Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes is all you need. I recently printed out and read an article relating to Croft Unitarian Chapel on it’s opening day, which I have had for over a year.
I was astonished to see the following sentence:

'After the service, the congregation dined at the Gibraltar Inn, Croft.'

The newspaper is the Manchester Times and it is dated Saturday 5th October 1839. At first, I thought this must be a mistake by the journalist and so I looked into it further. I found another mention of the Gibraltar Inn in the Manchester Courier dated Saturday 19th September 1846. This was in the marriages section.

'On the 13th inst., at Croft cum Southworth, by the Rev. T.P. Kirkman, Rector,
Mr. William Vernon, of Liverpool, Coal Agent, to Elizabeth, second daughter of Mr. James Owen, of the Gibraltar Inn, Croft.'

The correct name of the rector at Christ Church confirms the location, but more importantly, the mention of the Owen family shows that it must be what is now the General Elliot. (See The Story of Enoch William Sankey)
I double checked the church records and indeed, James Owen, father of the bride, is listed as ‘Farmer and Publican’.

Whilst searching for any other mention of the Gibraltar Inn, I came across the Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons 1876. This had an extremely interesting and detailed list of the local Friendly Societies registered. (I will write a separate post in the near future with more information on these societies.)

Listed was the Croft Junior Female Friendly Society, with it’s registered office as ‘Admiral Rodney Inn, Croft, Warrington’ established 1854. There was no further information on this and newspapers have no mention of it so far. Was this another name for the General Elliot?

Lastly, those of you who have read the book by Alan Sharpe on the history of Croft, will know that he mentions the 1824 record of a pub on Lord Street called the General Wolfe Inn, with the only other pub at the time being the Joiners Arms. This was also under the name of James Owen.
​
So, I think it’s safe to say that in 1824, the General Elliot was the General Wolfe Inn. From at least 1839 to 1846 it was known as the Gibraltar Inn, and it’s very possible at another time it was the Admiral Rodney Inn.
In 1851 the England Census return shows the name as the General Elliot with William Norbury as Licensee.
We know the pub has had many refurbishments and different owners, but it seems the old names were forgotten, until now.

Today my friend and fellow historian Brian Tuohey were lucky enough to have a guided tour around the partly demolished Noggin Inn site. The team at Carrick Construction were very welcoming and made sure we were fully kitted out in safety gear before we began.
It really was the last chance ever to see this piece of history disappear, as it will be fully demolished in the next week or so.
I have put together a rough timeline of the Noggin to share. The building may be gone but the history will remain with us.
Thank you very much to Brian for the photographs and for letting me join you!

If you have read the story of The Noggin Inn and The New Noggin Inn, you will know that as well as the Noggin Inn, there was a pub across the road called The New Noggin Inn. This closed in 1911 and has long since been demolished.

This is the earliest mention of the Noggin, with the owner/landlord named as Thomas Mather. The article is advertising a land auction locally. Another newspaper in 1805 still shows him as the landlord.

Another newspaper advertisement names Josiah as the landlord in 1928 and the 1841 census return has Ellen listed as an Innkeeper.

The 1851, 1861 and 1871 census returns show John Sankey as the Innkeeper.
​A newspaper announcement transfers the licence to Mary in 1877 on John's death.

Thomas Unsworth had the licence for a brief period from1877 before it was transferred to Robert Jackson in 1878. He is listed as a Publican in the 1881 census.

Thomas Blackburn gained the licence in 1882. In 1887, the licence was renewed with a strict caution after it was found that betting had been allowed to take place on the premises.

Charles Monk took over in 1888 and is listed as the Publican on the 1891 census. Isaac Warburton is listed as the same on the 1901 census.

Both Warburton and Taylor had Full licences for one year.

Thomas Houghton had the full licence from 1907 and is still there in the 1911 Census.
Rifleman Harold Houghton was the son of Thomas and was tragically killed in March 1915.
The licence was then transferred to Herbert Collier. Herbert is still there for the 1921 census.

The 1939 register taken at the start of World War Two shows Ann Thomason as the Innkeeper at the Noggin.

