Photo-a-Day (Friday, 3rd May, 2024)
Dover Lock, Abram
I last photographed this Pub about three years ago. It was a warm, blue sky day and the Union Jack was flying proudly on the Flagpole. I was going to put that picture alongside this one, but the comparison would be too cruel.
Maybe someone will come along and save it.
Photo: Dennis Seddon (Sony DSC-WX500)
What a shame.
Dennis, I always look at this pub with sadness when passing on the bus to Warrington. It used to be a vibrant popular pub particularly in the summer.
What a contrast with White Lion, normally I would ask if you had popped in for a ‘Light Refreshment’ but not on this occasion. It looks only fit for demolition.
In this day and age this pub is beyond redemption has a pub. Maybe some one could pull it down and then build a couple of canal side houses
Clouds holding back tears over another old ale house, but it's raining.. in my heart.
I think it's now time to demolish the place, what's left of it, a real eye sore around there.
Dennis, on a completely different subject I came across a invitation from The Wigan Coal Corporation to a Mr A Seddon for the opening of the new Pit Head Baths at John Colliery and Giants Hall Colliery in 1938.
Don’t know if he is related to you but have asked Ron to post it on The Album.
What a very sad state of affairs when solid buildings like this are allowed to rot. What a waste.
I find it hard to pass by The Dover Lock now, seeing in my mind's eye the way it used to be. I have a photo of Peter and myself in there on the occasion of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, with our son Jamie, aged about 7 months, (he's now 47!), wearing red, white and blue! It was always a popular pub in Summer, and they had a peacock in the beer-garden at one time. When we first moved to Abram it was called The Red Lion but everyone called it The Dover Lock. I remember a couple in a car pulling up and asking me where The Red Lion was and I told them there wasn't one, then it suddenly dawned on me and I had to run after the car and explain! Eventually, the powers-that-be changed the name to The Dover Lock.
My local from 1971 until 1981, what happened?
Another angle and discussion 1st June 23, PAD.
It is a sad sight and sadly too I can't see it ever being a pub or restaurant again.
What fun do some people derive when vandalising and setting fire to buildings, though it's been said that some homeless folks were using it to get out of the weather, so maybe that was the reason why it was torched and probably by those who's only intention is to make worse the lives of those more unfortunate than themselves, especially those folks who often through no fault of their own find they have no other options but to end up having to live rough.
What a shambles!
Change it to an NHS Dentist - it will be packed out and queuing !
PS and folk won’t need to pull their own teeth out !
Cyril well said,beat me to this photo Dennis as we pass frequently on the towpath.
Positive Action, it hasn't got the necessary qualifications to go into dentistry. Maybe it could be a plasterer or a brickie? Or a taxi driver?
Had my first pint in there almost sixty years ago. Lots of memories. Packed every night at weekend then and D and D night. A lesson to be learned. Use them or lose them.
Irene, if someone had asked me where the Red Lion at Abram was then I wouldn't have known either, as you say it was always known as Dover Lock, with the approaching road sign 'Adverse Camber' always being stolen, I don't know why.
John, that will be an horrible sight to look on after coming through Leigh and the Pennington flashes. The last time I went through Leigh the canal side pubs were having makeovers and the old factory on the side of the canal was being renovated into a bar and restaurant. A great pity this pub has ended up as it has, and I can't see all that damage being the fault of kids either, with being where it is.
Cyril I’d say for scenery and path surface Scotchmans Flash to Parbold will take some beating,Skipton to Leeds great scenery but rougher towpath and Lancaster to Carnfoth on the Lancaster canal has excellent scenery.
Cyril was you referring to the Waterside Inn across from Aldi on Twist lane Leigh as it’s been closed for maybe 3 years and was due to reopen maybe last week.Dennis should be joining me as he would get more great photos.Hopefully Irene is on the mend.
John from Westhougton , do you have a web cam on your hat ? I loved Mick’s , even on crazy hills and traffic . He has some absolute gems along the cut !
If I remember correctly the last pub leaving Golborne heading to Abram was the Red Lion and the next along ( The Dover) was also the Red Lion. Don’t think that happens very often.
Dave I don’t but I have Relive recordings,it’s a map recording where you’ve been and if you take photos at whatever mileage you have done at that time and you’re fastest speed etc and it’s free.
Broady, you're right! I have been past both pubs many times and never realised that! It's a long trek down that road between the two Red Lions had one of them received post meant for the other in the pre-postcode days! (I have posted this comment earlier but having trouble with the internet and I think it was deleted, so apologies if this comment appears twice!).
No problem John , I enjoy your posts and reading where you go on your adventures.
Take Care , ride safely .
Cheers Dave.