Who was Richard John Blacker? And why is there a pub named after him? Here are all the Wetherspoons pubs in Liverpool and the fascinating history behind their names.
Wetherspoons pubs are a pretty integral part of British culture, with multiple branches in every city, serving up cheap pints and food.
Liverpool city centre alone has more than five branches, ranging from the Lime Kiln in the heart of Concert Square and The North Western inside Lime Street station. But, where did all our Wetherspoons get their names from?
According to Wetherspoons: “The Navigator refers to the saint who is also known as St Brendan the Navigator, said to have discovered America. St Brendan set out on his famous voyage for the Land of Delight in the early 6th century. In 1976, Tim Severin, a British navigation scholar, constructed a replica of the vessel, said to have been used by Brendan and his fellow monks." Photo: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
14. The Court Leet, Ormskirk
According to Wetherspoons: “This pub is in Wheatsheaf Walk, a small outdoor shopping arcade which takes its name from the 18th-century coaching inn referred to as the ‘Old Wheatsheaf’ (demolished to make way for the arcade) which moved to Burscough Street in the late 18th century, when the narrow thoroughfare was part of the Liverpool to Preston coaching route. The Court Leet, responsible for running the town’s affairs, met in the town hall and often adjourned to the Wheatsheaf, until the court was disbanded in 1876.” Photo: Google Street View
15. The Frank Hornby, Eastway
According to Wetherspoons: “Quarry Brook is one of Maghull’s best-known buildings. Built in the early 20th century, it was the home of the toy manufacturer Frank Hornby (marked by an English Heritage plaque) and is now a convent. Hornby was born in Maghull in 1863. He began making toys for his sons, in 1899, and subsequently produced some of the most popular toys of the 20th century: Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys. Hornby died in Maghull in 1936 and is buried in the grounds of St Andrew’s Church." Photo: Google Maps
16. The Watch Maker, Prescot
According to Wetherspoons: “The Eccleston Street building known as ‘Flat Iron House’ (owing to its unusual shape) is the former Lancashire Watch Company Warehouse. Prescot was once famous for watch-making. In 1795, it was said that ‘the town produces the best in the world’. At one time, there was a workshop at the back of every house in Eccleston Street and nearby Atherton Street, where parts were made or watches assembled. The watch trade eventually died out in Prescot in the 1920s." Photo: calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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