A beloved Manchester pub that's known as one of the city's oldest and most historic actually began life 40 miles away.
The Shakespeare on Fountain Street recently appeared in an MEN article about Manchester's oldest pubs, but its history is complicated. The iconic black and white timber building with William Shakespeare perched above the door was originally built in Chester in 1656.
Then known as The Shambles pub, it wasn’t until 272 years later that the "haunted" tavern called Manchester home. Many parts of the original building arrived in our city in 1928 when it was henceforth known as The Shakespeare.
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The mammoth task of moving the pub cannot be overstated, with each element having to be dismantled and transported to Fountain Street. The Shakespeare was rebuilt next to the iconic Lewis’s department store building, which is now home to Primark.
Although some elements of the pub were new, many of its original 17th century parts were used, including the building’s carvings and other decorative elements. The upheaval of relocating the tavern to Manchester didn’t get rid of its infamous resident ghosts, though.
A plaque outside The Shakespeare details the pub’s history, including the ghostly figures who lurk within. It explains that the ghost of a girl who died at the pub over 100 years ago and a chef haunt the building, but there are two versions of the story.
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The first is that the girl, who was responsible for lighting the candles in The Shakespeare, accidentally set first to herself, resulting in her death. The second story involves the chef who’s said to have attacked and raped the girl.
As a result of his heinous crime, he was hanged from a beam in the pub, and his spirit is said to have never left. Apparently the rope mark is still visible on the beam.
The plaque outside The Shakespeare also mentions the site's history, explaining that although the pub wasn’t erected on Fountain Street until 1928, a tavern has stood on the site since 1771. It goes on to say: “The area, which used to house an oatmeal market, has featured prominently in the eating and drinking habits of Manchester’s populace for many years.”
Nowadays, locals and tourists flock to The Shakespeare for its extensive drinks menu and traditional pub food. The tavern is also a popular spot for sports fans with it having several flat screen TVs.
What are your thoughts on The Shakespeare? Let us know in the comments section below.
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