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The oldest Inn in Lancashire is certainly a very old building
and associated as it is with several curious legends, is still in
very much it's original form, despite at least three fires in
living memory!
The Scotch Piper is strategically situated close to the late
medieval remains of Lydiate Hall and St Catherine's Chapel on the
west side of Southport Road, Lydiate. Bordering on open farm land
it is on the northern edge of Merseyside, close to the important
Liverpool/Ormskirk turnpike and Liverpool/Leeds Canal.
Also adjacent and approached from Station Road (formerly Lolly's
Lane) was the Cheshire Lines railway from Liverpool to Southport,
now one of the increasingly used 'Sustrans' walking and cycling
trails.
Lydiate, still as in former centuries, provides a rural refuge,
not only for example, Gerard Manley Hopkins (1880-1881), but
during the 19th century a school of painters. Since then many
others have, during the last thirty five years enjoyed the
hospitality of the hard-working and well-loved tenants of the
Scotch Piper, Charles and Ada Rigby.
THE BUILDING
According to a recent archaeological survey [see references] the
Scotch Piper appears to be of mid 16th century construction. It is
a two-storey thatched "yeoman" dwelling with a cruck
frame consisting of three bays. It has external walls of brick
resting on a sandstone plinth which may have been taken from St
Catherine's Chapel , Lydiate Hall or indeed the same adjacent
quarry that their stone came from in the fields at the back of
Lydiate Hall.
Crucks are a medieval form of construction found in the west of
England consisting of long curved timbers joined together in
pairs, rising from ground level and joined near the top by a tie
beam or collar, supporting the purlins of the roof.
It's centre chimney is built from hand-made bricks with
fireplaces opening on both sides on ground floor level. On the
first floor there is a fire grate on the north side only. It is
interesting to note that the earliest use of brick in Lydiate is
dated at 1609 and possibly the brick of this chimney dates from
that time. A smoke hood is formed from horizontal wattle and daub
supported on an oak beam and wattle and daub is found extensively
in the construction of interior walls.
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The Scotch Piper 1920 |
The north bay is an 18th century rebuild of an earlier bay which
may have been a stable with a granary or hayloft above. According
to the archaeologists all the timber in the bay seems to have come
from elsewhere, maybe from Lydiate Hall.
Further alterations probably took place in the 19th century with
the introduction of a new chimney in the north bay and alteration
to the south gable. After the 1985 fire this was remodelled to a
hipped shape.
Following the fire in 1985 timber from the middle bay was
sampled by tree ring analysis and the date of 1550 has been
suggested for its construction. The tree ring analysis shows that
the trees from which the wood had been cut had been grown in open
woodland. The still visible lower parts of the crucks seem to have
given rise to the legend that the pub was "built around an
oak".
When sold by the Weld-Blundells to the then tenant, Mr Henry
Moorcroft in 1922, the Scotch Piper Inn stood on five acres of
land. Apart from the house itself there were shippons for four
cows, a two stall stable, two pig styes, two earth closets and a
urinal. Water was supplied from a well. The contemporary map
shows, behind the main house a, ( possibly wooden,) erection which
seems to have served as a village hall.. This extension was said
to have had a well-sprung floor, ideal for dances and weddings.It
was replaced by the purpose built hall on the opposite side of the
road in 1935.
WHO BUILT THE SCOTCH PIPER?
Based on the apparent date of construction as given by the
timber ring analysis and the known fact that the property was part
of the Lydiate Hall Estate up to it's sale in 1922 we may suppose
that the building was erected during the lifetime of Lawrence
Ireland II of Lydiate, (died 1566) and during the reign of
Elizabeth I. One of the Military Muster of 153, he was nominated
as one of the Commanders of the west Derby Hundred and died in
1566. A grandson also known as Lawrence was living at the Hall in
1561. This Lawrence Ireland is said to have been the "first
of his family to suffer on the score of religion". Lawrence
Ireland III, died
before 1610 with property in Lydiate, Eggergarth, Cunscough,
Aughton and Maghull. His son, Edward inherited in Lydiate apart
from the Hall, 10 houses, 12 cottages, 1 dove cote, 1 windmill, 1
watermill, 10 orchards, 120 acres arable, and 100 acres meadow.
