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llth Century - The first Parish Church was built.
There would have been a pub nearby and it was probably on this
site. It was probably little more than a hut that was open all
the time - literally - no walls!
12th Century - The barrel vaulted cellar was built,
probably sometime before ~1200, with a timber frame, daub and
wattle building above. The timber frame can be seen from the
steps in the garden. This building had the layout of the two
side rooms.
1251 The earliest record of the pub's existence was when
the market was granted its Royal Charter.
1636 The rebuild converted the daub and wattle walls to
the present brick-work. The half of the cellar under the building
was altered and its ceiling lowered by the construction of the
wooden floor. This floor is level with the present flag stones
and the bottom of the old door, which can be seen in the main
bar. The central beam in the front bar was moved to its present
location to support floor boards. 7his beam is the cross-member
from a roof support that has been re-used from the 12 century
building.
1644 May 28 - The massacre of Bolton occurred outside
as described in the late Victorian book 'John of God Sending'
or 'The Lass at the Man & Scythe' (for sale @ £10).
Somewhere between 100 and 500 soldiers and civilians were killed.
The main killing ground was in the centre of the town, which
was the front of the pub.
1651 3pm, October 15 - The Seventh Earl of Derby was beheaded
in the market place outside after spending a period of time here.
The pictures in the Museum Room depict this event. The executioner's
skull is also pictured on the wall. 7he presence of Lady Charlotte,
Derby's wife has been felt in this room.
1820's Tom Donnovan 'found' the chair in the cellar. This
1590 Flemish style chair is in a cabinet in the Museum Room with
its original brass label stating that Derby sat in the chair
prior to his execution. The flag floor in the front bar was laid
about this time over the 1251 floor which was beaten clay overlaid
with ashes and cobble stones! The holes used to secure the back
wall of the Victorian bar may be seen in this floor.
1880's Frank S. Hampson added the bay window and started
the extension of the building. The (unisex!) petty was in the
ginnel.
1920-55 The space between the main building and the present
toilets and commercial kitchen was roofed.
1953 The famous long bar and corridor were created to
facilitate waiter service.
1998 John Jewitt restored the main bar to a layout and
colouring closer to those
existing before about 1870.
For more information see www.man-scythe.co.uk
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