see.
Thanks

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

if ypu look closely in the fields off hill st, you can see the footprint of the hospital.i think i`m right with the location though i have`nt been round there for years.it`s definatly near hollins school.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Yes, think you are correct Scoot .. have found it on an old map, and just trying to line it up with Google:-

Attachment 14925Attachment 14926

Seems to have been in the wood according to the overlay.. but that can't be right can it ? Mind you, may have planted trees after it was demolished.

Attachment 14927

Atarah, where are you ? .. Bet you know all about this .. :D

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Checked the coordinates, it was here :

Attachment 14929

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

That seems spot on!(Pardon the pun) It seems strange they would build an Isolation Hospital so near to the railway and habitation.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Not sure what this means Lampman, but he could have been the Landlord in 1916

'12/02/1916 Richard Howarth Half A Century Of Licensing Administration In Accrington, New Accrington Alma Inn, Manchester Road Baxenden'

Would have to look at the newspaper article to confirm.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Katex has forgotten to say that she is talking about an Accrington Observer article (of 17.2.1916) Available on microfilm in the library. I think this article mentions several pubs and their landlords.

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Yeh, that's the one Bob .. LOL.

Do you think they were just meetings or something or summat to do with the landlords? A few entries say the same for different pubs. Can't quite sort it out, until I get the chance to take a look at the actual article.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Thanks for that Kaytex,now that the new licencees are in the pub no doubt some of the locals will be able to supply further information.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

If you contact PC Les Sholliker at Accrington Police Station, he may be able to help by looking at the pub's file. He deals with licensing matters 01254 353702

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Thanks for that Bob.

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Incidentally for those who may be interested the Alma site can be found on www.Almainnonline.co.uk
It is still being developed ,so be kind!

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Re Isolation hospital. I was always led to believe you could get to it down a pathway off Hollins Lane, where you can see an old "stone" (boundary type stone) - cant think what you call them. This stone (marker of some description) is on the grass verge, approx. near 3rd or 4th house down from Hollins School. Think it could be got to down a "path" there.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

I knew I had a piccy somewhere. Here is it. If you take a walk up Hollins Lane and find this stone, you will notice there is still an old pathway (now fenced off) near by. This is what I understand to be the way to the old hospital.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Took a look at this article in the library ... even though was this date ... it showed a list of landlords and pubs in 1869, so the above gentleman was the landlord then.

Also wondered how the patients in hospitals were recorded in a census. The one I got from the 1911 census only showed the caretaker and his family, as my previous post.

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has anybody got any pics of the cottages that were next to the alma ?

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lived up bash all my life , the small pox building is at the back of hollins school , it is (was) built out of accy nori , use to be a good place to play , when we were young (38) now

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Hi Stellaahh, can you explain just whereabouts it was, and how you got to it. That would be interesting.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

go to hill street in bash ,next to the alma ,its an unmade rd , at the bottom turn right , walkin towards accy . next you will come to a gate on your right (3 mins or so) through the gate then right again (you should be in a field ) another 20 meters and you will see it . if you have a dog tis a good walk enjoy stellaahh

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

One further question about the Alma,I'm told the Clegg family ran it between 1970-1983 with 5 sons all who still live in Baxenden.
Who was the Landlord?

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

The Landlord was called Harris Clegg, can't remember all the names of his sons but they were all involved with Bash Cricket club too, There was David, Peter (who worked for HBC) but can't for the life in me remember the others. Harris was a Scot, I used the pub quite a lot in those days as I worked for Arnold Rileys and my mate used it as his local

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Paul was another one - can't remember the others' names.

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Think another may have been called Andrew but not sure:confused:

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Thanks for the replies I will add it to the information page for the pub.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Spotted this when searching for Fig Pie Hall and felt the need to add the following to the mill.

I was told as a child (b1952) that my Great, Great Grandfather, Richard Haworth was, the first landlord of the Alma before moving on to the Black Horse in Abbey Street.

In 1861 and 1871 Census he is listed as beer seller at Fig Pie Hall. In 1881 and 1891 Census he is Landlord at the Black Horse.

He was living a Fig Pie Hall in 1851 when a John Haworth (no relation as far as I know) is listed as beer seller but that would have been prior to the Alma name.

My aunt remembers her Grandmother telling her she was born at Magpie Hall (1860).

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

That's amazing spw ... how people turn up like this on a thread. :)

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If you read Ainsworths crap he says Magpie/Figpie/Hagpie Hall [it has been called all these names] was knocked down to make way for the Alma.

