Garstang has boasted a number of pubs over the years, probably due to the town being located on the main north to south road through England.
Anthony Hewitson in his book ‘Northwards’ published in 1900 says that:
“About 80 years ago there were actually 13 public houses in Garstang”
So, around 1820 these pubs were:
The King’s Arms
The Eagle and Child
The Golden Ball
The Wheatsheaf
The Horns Inn
The Brown Cow
The Blue Anchor
The Red Lion
The Holy Lamb
The Swan
The Shovel and Broom (now the Farmer’s Arms)
For more information click on the pub name – please note this part of the website is still under research and so not all pubs will have information yet
The Preston Herald of 6th September 1884 carried this report of the annual Brewster Sessions:
The annual brewster sessions for the Garstang petty sessional division were held in the Town Hall on Thursday, when the magistrates on the bench were H. Garnett. J. Jackson, junr., Esqrs., and Major Bird.
Superintendent Webb submitted his annual report, which stated that there had been no change in the number of public-houses and beerhouses during the past year. The number of public houses was 43, and the number of beerhouses 41. There was no application for a new license. The houses had been for the most satisfactorily conducted.
The population of the district was 1237 according to the census of 1881, and the average population for each licensed house was 281.
There had been four convictions against innkeepers, one for permitting drunkenness, and three for selling adulterated spirits. Last year the number was 10, four for permitting drunkenness, two open during prohibited hours., and four selling adulterated spirits.
The number of convictions for drunkenness had been 84, as against 182 the year previous. The highest number for the last ten years was 109 in the year 1877, and the lowest 81 the year 1881.