By
the late 1800s, Allonby had ten pubs - serving a population of about
400!
The
locations of seven of the pubs are shown on this aerial view. The
other three were up the lane behind The Ship. Their positions are
indicated on the enlarged section below.
The
Sloop was located at the south end of the village and seems to have
closed in the 1870s. It was the building on the right of this
postcard view from the 1950s and is now a private house.
The
Grapes (left) and the Solway Hotel stood close to each other on the
green.
The
Queen's Head was located at the other side of the bridge. It closed
as a pub around 1850 and became a Temperance Hotel.
The
Ship was always Allonby's premier hostelry. Charles Dickens and
Wilkie Collins stayed there in 1857. This view dates from the early
1900s and shows a magnificent collection of horse-drawn vehicles
which were probably waiting to take the members of the local Band of
Hope on their annual trip.
The
Swan and the Sun stood in the narrow lane behind The Ship.
The
Greyhound was also located in this area, in Temple Square, named
after the family which owned it.
The Globe, originally known
as The London Apprentice, was nearby on the road leading to
Westnewton and Aspatria. In both cases, the buildings have
been much altered and it is difficult to pin-point the pubs' exact
location.
The
Spirit Vaults was located somewhere in the block of buildings seen in
the postcard view above. Again, many changes to the structure have
occurred since the pub closed.
The
Vaults was a traditional 'grog shop' run by the Costins who had
family links with the West Indies.
It
is thought they imported their rum directly from there. It was sold
in the stoneware bottles seen in the picture on the above. These are
now highly prized by bottle collectors.
The
last landlord, Alfred Costin, lost his licence in 1903 when its
renewal was opposed by both the police and the local Temperance
Movement led by Sir Wilfred Lawson, MP, of Aspatria.
The
pub was described as a 'darksome place' with a large rum barrel which
had been constructed in the premises. There were only rudimentary
furnishings and most customers had to stand.
A
'Merry Neet' at The Vaults.
as i appear to have connectiions through past marriages to the costin family i have found this very interesting.
ReplyDeleteTravelled various locations tracing my local family history, Allenby being spelt in past records as Allenby,Allanby and Allonby, decided to visit the village of Allonby on route to getting married to my wife Rosalyn in Gretna Green. Stayed at the Ship Hotel for a few nights and seemed to share an infinity with the place as a whole, the wild horses on the beach, the proximity to local Roman sites bearing in mind my love of history, archaeology and metal-detecting. Sadly never got to metal-detect or beachcomb for artifacts to add history to this strangley haunting place. But having such a magnetism for the place, to return one day would definitely be on my bucket list.
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