Just how old is the Olde Boars Head?

Olde Boars Head

The Olde Boars Head is one of Middleton’s oldest buildings, but just how old is it?

The ageing pub stands to the west side of Long Street, in Middleton and is something of a historical gem, although its age has been a matter of debate for years.

Middleton Archaeology Society commissioned a project to find out exactly just how many years the old pub has been standing.

Timber samples were assessed by experts from Nottingham Tree-Dating Laboratories, who confirmed that the wood used in the beams was oak, cut down in 1622, and that the pub would have been built within about a year of that.

Having undergone some slight alteration over the years, the exact original form and layout is not completely clear, and the original function of the building is not known. However, given the form of the building and the level of decoration to the framing, it is perhaps more likely to have been a domestic site rather than an agricultural one.

Councillor Chris Furlong said: “As a regular visitor to the Olde Boars Head, it never ceases to amaze me how even when you walk through the door, you can sense the historical ambience of the place. Nearly 400 years of socialising, used as a court and the meeting place for those going to the Peterloo massacre can be experienced all in one place.

“It is little wonder that when people visit Middleton during the Golden Cluster month in September, from across the country and indeed the world, they use the Olde Boars Head as their starting point for a taster of their fine ales before setting off to see the other historic buildings around Middleton. Whether for socialising, meeting or just relaxing, I always get a warm welcome and it wouldn’t surprise me if it was still here in 400 years’ time.”