History
The earliest confirmed date for the building is 1622, established through dendrochronology of the timber framing undertaken in 2016. [1] The first recorded tenant was Isaac Walkden, son of Middleton schoolmaster, Robert Walkden. Isaac's will, dated 1623, lists nine beds, 20 chairs or stools, and brewing vessels, indicating that the building was operating as an inn from its inception. [2]
The original structure was commissioned by Sir Ralph Assheton, lord of the manor, who leased it to the rector of Middleton to provide income. It was built on glebe land between the rectory and St Leonard's Church, along the ancient highway between York and Chester. [2]
The building was extended in 1654 using similar timber-framing techniques. [1] A brick-built sessions room was added in the early 19th century, and later extensions provided kitchens and additional rooms. Cottages adjoining the inn were demolished in 1892, and farm buildings connected to the site were removed in 1920. [2]
The name "Boar's Head" likely derives from the Assheton family crest, which featured a white boar. The inn became known as the Old Boar's Head in the 1830s and adopted Ye Olde Boar's Head in the 20th century. [2]
On 15 March 1957, Ye Olde Boar's Head was designated a Grade II* listed building. [3]
The building remains in use as a public house and is operated by J.W. Lees Brewery. It serves traditional pub food and cask ales and regularly hosts community events, including live music and quizzes. The interior comprises nine rooms and snugs, and the premises also feature a beer garden and areas available for private functions. [4]
Architecture
Ye Olde Boar's Head is a timber-framed structure of the box-frame type, rare in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. It stands on a stone plinth to protect the oak frame from damp and consists of five bays arranged over two storeys. The frame includes ten wall and six cross frames, originally assembled off-site and marked with carpenter's assembly marks, which remain visible today. [2]
The building retains decorative timber panelling on its gables, ovolo-moulded mullioned windows, and chamfered beams with ogee stops. The roof is covered with graduated stone slates, and later brick additions include the sessions room with a Venetian window. Internally, the timber-framed structure with diagonal braces and tie-beam roof trusses is largely intact. [3]
"Golden Cluster"
Middleton's "Golden Cluster" refers to a group of historically significant buildings, representing over five centuries of architectural heritage. The cluster includes St Leonard's Church (Grade I), [5] one of the oldest original churches in the Manchester Diocese; Ye Olde Boar's Head; the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (Grade II*), founded in 1586; [6] and the Arts & Crafts Church on Long Street, designed by architect Edgar Wood, a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements. [7] Other notable sites include Jubilee Library and several Wood-designed buildings. The Golden Cluster showcases Middleton's links to medieval history, radical reformers, and the Arts and Crafts movement, and is promoted through heritage trails and guided tours. [8]
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