The Scotch Piper would have been one of these properties.
In their time, the Irelands of Lydiate became a prominent local
family but the direct male line died out and on the marriage of a
daughter the estate passed to the Andertons of Lostock.
WHEN DID IT BECOME AN ALE HOUSE ?
Exactly when the Scotch Piper first functioned as an Ale House
isn't clear but if we take it from the licence lists it was
probably from the mid 17th Century. Licence lists for Lydiate for
the years 1663-1675-1681 and 1693 can still be found in the
Lancashire Record Office but the actual licenses (flimsy bits of
paper ) seem to have long vanished. The licences were issued
annually and were issued to individuals not for specific houses.
The first person to be named was Bartholomew Holme in 1663 and his
name remained on the list along with Henry Gore until 1675.
Bartholomew and his wife Janet were listed as Recusants in the
Bishops's Transcript 1673 and he was buried at Halsall Church in
1681. These gentlemen also list themselves as farmers. Further
research could possibly uncover earlier lists.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Originally thought to have been called the Royal Oak we know the
pub was later called the Scotch Piper - a name clearly shown on
the licence granted to Peter Taylor in 1823 (incidentally his name
first appeared on licence lists in 1805). In 1825, it was the 'Bag
Pipes'.
New names appear in the directory for 1854, a new licensee Ann
Hartley and another name 'Old Lolly'.
Down the road (then known as Halsall Road) the other old Lydiate
Pub, (originally know as the Plough) subsequently became known as
the 'New Lolly' (1871) and then later the 'Weld-Blundell'.
The assumption has been made that in some way "Lolly"
was a local colloquial term for bag pipes, but we can find no
evidence for this in the Lancashire dialect. It is interesting to
note that ajacent to the ScotchPiper there was in 1851 a Lolly's
Lane (now Station Road), and that the adjacent canal bridge
originally known as Holmes Bridge became known as Lolly's Bridge.
In all probability the Inn was named after Lawrence Ireland its
builder but it should be noted that there were four generations
named Lawrence between 1410 - 1673. The licensee in 1861 - 1871,
Edmund Harrison, kept the name Old Lolly but a new Licensee in1881
reverted to Highland Piper and by 1891 it had again become the
Scotch Piper.
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The old pub sign. |
THE SCOTCH PIPER LEGEND
"The Scotch Piper was called after a Scottish
soldier."
Here we have the legend of an injured (?) Scottish Piper
marrying the Landlord's daughter and causing the ale house to be
renamed the "Highland Piper". First we have to ask
ourselves how is it a Highland Soldier comes to be in Lydiate?
There is
of course no reason why such a person whether a piper or not
should not have been passing through Lydiate in a perfectly
peaceful manner at any time. The tradition seems to be that there
was some connection with one or other Jacobite rising in the 18th
century.
Certainty Sir Francis Anderton the owner of Lydiate and other
extensive estates in Lancashire in the early 18th Century is known
to have been one of the Lancashire gentry who personally joined
the Jacobite army at Preston in November 1715.
Unfortunately for him the fight was easily won in a matter of
hours by the government forces. Within 24 hours, he was captured
and on December 9th his cousin (Mr Blundell) personally saw him
arrive as a prisoner in London. He was subsequently imprisoned at
Newgate and tried.
Condemned for treason Sir Francis escaped with his life but
suffered the confiscation of his estates including the Scotch
Piper which subsequently went to his brother Lawrence who
renounced his religion in order to inherit. Lawrence seems to have
been a bit of a "Jack the Lad"! Despite having been
educated as a Catholic priest on the continent,he amassed huge
debts and the estate subsequently passed to the Weld-Blundells.
Sir Francis subsequently returned to Lydiate Hall were he
continued to live the life of a country gentleman (breeding prize
game cocks ) but there seems no reason why he would have brought
back a Scotch Piper with him. According to local tradition he was
accustomed to say that "for a days out he had lost a fine
estate"!
The second Jacobite rising in 1745 followed a different course.