Manchester Evening Chronicle - Friday 6th October 1950
​
ATOM VILLAGE READY FOR THE BEER RUSH
For William Higham, trade is going to boom again for the tiny village that has rocketed into the headlines.
Thirty thousand munitions workers made shells here during the war. Now the factory that sprawls over 12 square miles of flat, hedge-divided countryside is going to be the nerve centre of Britain’s atomic development.
And William Higham looks like being Risley’s busiest villager.

Walter Farrington, also a local councillor, took the licence in 1958 and would hold it for over 20 years.
He seems to have had lots of music acts playing and was extremely popular.

The ‘Stack Waddy’ rock group were booked to play at the Noggin on 1st October 1970. They had a car crash during the day but escaped with just cuts and bruises. The lead guitarist, 25-year-old Mick Stott told the Manchester Evening News ‘We will be able to keep the booking if we can find transport in time.”
Resident Tony Benson was there that night and confirms that the band did play, using a stand-in for the injured band member.

In 1972 the Liverpool Daily Post reported that the village of Risley was in uproar after the loud music coming from a concert at the pub during the weekend.

The below advertisement is from the Runcorn Guardian on
​23rd December 1983.

The Greater Manchester Beer Drinker’s Monthly Magazine – The Noggin, Warrington road, Risley has re-opened as a “Hudson’s Eating House”.
​Greenalls cask mild and bitter remain.

​In June 1993, the Manchester Evening News reported that 1500 jobs were to go at British Nuclear Fuels in Risley, leaving manager Steve Leonard concerned about trade.

Of course, this is a fraction of the activity at the Noggin over the years. Many of you no doubt have lots of wonderful memories from your own experiences.

​It was also headquarters of The Grand United Order of Oddfellows through the 19th and early 20th Century. (119 members counted in the year 1888).

And who could forget the iconic letter box outside?
​It was already in use before 1896 and from then was serviced by the ‘Rural Cyclist Postman’ who would drop the post at Croft Post Office in the morning before delivering via The Noggin and Glaziers Lane. He would then empty The Noggin box at 6:30pm followed by the wall box at St. Lewis church at 6:45pm. He would then collect the post bag from Croft Post Office again at 6:50pm.

I purchased this old photograph recently and assumed it was a view of the Noggin in Risley. However, when i compared the building with what is there today I realised that it couldn't be the same place. 

I know from past research that there have been two Noggins, but I had always assumed that the 'Old' Noggin Inn was long gone and the one we see today is the newer one.

Thanks to the available maps of the district I realised that the one still there is the original 'Noggin Inn'. The 'New Noggin' was across the road on the corner of Cross Lane (Now Cross Lane South).

The photograph is from between 1900 and 1910 (estimated). I went through all of the maps with enough detail through the years to find something that hasn't changed.

If you look to the right of the photo, you can just make out a wooden fingerpost or guide post. This is marked on every map with enough detail and is on the crossroads, to the left of the Old Noggin Inn, if you were stood facing it to take a picture.

I realised that if you were to stand at Cross Lane Farm looking at the New Noggin, the post would be on the right as it is in the photo.
Therefore, I believe the photo is of the New Noggin, which no longer stands. 
​
The below newspaper extract confirms further details on the two Inns.

Valuable Freehold Estate at Risley and Rixton-with-Glazebrook, in the County of Lancaster.

A Valuable FREEHOLD ESTATE, commonly known as the Risley Estate, late the property of Richard Watson Marshall Dewhurt, Esq., deceased, consisting of the manor or reputed manor of Risley, with numerous farms, a licensed inn or public-house, a beerhouse, and several cottages and gardens, comprising in the whole 1,274a. 0r. 25p. statute measure, or thereabouts, nearly all in a ring fence, situate in Risley, in the township of Culcheth, parish of Newchurch, and county of Lancaster, except the part described as lot 9, which, with the exception of one field, is situate in the adjoining township of Rixton-with-Glazebrook.
 
