I don't know if it still exists. Certainly it was the only pub in Britain with that name. Does anybody know the origin of that name?
Blockade
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It's now offices
I think it was so called because it was frequented by East Lancashire Railway workers building the nearby viaduct, which opened in 1848 ( date on a keystone viewed from the other side of the viaduct) and that company had been involved in a famous blockade of the railway line near Middleton. It has been suggested that it relates to the blockade of the ports in the Southern states during the American Civil War, but the pub had been opened for some years before the 1860s.
There's a shedload of stuff on here if you google Blockade Accrington Mr T...A cornucopia of info on the pub and the err? colourful characters that patronised it.
Landlord sad as Blockade comes to an end (From Lancashire Telegraph)
Was this the pub ? Sorry if I've asked this before
Hyndburn Crossroads Ltd Link House, 23 Kings Street, Accrington, Lancs, BB5 1PR | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Hyndburn Crossroads Ltd Link House, 23 Kings Street, Accrington, Lancs, BB5 1PR | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Yep that's it, spent many a happy hour of my mis spent youth in there.
Thanks Bob, I seem to remember the pub sign had a railway worker in front of a steam train.
I diodn't know that. I dfon't think it did was I was a regular, drinking bitter and 'nips' in the late 50s/earl;y 60s. The pub was one of the Bentley's Milnshaw Brewery chain before Bentley sold it to John Smith's in 1924, along with: The New Brewery,The raailway (Huncoat).the Junction (that' probably a reference to the same blockade)The Cattle Market, The Abbey and the Borough Arms in Oak St , some off-licences, some house proeprties and a few pubs out of Accrington.
See page 6 of my book 'An Accrington Mixture'
Just to let you all know, Joyce who was landlady for many years at the Blackade has died. She was a great character. Rest in peace
R.I.P. Joyce . We used to meet in the upstairs room there.Do you know if Eddie is still around?
Think Eddie passed a couple of years ago Frank. Shame about Joyce she was a "no nonsense" landlady and needed to be with the denizens of the back room.
A 3 degrees of separation thread wander, I will be in Hasting this Friday for the funeral of Pete Bull who died last week after a struggle with throat cancer and be raising a glass to him with a few Ossy/Accy ex-pats who moved down there in the seventies for the more err liberal lifestyle. John Cowell (Kiff) and Dave Jearam (Dobbin) to name but two. (Jaysay you will remember em' from the Bay)
They all have fond memories of the Bay Horse, Block' and New Brewery I'll make sure themselves, Mick (Bull) and family and me both raise a scoop in the Dolphin to Joyce too.
RIP Joyce, a very nice lady who could display a very impressive array of landlady characteristics when the need arose - a vital asset with a pub like the Block! The...er..."atmosphere" in that back room was something else! ��
Ah the back room, you could cut the atmosphere with ......... just about any household cleaning product. Best juke box in Accy though and some great characters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohx9Ve7-GS0 Speaking of the jukebox,back room,first heard this cracker yon.
Juke box had a lot of Bob Seger as i remember
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohx9Ve7-GS0 Speaking of the jukebox,back room,first heard this cracker yon.
Christine Perfect on vocals, she became Mrs Mcvee (Fleetwood Mac)