Black Horse Preston: "Remarkable" Friargate pub gets new Historic England listing to protect its unique interior

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A famous Preston pub has been relisted by Historic England in a bid to protect its unique interior.

The Black Horse in Friargate is one of 11 pubs across the country to have new information listed about its interior as part of its Grade II status.

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>>>Read more about the pub’s history here

The project by Historic England is to help save rare historic pub interiors is in collaboration with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub Heritage Group.

North west room showing mosaic floor  (hops and grapes) hard wood and leather bench seating and wall panels with mirrored surround and stained glass windows behind. View from south east.North west room showing mosaic floor  (hops and grapes) hard wood and leather bench seating and wall panels with mirrored surround and stained glass windows behind. View from south east.
North west room showing mosaic floor (hops and grapes) hard wood and leather bench seating and wall panels with mirrored surround and stained glass windows behind. View from south east.

The “impressive pub” dates from the boom years of Victorian urban pub building, and is the only British pub with entrances on three different streets.

According to Historic England: “The amended list entry better describes the significance of this building and the importance of its surviving interior.”

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The pub was rebuilt in 1898 to the designs of local architect J A Seward for Kay’s Atlas Brewery of Manchester.

From the Friargate entrance, there is a pair of small smoke rooms, full of original fittings, either side of a mosaic-floored corridor which extends through to the back of the building.

Public House Interiors. Listing.Black Horse, 166 Friargate, Preston, Lancashire.Exterior, view from Friargate showing all three entrances view from south east.Public House Interiors. Listing.Black Horse, 166 Friargate, Preston, Lancashire.Exterior, view from Friargate showing all three entrances view from south east.
Public House Interiors. Listing.Black Horse, 166 Friargate, Preston, Lancashire.Exterior, view from Friargate showing all three entrances view from south east.

The Orchard Street entrance leads into a richly decorated public bar, dominated by a semi-circular ceramic counter in front of which is more mosaic flooring. At the back of the servery are glazed counter screens to the main corridor.

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Originally there was a ‘Market Room’ (a meeting room for market days) at the rear but in 1929 this was replaced by the present, U-shaped seating area plus indoor toilets.

Landlord Dan Taylor said: “It’s good that the pub’s been relisted. We’re very proud of the pub and it’s important we don’t lose the historical gems in Preston.”

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England said: “At a time when many historic pubs in England are susceptible to change or at risk of closure, we are pleased to celebrate pubs that have kept their remarkable interiors. These rare interiors help tell the fascinating story of pubs over the centuries and how they reflected society.”

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North west room showing mosaic floor  (hops and grapes) hard wood and leather bench seating and wall panels with mirrored surround and stained glass windows behind. View from south.North west room showing mosaic floor  (hops and grapes) hard wood and leather bench seating and wall panels with mirrored surround and stained glass windows behind. View from south.
North west room showing mosaic floor (hops and grapes) hard wood and leather bench seating and wall panels with mirrored surround and stained glass windows behind. View from south.

Paul Ainsworth, chairman of CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group said: “Times are tough for all pubs at the moment, including those with important historic interiors. The more protection they can receive, the better.”

The other pubs across the country to be relisted are:

- Whitelock’s Ale House, Turk's Head Yard, Leeds

- Prince Alfred Maida Vale, London,

Interior, floor to ceiling , hard wood bar structure looking towards doorway to Friargate. View from north west.Interior, floor to ceiling , hard wood bar structure looking towards doorway to Friargate. View from north west.
Interior, floor to ceiling , hard wood bar structure looking towards doorway to Friargate. View from north west.

- Blythe Hill Tavern, 319 Stanstead Road, Lewisham

- Admiral Vernon, 141 Broad Street, Dagenham

- The Red Lion, 2 Duke of York Street, London

- The Harrow Inn, Steep, Petersfield

- The North Star Inn, 2 Stocks Lane, Steventon, Oxfordshire

- The King’s Head, (Low House), Gorams Mill Lane, Laxfield

- Bridge Inn, Bridge Hill, Topsham