The whole estate will in the first instance be offered in one lot, but if not sold the same will immediately afterwards be put up in the
following or such other lots as may then be determined, namely:-
 
Lot 1. All that Old and Well-accustomed PUBLIC HOUSE, known as the Noggin Inn, with the Farm Building and excellent Farm Land adjoining thereto; together with a Public Weighing Machine, comprising in the whole 17a. 3r. 36p. in the occupation of Mr. John Sankey, as tenant thereof.
The house is situate at the junction of the highways from Warrington and Winwick to Leigh, and with the land is enclosed within a ring defence. The house possesses the only spirit license within a considerable distance.

Lot 2. TWO COTTAGES and GARDENS, with additional land allotted thereto, adjoining the highway from Warrington to Leigh, and near to the Risley schools, in the occupation of Mr. Richard Bate and Catherine Ryley, respectively, containing 30 perches.

Lot 3. All that PUBLIC BEERHOUSE known as the New Noggin Inn, with the Shop, Bakehouse, Shippon, Piggeries, Garden, Orchard, and Pasture Land adjoining, situate at the junction of the roads
from Warrington to Leigh with that to Winwick, in the occupation of Mr. Hamblet Jackson, and containing in the whole 2a. 2r. 33p.

The simple answer is that I don't know for sure. The earliest detailed map is the one above from 1849, on which they are both present. There is a lovely older map from 1786 which refers to the whole area as 'Noggin Hillock'. Unfortunately, not many buildings are shown.

The above image has an estimated date of between 1880 and 1890. I came across the below newspaper article describing the re-building of the hotel in 1886, therefore it must have been after that date.

​The formal opening of the spacious and well appointed bowling green attached to the General Elliot Hotel, which took place last Saturday afternoon, marks an era in the history of the ancient village of Croft.

The old General Elliot Inn has been almost entirely pulled down, and a commodious and well arranged hotel, with all the latest improvements and appliances has taken its place.

No one would certainly be able to recognise the old building in the handsome structure which now occupies its place. At the front there is a pretty porch, set off with pitch pine rails. The entrance door is ornamented with small squares of cathedral stained glass, as also are many of the windows. The bar is conveniently fitted up with ornamental slide windows facing the lobby, and behind the bar is the parlour, beautifully furnished.

All the rooms indeed are being elaborately fitted up; and apparently regardless of expense. On the opposite side of the lobby is a general room, fitted round, as is also the room to the back, behind the bar parlour, with the latest style of spring-cushioned seats of a remarkably comfortable character.

The other portions of the house can be kept private from the rest when necessary, and these include a semi-private room or office, spacious kitchen and scullery, offices, and upstairs a large room for parties of all kinds (where a wedding party from Leigh was feasting last Saturday), and numerous bedrooms, lavatories, &c.

​There are altogether twenty-one rooms in the house, and all are finished in polished pitch pine, but the decoration of the rooms is not yet completed.

Attached to the house is an excellent enclosed coach yard, with admirable stabling for twelve horses. Immediately adjoining is the spacious bowling green which was formally opened on Saturday last. It measures about 48 yards square, and is carefully tended so as to keep it in good condition. Round the green 400 rose trees have been planted, and seats provided, and a suitable bar erected close to the entrance.

From the various windows of the hotel some fine views of the surrounding district are obtained, including the Overton hills in Cheshire, parts of Warrington, the outlying portions of Newton and Ashton, &c.

Although the hotel has been rebuilt and modelled on an elaborate scale, the house still retains its homely character, and parties who wish to spend an enjoyable afternoon in the country can scarcely find a better or more attractive and comfortable place than the General Elliot Inn.

​The enterprising proprietor, Mr. Reginald Owen Jun. also allows visitors the pleasure of a walk through the extensive orchard which is close at hand, and which measures no less than about twelve acres in extent.

If you have already read The Story of Enoch Sankey, you will know that he started having money problems which lead to his bankruptcy in 1912. It seems that he sold the General Elliot in 1894.

SALE OF THE GENERAL ELLIOT -
​We understand that the General Elliot Hotel, Croft, has been sold privately by the owner, Mr. E. W. Sankey, for over £6000 to a Burton-on-Trent Brewery Co.

Finally, by 1911, it was back in more local ownership.

