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200-Year-Old Boozer Discovered In Manchester City Centre

200-Year-Old Boozer Discovered In Manchester City Centre

Archaeologists have discovered the relics of a long forgotten pub.

James Dawson

James Dawson

When I first got told that a 200-year-old boozer had been found in Manchester's Northern Quarter, I thought, 'fucking hell, I hope that's me in 175 years'.

via GIPHY

Sadly, as it transpires, when they said 'boozer', what they were referring to was archaeologists discovering the relics of a long forgotten pub, with the M.E.N. reporting that the underground pub has been discovered in Manchester city centre.

Builders who found the site were shocked to find the building, which dates back to the early 1800s, when Manchester was still a market town. Inside it, archaeologists found untouched bottles of booze and crockery personalised with the former landlord's name.

James Alderson, site developer of Mulbury City which is carrying out the build, told the M.E.N.: "A lot of bottles have been found, maybe around 20. And three or four of them are full of brandy. We opened the cork on a few and you can still smell it.

"It's amazing knowing there's so much history at this site and it's really exciting. I never expected this kind of thing to be found but we are really fascinated by it all.

"Part of Manchester's vast history is being captured in these findings which is really interesting.

"It really takes you back to the time when they would have been outside of the pub drinking."

Image credit: Manchester Evening News

Historians say The Astley Arms pub remained open until 1928 as a Cornbrook house. The building was partially rebuilt in 1986 but later demolished.

Aidan Turner, supervisor at the site and senior archaeologist, said: "We found pottery and bottle from the Astley Arms which actually has the name of the proprietor Thomas Evans, and the name of the pub written on it, so it must have been a commissioned piece for the pub.

"It's brilliant because you can suddenly connect it to the local people in the area. We looked online about his family history and one of his descendants now lives in Texas.

"It's nice to be able to connect it directly to living people and their families."

Builders are building flats near to the site, which will be completed in 2017.

Featured image credit: Manchester Evening News

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Topics: Manchester, Pub

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