Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 26th August, 2020)

A pub that I have never been in, no idea why as I've been in The Silverwell, The Flamingo, The Waterwheel and The Foundry. I didn't live around there it was either following the darts team or to call in when going past or out of curiosity.

Wonder how many blokes have come out of there after a skinful then tripped and rolled down the hill of Edwin St at the side.

I went past here at weekend and was surprised to see the transformation to a store. It's better than rotting away. I only remember it as a pub. The steep cobbled hill at the side is just the same. Thank you Dennis for the 'now and then' photo. My memories are a lot further back, my grandparents would have had a drink in there, it was only across the road from St Pat's church.

The hill at the side with the lovely cobbles was always referred to as 'Piggy Brew'. I don't know why. Perhaps those railings were put there to stop any fatal falls by the inebriated Cyril.... as a child the 'brew' seemed a lot steeper than it is now, but it's still steep!

I had to get my bearings then. I just couldn't place it, but I HAVE been in there once many years ago and it seemed a nice friendly "local". Sadly things change but I agree with Veronica that it's better used as something else than rotting away. We pass a building in a village on the way to our caravan that used to be a big pub and is now a Co-op....so much better to use it than build a new building unnecessarily and it means the buildings are still full of life and people.

Noticed the brackets for the pub sign and the door lamp are still on the building

Veronica. The pub opposite St Pats was the Vulcan. Both pubs had a reputation for being very cliquey, or so my Dad said. We lived between the two it if he went (not often) to local pub it would be the Crispin or the Spotted Cow on Scholeld Lane. There was another pub on Burkett Bank which was turned into a hall for Sea Cadets, but I cannot remember its name.

It was a scruffy pub been in there once with a friend about 2014, it was damp and add a musty smell.

Carolean, the pub you mention was ' The Birkett Hotel ' it was a very large pub with a function room akin to a dancehall. The Vulcan and The Black Bull were ' Ale Houses ' ( didn't have a full licence, couldn't sell spirits) The Black Bull did eventually get a full license, alas The Vulcan never did.

Yes the Vulcan was exactly opposite the Church Carolean. The Black Bull a bit further up. I remember the Birkett pub as well. I also remember the smaller two up, two down houses at the side of the Vulcan with Miss Hunt's toffee shop in between. She was a lovely lady, I remember buying tiger nuts from there and Kali and Spanish. I seem to remember terraced houses at the other side of the Black Bull with the railings in front. I might be wrong though.

Veronica, wasn't piggy a game of swiping a stick to try and hit a piece of wood thrown in the air to see how far each player could bat it.

Veronica, your memory is quite right there were a few houses with small gardens. Hope you and your family are well .Best regards,Tom.

I can remember 'rounders' Cyril swiping a ball with a stick. Thanks Tom I'm ok, hope you and yours are. I'm glad you remember those houses at the other side of the Bull, I thought I might have been dreaming!

Piggy, as I remember was a game where a small cylindrical object, tapered at one end ( the Piggy ) was placed on a brick. You hit the tapered end with the Piggy bat which caused the piggy to fly up. You then hit the piggy and paced out steps from the brick to where it landed. Furthest away wins.

You could make your Piggy from a old bottle screw top

Cyril and WN1 Standisher, you are right about the game "Piggy". The "piggy" was placed on a brick and the pointed end struck with a bat or stick, then whacked to see how far the contestant could get it. My Dad described it to me exactly like that.

I remember the Black Bull.Also the Spotted Cow,and Mount Pleasent in Scholfield Lane.Yes Veronica there was terraced houses,and also a paper shop.This was in the early 70s

I remember there was a corner shop at the bottom of the hill on the left going on to Darlington Street, and after a 4 hr game of footie on William Fosters we would call there on way back home to get a frozen orange Jubbly, think they were about 4d. Brilliant.

Veronica, your memory is quite right there were a few houses with small gardens. Hope you and your family are well .Best regards,Tom.

Methinks - you are right about the corner shop which I went in a few times but cant remember the name. On the other side of the road was Mortons which in the 1960s was unusual for being a self service small shop. Further down Darlington street, just past Billy Seddons butchers was an old fashioned grocery shop which we used to use and I think was known as Wilsons. We also used the Brethertons (later the Shawcross's shop on Chancery Street. There were lots of others !!!