Isn’t The Old Wellington Inn a sight to behold with its half-timbered frame? It stands as Manchester’s oldest building of its kind. It has stood since 1552. The Old Wellington Inn has a rich and varied history. It began life next to the market square. The square was located off what we know today as Market Street. Back then, this area was called the Shambles.
In 1554, The Old Wellington Inn became part of a draper’s shop. The Byrom family owned the shop. Writer John Byrom was born here in 1692. He invented an early form of shorthand. The building grew in the 17th century. A third storey was added.
In 1830, The Old Wellington Inn transformed into a licensed public house. It was first known as The Vintners Arms. Later, it became The Kenyon Vaults. By 1865, the ground floor was The Wellington Inn. The upper floors housed makers of mathematical and optical instruments. Imagine that. In 1897, the upper floors became a fishing tackle shop. It was very creatively named “Ye Olde Fyshing Tackle Shoppe”.
The Old Wellington Inn has seen changes over the years. In the 1970s, the Inn was raised by 1.4 metres along with the Old Shambles. This was to accommodate new developments. The 1996 Manchester bombing damaged the Inn. Repairs cost £500,000 and took nearly a year. After the bombing, the decision was made to dismantle. The Old Wellington Inn would be rebuilt nearby. It was moved 300 metres to form Shambles Square. This was near Manchester Cathedral.
The Old Wellington Inn reopened in February 1997 after the bombing. The pub had to be rebuilt to meet modern building regulations. Originally, the building wasn’t straight due to centuries of settling. Floors, ceilings and windows were uneven. Low beams in the bar area required ducking. One beam was famously labeled “Duck or Grouse”.
Today, The Old Wellington Inn offers a great pub experience. Visitors can enjoy food, real ales and premium gins. The Inn nicknamed ‘The Old Welly’ delights guests. It is an ancient monument to Manchester’s past.
One quirky story involves John Shaw’s Punch House. It was located in an extension of The Old Wellington Inn in the 18th century. Shaw, a former trooper, ran a tight ship. Closing time was strictly enforced at 8 o’clock. Shaw would announce “Eight o’clock gentlemen eight o’clock”. He would crack a horsewhip. If that didn’t work, his maid Molly Owen used a mop bucket to “expedite the movement of the loiterer”.
Even Colonel Stanley, a Member of Parliament, wasn’t exempt. When Stanley asked for an exception, Shaw refused. He told the lawmaker that if he and his friends didn’t leave, they’d find their shoes full of water. Molly arrived with her mop bucket. The Colonel and his friends quickly retreated.
After Shaw’s death, Peter Fearnhead and Molly continued the tradition. The punch house was sold and became The King’s Head Tavern in 1807. It later became Sinclair’s and then Sinclair’s Oyster Bar in 1845. Many buildings were demolished in the Victorian era. The Manchester Blitz destroyed even more. The Old Wellington Inn remained. It stood as the only surviving Tudor building in Manchester city centre. It is a Grade II listed building since 1952.