​GENERAL ELLIOT HOTEL
CROFT

THIS WELL KNOWN COUNTRY RESORT HAS
NOW BEEN ACQUIRED BY
GEO SHAW AND CO., LIMITED
OF LEIGH BREWERY, LEIGH.

Who have made Extensive Alterations for the
Convenience of Visitors.
LARGE AND SMALL PICNIC AND PLEASURE
PARTIES can be comfortably accommodated in
SUITABLE DINING ROOMS.

​LUNCHEONS, DINNERS AND TEAS
Served at the Shortest Notice and on Reasonable Terms.
A SPACIOUS AND WELL KEPT BOWLING GREEN
IS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE.
SMART BILLIARD ROOM WITH EXCELLENT
TABLE.
First Class ALES, STOUTS, WINES & SPIRITS
Cigars and Cigarettes of Well-known Brands.

​Enoch William Sankey was born in Croft in February 1856 to Enoch and Eliza Sankey (nee Dootson).
He grew up at Heath Farm with his parents and his older half-brother, Reginald Owen.

In 1872 he set up business at Heath Farm, with £500 cash from his mother. He then received around £6 – 7,000 in capital from his father’s estate, as well as the General Elliot Hotel, a cottage and more land.

He married Mary Ann Millner on September 13th 1881, at Christ Church in Croft. They had eight children together, Annie, Gwendoline, Ernest , Sydney, Dorothy, Margaret, Lilian and Charles.

In 1892 Enoch purchased Heath Farm and it’s land, as well as Eaves Brow Farm, Croft and Cross Lane Farm, Culcheth for £7038. He also acquired New Hay Farm for £4200.
He continued in business as a farmer and was “one of the best known horse dealers in the North of England”.  He was a member of the Southworth with Croft School Board for a number of years.
He carried out extensive business across the country and made large profits.
Enoch lived an extravagant life involving frequent travelling abroad, motor cars and racing trips and was a well-known and much liked gentleman.

In 1911 his unsecured debts were £12878 and his free assets just £900. He was subject to a bankruptcy hearing in July 1912 at Warrington, which ran through to October.

He stayed at Heath Farm after bankruptcy and even continued in horse dealing, as he was summoned to court for a contravention of the Defence of the Realm Act in 1918 after selling a horse without a licence earlier that year.


There is little information available after 1918, but it seems that the family moved to Sale as he passed away there on 2nd November 1928 and was cremated at Manchester Crematorium.

LEFT TO RIGHT
BACK ROW: SIDNEY, ENOCH, ANNIE, REGINALD OWEN (ENOCH'S HALF BROTHER), ANNIE OWEN (DAUGHTER OF REGINALD), THOMAS PARK (SON-IN-LAW OF REGINALD)
​FRONT ROW: ERNEST, REGINALD SANKEY OWEN (SON OF REGINALD), FANNY LEES (DAUGHTER-IN-LAW OF REGINALD), MARY ANN (HOLDING MARGARET), GWENDOLINE, LILIAN, DOROTHY

THE CROFT BREACH OF PROMISE - SEQUEL IN THE COUNTY COURT
 
About twelve months ago a widow named clough recovered £50 damages at Liverpool against an elderly man named Southern, residing at Croft, near Warrington, for breach of promise of marriage. The damages were paid, but Southern refused to pay the costs, and a claim against him for payment of these costs was heard at the Warrington County Court yesterday.

Southern pleaded want of means, as he only earned a few shillings a week, being incapacitated by chronic rheumatism. He denied being the owner of several valuable properties, but admitted to having had property which was mortgaged.

The Judge had to caution Southern as to his conduct in the court towards Mrs. Clough while she was giving her evidence, and told him that unless he behaved himself he would be committed to prison. Judgement was given for the amount claimed, or in default thirty-six days imprisonment.

Southern said he would go to prison.

​A WARRINGTON GUARDIAN IN COURT - (SPECIAL TELEGRAM.)
 
Mr. Reginald Owen, an old member of the Warrington Board of Guardians, was charged at the Warrington County Sessions, to-day, with assaulting Mr. Samuel Thomason, a farmer at Croft; and there was a cross-summons in the case. The quarrel took place in the General Elliott public-house.
​
Owen was bound over in a £20 surety to keep the peace for six months. No order was made as to costs.

