Looking Back; Pubs and clubs of Peterborough's past

But places to drink be they hotels, bars,clubs or pubs have always played a big part in our social history.

Today’s pictures reflect that history.

The picture of the Norman Cross Hotel was taken in 1906. I believe there is still a Norman Cross Hotel today. Is it on the same site?

The next picture was taken in 1986 of the Shamrock Club in Brook Street.

I’m guessing it was an Irish club! Do you have any memories of it and am I right in thinking the building is now home to Jena’s restaurant?

The picture of the Golden Lion which was located at the entrance to Narrow Street is undated. Can anyone date this picture?

The next photograph shows the familiar sight of the Sessions House in Thorpe Road. If you look closely you can spot a bit of the old district hospital in the background.There’s a fine array of cars parked in front. The Sessions House was built in 1842 and was the visible front of Peterborough Prison.

It closed as a prison 36 years later but remained a police headquarters.In 1931 the police moved out but the magistrates stayed until the 1980s.

This picture was taken in 1983 – I’m unsure whether it was still in use as a court then or had been converted to a pub.

The next picture is a splendid one on the Blue Boar Inn in Eye taken in 1915. The men in the horse and traps were heading for war, I hope they enjoyed a pint of Morgans ale or stout first. Was Morgans a local brewery?

No mention of Peterborough’s drinking history could be complete without reference to the beer festival. The final picture was taken in 1997. Does anybody recognise themselves in it?

If you have any information please get in touch.

Feedback

Several readers got in touch to tell me about the picture of the electricity pylon.

Wrongly (not for the first time!) I suggested it was being constructed but it turns out it was actually being taken down.

Pam Langfield emailed me to say: “I believe that the pylon was the one in the car park opposite the Key Theatre and it was being taken down.

“I worked at the Key from 1981 to 1998 and remember the pylon was removed about the date you mentioned (1983).’’

Other readers told me it used to be quite a landmark which could be seen from miles around.

By chance I found another picture (above) that gives you an idea of that.It seems odd now to think of a large pylon in the centre of the city.

Thank you to everyone who got in contact.

From the archives

A look back at stories from the Peterborough Telegraph archives – some sad, some happy, some serious, some funny

It might only be April but it’s not too early for a Christmas story.

Last year you will recall Peterborough City Council unveiled its new futuristic Christmas “tree’’.

It divided opinions to say the least and at a cost of £40,000 some residents slammed it as a waste of money.

The council defended the outlay and pointed out that as the tree would last for several years it was cost effective.

On November 8, 2003 the ET reported on the arrival and installation in Cathedral Square of that year’s tree.

And that one certainly was cost-effective... it was free!

It was donated from the back garden of Rita and Charles Stevens, from Deeping St James.

It was a Norway Spruce and, gushed the man from the council, it was “a beautiful specimen’’.

The then mayor Cllr David Raines was joined by Michael Cross from the Key Theatre in full Fairy Godmother costume to promote the panto.

The lights were turned on five days later by actor James Alexandrou, who played Martin Fowler in EastEnders.