AS I write, the pubs are opening for the first time since March after lockdown for coronavirus.

So it is perhaps time to have a look at some of the Northwich town centre pubs now no longer with us, starting with that iconic establishment The Bleeding Wolf that was situated at the top of Crown Street adjoining the old Market Hall.

It was built originally as a private house in 1755 for a man named John Hunt, when it bore the name Hunt’s House, until 1776 when it was sold to a Robert Bottoms and licensed as a pub.

Like many in Northwich, building subsidence took its toll, and by 1905 it had to be demolished and rebuilt.

Mary Worth was landlady during this transformation, and five more tenants – the final one being Ada Higgins – took the pub through to 1961.

The town centre was redeveloped in that year, and the iconic Bleeding Wolf had to be demolished.

Off now into deepest, darkest Northwich – The Fox Inn, at 16 Applemarket Street, and the Griffin Inn, at number 18 next door.

Northwich Guardian:

The Fox Inn and the Griffin Inn in 1893

The Fox was opened in 1769, and next door was a butchers shop later owned by George Eachus.

In 1865 he closed the butchers business and opened the shop up as a beerhouse called The Griffin.

At 11 Church Street could be found the Seven Stars. It had opened as The Ship Launch, at 11 Church St, in 1788.

It was renamed the Ship in 1792, The Ship Brittania in 1827, The Travellers Rest in 1841 and the Seven Stars in 1851 before being closed and demolished in 1893.

Northwich Guardian:

Seven Stars in 1891

Shortly after these photographs were taken in 1891-93, the justices, as recommended by Greenall Whitley decided that there were too many pubs in the Applemarket Street area.

The Fox and Griffin were to close, together with the Seven Stars in Church St.

The three pubs were to make way for one larger pub on the Applemarket Street site that was to be called The Fox.

This new pub would match the prestigious Northwich pubs called the Angel and the Crown and Anchor.

The new Fox opened for business in 1894. Although successful, it never did meet the quality of the other two, even though it was allowed to open for an extra hour on market days – being situated opposite Northwich Market Hall.

Northwich Guardian:

New Fox, far left, 1962

It traded until July 31, 1969, which was the last day of business, the landlord at the time being Albert Wilkinson. Most of the area was then demolished.