http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/news/ne ... n_town.php
Book looks at 'England's most drunken town'
By Kate Turner
A NEW history book on Burnley's pubs tells of the days when the town was known as "the most drunken in England".
Local historian and author Jack Nadin has just released "Burnley Inns and Taverns".
At one time there were pubs at every street corner in Burnley and in 1881 it was noted as being The most drunken town in England'.
Jack, who has lived in the town all his life is a former miner, has previously written books about the mining industry.
But he has now turned his attention to pubs and inns in the area after being inspired by stories from pub regulars.
He said: "I have always been interested in local history and pubs are a great source of local tales.
"Not much has previously been written about pubs in the town so it seemed there was a gap in the market for it."
Jack spent the last year gathering information for his book and writing it and was amused to find that some of the names of former pubs in the town included the Boilermaker's Arms, Cheshire Cheese and the Help Me Through The World.
He said: "The research and history of local inns and taverns make a fascinating study.
"The names of the inns themselves can offer clues of places long gone from our landscape or perhaps give us an indication as to just when the inns were built.
"Most of the names of pubs derive from events that were happening at the time such as the wars and also from the trade of people who visited them regularly.
"Some were a mystery.
"I couldn't find out why they were given the name, like the Jolly Sailor, it's a strange name for an inland pub."
The book lists the majority of pubs in the town giving a brief history and telling bizarre facts and anecdotes about each of them along with snippets from newspapers reporting some of the odd cases that have occurred in Burnley's pubs.
Jack said: "My favourite pubs are still the old ones with their fantastic history.
"Many local pubs have now disappeared from our town, including a great number in and around the town centre and Padiham Road.
"It's a real shame because a lot of the chains of pubs don't get the regular customers and that is what makes the pubs so interesting."
The book can be bought from Burnley Library or from Badger Books, 22 Keirby Walk, Burnley, for £12.99.
STORIES FROM THE BOOK
Adelphi Hotel, Railway Street - Past landlords kept flesh-eating fish and the regulars delighted in dropping meat pies into the tank to watch the ripples.
Barracks Tavern, Padiham Road - The unofficial name for the pub was the 'Museum' which was taken from the Landlord of the Princess Alexandra in Colne Road who exhibited 'a museum of rare and preserved birds, animals, a gallery of self acting organ canaries and walking sticks.'
Boot Inn, James's Street - Is now Yates's wine lodge, It was originally the Boot and Shoe Inn with a brewhouse for making their own ale.
Cricketer's Arms, Anne Street - Was called the 'Live and Let Live' in the early 1860's. It later became a grocery shop and beerhouse.
Forester's Arms, Todmorden Road - it is believed that the pub had some connection to the foresters who worked in the area.
George IV, Padiham Road - The pub was originally named 'The Fighting Cocks' after the sport which was carried out in the vicinity.
The Greyhound Inn, Cannon Street - in 1902 the landlord was charged with three counts of 'harbouring thieves, harbouring women of low character and permitting drunkenness'.
Hole in the Wall, Sandygate - The pub was apparently the last venue for bull-baiting to take place in Burnley in around 1760. Bear-baiting also took place at the inn. During one performance, the bear escaped and took hold of one of the spectators as he struggled frantically to get through a hedge.
Pedestrian inn, Parker Lane - The inn was on or very near the site of the present Burnley Central Library. The cellar of the pub was reputed to be haunted and when the pub was demolished the spirit was said to have transferred itself to the basement of the new library, now used as the reference department.
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