J. Pridmore was charged with having maliciously attempted to drown John Pridmore, his father at the parish of Winwick.
 
J. Pridmore, father of the prisoner-
I live at Winwick; my son came home at ten at night and asked for his supper; my wife said, "There was the same for him as there was for his father, some tea and some bread:"
he said "He would not be put off so:" he threw the teapot out of doors, and turned his mother out, and said "She might go where she went on Monday night:"
He had turned us both out on Monday: he said "He wished God might perish him if they were not two dead ones before morning:"
He pulled me out of bed and dragged me to the pond; I said, "My dear son, spare my life this night!"
When I was turned out on Monday I slept on some straw we had to top a hay-rick; my wife was with me;
When I asked him to spare my life he said, "No, d_n you will I;" he put me into the pond headfirst; he caught hold of my ancles, and tipped me quite over into it; my wife gave the alarm;
 
I crawled out; I got over a hedge and went into the town; almost all the people were in bed; I got to a public house and stopped their all night.

Sophia Pridmore, mother of the prisoner, corroborated her husband's statement, except that she described his language as more vile, and especially the expression of prisoner, that "He hoped God might perish him if they were not both corpses before morning"
 
She heard him dragging his father to the pond:

I heard prisoner plunge him in, he said to his father, "D_n you, i'll throw you in headfirst, that you drown the quicker!"
Then I called Thomas Gear; he came down in his shirt; I said, "For God's sake come down, for my husband is in the pond!" I went into Gear's house; my son came and knocked me down, and said "D_n your eyes, i'll soon stop your noise" He dragged me into the street, and knocked me down twice; I called out "Murder!" he put his hands on my mouth.
He locked me in the house and said "I'll go and see if the old devil is drowned - if not he soon shall be - I've given him a good ducking”
 
I shot the bolt and got out, and went to Mr. Jellis's cart hovel.
Prisoner came there and said, "Hallos, have you made your escape? D_n you- if not, I'll soon make the place too hot"

I put my apron in my mouth, so that he should not hear me fetch my breath. I got into the waggon. He hunted about the hovel but did not find me. I walked about all night.
 
Thomas Gear was in bed on the 26th of last July;
 
Mrs. Pridmore called me up; I went down and put on my shoes; I went to the pond; I met John Pridmore, the prisoner; he said "hello, who comes here, I'll put them in the pond" I said "What me, will you put me in?"  he said "yes, I will" I said "Then if that's it, I’ll turn and go to bed again" I was afraid of him.
He followed me home.

Mrs Pridmore had the candle and lantern in her hand; he dragged her down; she holloed "murder" three times.
I heard the water plunge; it was so dark I could not see.
 
Prisoner described the case as a friendly ducking and said that he was in beer.
​
Gear was re-called and stated in answer to the learned Judge that prisoner was of right mind; he was a married man but had sold his wife.
 
The learned Judge commented on the peculiarly horrible crime they were bound to decide upon and regretted they had not the consolation of believing the prisoner insane.
 
The jury immediately found the prisoner Guilty- Death recorded.

FOOTBALL MATCH AT CROFT
It having been proposed to form a football club at the above place, the members of the Earlestown Wanderers (Association) Football Club, visited the village on Saturday afternoon last, and played what may be termed an exhibition game, in a field kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. E. W. Sankey, but owing to a strong cold north wind very few spectators were present. The teams, which were arranged out of the first and second teams of the club, were styled Mr. G. Clough’s team, v. Mr. T. Goulding’s team.
​
The game lasted about an hour and a half, and at the close Goulding’s team had scored four goals to Clough’s team two. The game was not very exciting, though some good playing was shown during the game. Messrs. F. Waterman and A. Limmon were the umpires, and J. Waterman the referee. At the close the players adjourned to the General Elliot Hotel, where a dinner was provided, after which they enjoyed themselves with singing and dancing until about ten o’clock, when they returned home, after having thanked Mr. Sankey for the use of the filed, and Mr. and Mrs. Owen, the host and hostess, for the excellent manner in which they had provided the dinner.