The Tithebarn Hotel formerly known as the Waggon and Horses. c.1968 Pic: Preston Digital Archive

The Tithebarn Hotel, situated on the corner of Lord Street and Tithebarn Street, will most probably be a familiar sight to many people and there will be those who may well have popped in there for a pint at some time in their adult life. However, the present day Tithebarn Hotel has only had that name since the 1960’s, prior to that it was known as the Waggon and Horses and more than a few people will doubtlessly recall the pub around those times.

From an extract of the book, ‘Peeps at old Preston’, by George C. Miller 1957 referring to the Waggon & Horses:
The pub took its name from the large number of blacksmiths clustered around the Tithebarn area. An old town custom called ‘Boundary Riding’ took place here whereupon the Mayor and members of the Corporation would set off on horseback to view the boundaries of the borough. As part of this ceremony, two of the towns bailiffs were whipped round the nearby pump. Things got out of hand, as these events are wont to do, when the blacksmiths joined in the fray and began to beat the poor bailiff’s with iron bars and other iron implements. After this the old custom was discontinued.

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The Waggon & Horses public house, Lord Street, Preston c.1961, just prior to its renaming to the Tithebarn Hotel. Pic: Preston Digital Archive

In an earlier time, there was another public house with a similar name further northward on Tithebarn Street known as the Tithebarn Street Tavern at number 31 which was next door to the Fruitiers Arms at 32. Later the Tithebarn Street Tavern closed down and the current landlord of the Fruitiers took over that building to extend his own premises. In a later time still, both premises came under a renumbering scheme and became 110 and 112 Tithebarn Street with 31 now being 112 and 32 being 110 (renumbering changed directions).

View from Tithebarn Street facing northward with what would now be the Bus Station apron on the right and the Holiday Inn in the background. In this image you can see Duckworth Prams, 110 (formerly 32) – 112 (formerly 31) Tithebarn Street, Preston. March 12, 1955. Pic: Preston Digital Archive

The name of ‘Tithebarn’ came from an ancient building which was located between Tithebarn Street and Feeble Street, which was just off Old Vicarage. The building was the ‘Tithe Barn’ belonging to the St John the evangalist, Preston Parish Church. (A ‘tithe’ was one tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the Church and clergy; much like the ‘gift aid’ of the present day tax system.)

Tithebarn Street and Old Vicarage, Preston 1960 Pic: Preston Digital Archive

The image immediately above shows a view of Tithebarn Street and Old Vicarage. None of what you see exists today. In a current view of this location you would see the premises of B&M Bargains. The premises on the far right of the 1960 view was the Tithebarn building which was on the corner of Old Vicarage and Feeble Street – which still exists in part but is no longer known as Feeble Street. As a point of interest, you can see the premises of Cardwell’s Brewery in the background which exemplifies the importance of liquor and beer to the town of Preston in earlier times.

Do you recall the Tithebarn Hotel being known as the Wagon and Horses? Do you have any memories of the old public house? Let us know in the comments below.