Pub Sign Study – The Boat And Horses Chadderton Manchester

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Though built for commercial purpoes, the canals attracted pleasure craft even in the early days. This pub was purposely built to help make the Rochdale Canal more attractive and appealing. The pub was originally called The Pleasure Boat Inn, but it became The Boat House in 1810 and then The Boat And Horses in 1824. It was briefly known as The Navigation in 1929 but the Boat And Horse name was then restored quickly. In 1838 the landlord, Richard Ogden was arrested for stealing malt from barges moored outside the pub which then had its own brewery on site. In 1840 one John Lumb was found dead in the canal, and taken into the pub for a coroner's inquest - he had died by misadventure after heavy drinking in the pub. In the 1th century locals called the pub Old Progs unofficially after a popilar landlord. In the 1850's it was briefly renamed The Green Man. In 1862 eleven men ran a race from Chadderton's Dog And Partridge To The Bot And Horses and back again. At The Boat And Horses they had to eat cheese, and bread, drink beer and smoke pipe tobacco before the return run for the other pub. In 1864 a three day long best potato competition was run for its ninth succesful year at the pub. Chadderton Opera Society held meetings and post perormance banquets in the pub. Its sign shows large stocky horses on the tow-path but not tethered to the canal boat called the Lady Emma to draw her through the water – They may have been released to give them a break, as the boatman at the stern draws the boat in to the bank, probably ready to moor it up for a while, possibly to visit the pub. It would have been a very realistic every day sight when canal traffic was at its height. The sign has a 3D effect which makes it really stand out. The large gastropub is now once again enjoying canal traffic though few canal cruisers are now horse drawn. The pub is not the original hotel sadly as that suffered irreparable damage to its foundations when the nearby M60 Motorway was constructed. It was rebuilt entirely in 1999 and further refurbished in 2011. It still captures a sense of tradition in a sea of concrete and business trading estates. Arthur Chappell