IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Lancaster Road, PRESTON, PR1 2QH

Built for the Co-op by company architect W.A. Johnson. At the time the ground floor was occupied by a Chinese restaurant, Great Times. The building appears to face an uncertain future due to a possible redevelopment scheme.

Off Lancaster Road.

Conveniently situated near the market, this is predominantly a pub for drinking rather than food. It is located on the corner of the road known as Old Vicarage and Lancaster Road. It is currently owned by Admiral Taverns. The building seems to have been built as an inn around 1830, and although there have been brief periods of closure in recent years, it is still in business over 180 years later. It originally had its own brewhouse and stables. Image Image

It seems this pub or inn has always had some variant of its present name since it was built around 1830. The Preston Chronicle of the 1st January 1831 had an advertisement saying that a new public house or inn called the "Blackmoor's Head" was to be let. The origins of the name are probably similar to those of public houses called the Saracen's Head and the Turk's Head, which are not uncommon. They are amongst the oldest around. The Saracens and the Turks were amongst the enemies faced by the Crusaders in early medieval times, and as people returned from the Crusades, inns were sometimes given these names. Early signs often showed a crusader knight holding the head of a Turk, which wouldn't be acceptable today. Later a more noble portrait, such as the one used here, was adopted in recognition of their fighting bravery. Probably these names have only survived because of long historical usage. The sign can also be a reference to the Barbary pirates that raided the coasts from the time of the Crusades until the early 19th century, and that may be the case here. The sign on this side has some paint spots missing, so I also photographed the other side, which unfortunately was partly in shadow. Image Image

Now owned by Admiral Taverns, this was at one time a John Smith's house, but long before that it had its own brewhouse. See also:- Image, and Image

On Lancaster Road in Preston.

The Black A Moor Head on the corner of Old Vicarage and Lancaster Road opened in 1831 and originally had its own brewhouse and stables. http://pubsinpreston.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/black-moors-head-lancaster-road.html In 2012 Image it was bought by Admiral Taverns. Image

Sign for the Black A Moor Head Image