Introduction

5320.jpeg

The Church Inn, Flixton, 1907. Trafford Local Studies Collection, cat. ref. TL8367.  

The roots of the British pub can be traced back to Roman times. The Romans introduced wine selling establishments called taberna (plural, tavernae) — or single-room, domestic shops — along the nation's newly constructed, paved highways. Ale was the native British brew, and the tavernae quickly adapted to provide the locals with their favourite tipple.

Over the centuries, the taverns or alehouses continued to survive by adapting and moving with the times. They provided food and drink, while inns provided lodging for tired travellers. They collectively became known as 'public houses' and then 'pubs' around the reign of King Henry VII. 

In the early 1800s, many pubs were the size of a small cottage. In 1830, the Beer House Act allowed any householder to convert their home into a beerhouse for two guineas. It was not until the latter part of the 19th century that pubs (as we know them today) began to appear. By this time, public houses had become the social centre of the community in local villages and towns.

Many of Trafford's public houses have long and rich histories. We have carried out research by looking at archive records, local history books and the British Newspaper Archive which has unearthed a wealth of information and stories. Each week, we will be focusing on a different pub in the Trafford area.

Fancy a pub crawl? Our first port of call is the Church Inn in Flixton.....

Introduction