Binge drinking in Bolton

One of the lessons from history is 'twas ever thus.

Here are a few extracts from the constables' minute book from Bolton (now in Bolton Archives, FP2/2).

The parish constables were employed essentially to make sure that the pubs kicked out their customers after last orders, but this usually led to rowdy behaviour in the streets. Butchers made a good living selling meat on the streets at kicking out time - perhaps the equivalent of a late night kebab?

-->
July 29 1815 – past 2 o’clock public houses in general clear from company a few country people in Mr Wilson’s, who were very peaceable and immediately went, on the constables going in a few of P Elton’s who did the same – streets rather rough, the principal disturbers of the peace were a part who call’d themselves fire men were rather drunk and said they had been duty that night, and considered themselves priviledg’d to do as they pleased.
August 19 1815 – past 12 o’clock = public houses – clear of company except Dog and Partridge Moor Lane and the Red Lion Deansgate. The latter place exceeding rough fighting in the front parlour which was crowded with people as well as the lobby.
July 4th 1818 past 12 o'clock - much company in the White Hart Bolton Moor - part of which were gambling - Company at Pilkington's Arms, Lord Nelson, Britannia and Four Horse Shoes - Streets very noisy and rough till 2 o'clock. 
Feby 3rd 1821 - the constables went out found the publick houses clear of company but street very noisy and full of people had a great deal of trouble with a house of ill fame, Back King Street.
March 4th 1822 - past 12 o'clock public houses clear of company but streets throng of people and a many Butchers selling meat.


Some of these pubs may feature on this blog - http://lostpubsofbolton.blogspot.co.uk/


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Commemoration of the execution of 17 Luddites, York, 19 January 2013

Image
On Saturday 19 January, York's Alternative History held an afternoon of talks and commemoration for the Luddites tried and executed at York. placards outside York Castle In the huge space of the Guild Hall, Adam Gutteridge , one of the organisers, introduced the themes of the day. His speech echoed the two interesting articles publicising the event in the Guardian (by local historian Paul Furness, here , and by another organiser Helen Graham, here ). They argue that now that York's industrial economy is no more (chocolate and railways), York has remade itself round the past: an economy of tourism. Yet the past as presented to tourists and indeed to residents, is a sanitised and normalised history, centring round Vikings, medieval religion, and Georgian middle-class pleasures. The recent York 800 celebrations had no place for the popular protest and resistance that had a distinguished history in the city. I began the talks by explaining the context and meaning of the
Read more

'As I tried to bludgeon Chartist demonstrators in the square'

The quotation above of course is made up by Half Man Half Biscuit, in 'Letters Sent.' Chartist demonstrations almost automatically bring to mind urban settings of protest - particularly 'monster' meetings in Georgian and early Victorian civic squares: Stevenson's Square in Manchester, Clayton Square in Liverpool, Paradise Square in Sheffield, and so on. Many of the big meetings - and conflicts - occurred in what should be 'public' space, but in fact were not freely open to all, but controlled by local elites opposed to any threats to public order. Yet Chartist demonstrations were not solely urban in character. Partly because they were being forced out of 'public' spaces in towns, and partly because inhabitants still had connections with the countryside, 'camp meetings' and demonstrations also occurred in rural areas, especially on moors and commons. Processions from towns out to the more remote moors connected urban with rural. Monster meetin
Read more