The Jacobite troops were led by the 'Young Pretender' Prince
Charles Edward as far as Derby where on the 4th December 1745 they
lost confidence and retreated back to the north. Hearing of the
attempted rebellion the strongly pro-Hanoverian Liverpool
Merchants took very active steps to defend the town should it be
attacked. These included the raising of a Regiment of eight
companies of volunteers (The Liverpool Blues), 700 strong. Baines
records that after being drilled for three months, on the approach
of the Pretender and his army, the Liverpool Blues were ordered to
march to Warrington and other places in Lancashire and Cheshire
for the purpose of breaking down the bridges and thus prevent the
march of the insurgents to the Welsh border where the supporters
of the House of Stuart were very strong. The first bridge over the
Mersey was at Warrington and the two central arches were taken
down thus destroying it. Today there is a plaque on the bridge
commemorating this event.
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The Fire, 1985; Charles Rigby in Action |
At Warrington the Blues captured a reconnoitering party of
Highlanders and then returned to Liverpool with their prisoners.
Liverpool was in fact not attacked and it would seem likely that
after a period the Highland prisoners were released to return to
Scotland. Lydiate is, of course, on the direct route from
Liverpool to Preston and points North. It could well be that one
of the dispirited returning Scotsmen, arriving at the end of a
days walk from Liverpool, sought refresment and comfort at
Lydiate. Perhaps this is a possible source of the legend?
THE LAST CENTURY OR SO
According to census entries, Edmund Harrison Publican and Market
Gardener and his wife Jane were at the "Old Lolly" in
1861 together with 3 daughters, a son and a 3 year old grandson.
They were still in charge in 1871 together with a new grandson
Robert Moorcroft aged 4.
The Moorcroft name then became a " fixture " for the
next 64 years. John and Jane Moorcroft were in charge in 1881 and
1891. In the latter year John was described as a farmer and Jane
was the licensee. In 1922 when the Lydiate estate was sold, Henry
Moorcroft aged 30 purchased the house from the Weld Blundell
estate. Mrs Moorcroft subsequently was licensee for a long period
and it is said that she kept the small parlour at the North end
mainly for here own use, customers only joined her by special
invitation!
In 1945, Mrs ,Moorcroft sold the pub to Burtonwood Brewery and
retired leaving the management of the pub to Mr and Mrs Jones and
then Mrs Orrin, Ada Rigby's mother. The Orrin's were in charge
until 1961 when Mr Orrin retired and Charles and Ada Rigby took
over the tenancy - a reign which very successfully and happily
continued until Charles' sad demise in September 1996 and Ada's
subsequent retirement in November 1996.
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Charles and Ada celebrating their new
thatch |
THE CUSTOMERS
A pub would be nowhere without it's customers- who were they?
Historically, most of the neighbourhood traditionally consisted
of market gardeners and small farmers. No doubt they would call in
on their way to and from market. Although not on the Turnpike
Road, there would be passing travellers on their way
to Halsall and Southport. The farmers would employ outside
labour for harvesting so no doubt they would want a drink - legend
has it that the middle room became " The Guiness" room.
The local land owners would employ gamekeepers and what better
place for them to relax. Let us not forget the people from the
barges. It is surprising how many boats are recorded, some with
wives and families, some just groups of men.
Lydiate had its station on the Cheshire Lines so there would be
people coming out from Liverpool to do business with the merchants
in the larger houses or perhaps a tailor who would come out yearly
to measure and make up suits for the farmers.
It is known that the well known poet Gerard Manley Hopkins when
a priest in Liverpool in 1880-1881 used to come out to Lydiate to
stay with the Lightbounds at Rose Hill and the Scotch Piper is
nearby so is this were he also found inspiration?
Right up to the present day many people, whether local
residents, or visitors have appreciated the Scotch Piper for what
it is- a village meeting place -an oasis of peace and human
interest. Long may its sturdy timbers and happy atmosphere
survive.
"Them as buys beef buys bones, Them as buys land buys
stones, Them as buys eggs buys shells, Them as buys ale buys nowt
else,
- Except at the Scotch Piper where you get History as well."
Adapted from an old Lancashire Rhyme. |