Magpie/Figpie/Hagpie Hall was next to Astins Farm at Lane Ends, the Haworth Art Gallery now occupies the site of what used to be Magpie/Figpie/Hagpie Hall.

Retlaw.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

The landlord in 1881 was Roger Hargreaves. His wife Betsy Ann was the daughter of the aforementioned Richard Haworth’s wife Mary Pilling. Betsy Ann’s birth was registered in 1849, Richard and Mary’s marriage in 1851. Nothing changes! Censuses for 1851, 1861 and 1871 show Betsy Ann as Betsy Ann Haworth. Photos of Roger and Betsy Ann attached.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

A belated thank you for the photos!
For some reason the site has stopped notifying me of thread answers

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Just out of interest, the first ever VC awarded was done so for an action at Alma. It's coming up for sale next month - guide price 120K. I suspect it will go for more.

Here's the link:

http://www.spink.com/asp/fullCatalog...refno=11555096

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Spw,thanks again for the photographs I have added them to the Alma site,I wonder how many more old photos are out there?
More additions would be gratefully accepted.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

My great uncle, Jim Wilkinson was the landlord at the Alma for many years in the 1940s and 50s. He lived there with my great Aunt Madge. For some time, his mother also lived there with them. Uncle Jimmy was a strong character who was more than capable of sorting out fights! He prided himself on keeping big open fires going in each room in order to attract in the punters. When I was a kid, walking around Baxenden with him, everyone seemed to know him! He would wear a cloth cap and they would say 'how do, Jim', I remember. Much missed.

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Thanks for that Waterworth,the pub is still a popular venue for Bash dwellers!

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Talking with my mother today, we think that Uncle Jimmy (Wilkinson) was the landlord from the 1930s to the 1960s. He was a tattler (?) in a cotton mill but had a heart condition so became a pub landlord instead! He lived on Ashworth Street, Baxenden until he died in his 80s. Somewhere we have a photo of him and his mother behind the bar in the Alma. I think that he told me that the pub had small rooms which had been knocked through after he left. Doesn't anyone remember him or has too much time gone by?

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Thanks again Waterworth,I think the pub was extended by knocking through into the neighbouring property.
Coincidently my Grandfather's family lived in Ashworth Street for a time after 'emigrating'from Cambridgeshire.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Any idea why Bramwood Cottage (189 Hollins Lane) is the funny shape it is? What was there next to Alma before it was built?
(My grandparents used to live there)
Mike

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Hi I have noticed "activity" on the land next to The Alma pub, Baxenden, all marked off. I have heard there is to be a memorial there for the Baxenden Cllr. who died towards the end of last year.

A newspaper article quoted "Cllr. John Griffiths was a great councillor for Baxenden but he also had a very astute and active mind. He was the wise man of the Conservatives in Hyndburn and he will be very sorely missed.”
The borough’s MP Graham Jones said: “John was hard-working and cared for Baxenden. He deserves lasting recognition.”

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

For the record, the obituary of Richard Haworth published in the Observer of 4 June 1910states :-

‘When he lived at the beerhouse, now “The Alma” the property of which it was part was called Robin Field Nook’

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

i think i can help filling the gaps here if you like you can message me i know who sarah ratcliffe and i can help further as to her family tree and previous landlords

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

I lived at 380 Manchester Rd - at the bottom of our garden was what used to be a 2 storey stable block which had been on the deeds as being owned by the Alma.
In the late 40's the 2nd storey was pulled down as it was becoming unsafe. It was made fully weather proof again and used as a store by the Alma.

If you look very carefully at the back of the Alma (standing on Hollins Lane) - you can make out the original building is still there. It is the lower part of the Alma (small windows, one above the other) - when Manchester Rd was being built the row of terrace house (now including the Alma) were built upon it. When the pub decided to become larger - it purchased the 1st of the newer houses on that little block and knocked through into the original pub (beer house) - the beer laws were passed in the 1830's to try and stop the spread of 'gin houses'.

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

I am researching all pubs and shops in Baxenden since 1800's Has anyone any info ple4ase

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

Hi your best bet is Accrington Library.


I am researching all pubs and shops in Baxenden since 1800's Has anyone any info ple4ase[/QUOTE]

Re: Alma Inn Baxenden
 

With a county library membership card, it is possible to access the Blackburn newspapers before the arrival of any Accrington ones. You can search for keywords such as 'Alma', but to get info on all of our poubs and clubs, it will be fruitful to search for the word 'Brewster Sessions'. The Accrington ones were held separately from the Church & Ossie ones.
The trade directories held in the library are a fantastic source of information., as are the early maps.