Known locally as The Hammer, the oldest pub in Ancoats had stood for nearly 250 years before it was torn down
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A fascinating painting hidden under wallpaper for over 40-years helped solve a mystery surrounding Ancoats' oldest pub.
The Smith's Arms on Sherratt Street had stood for nearly 250-years before it was bulldozed in 2016. The oldest pub in Ancoats, it had been abandoned for some time before being demolished to make way for a housing development.
Campaigners who had fought to save the 18th century pub said they were "devastated" by its loss. When it was built in 1775, it was first used as a three-storey residence, being surrounded by factories and mills during the industrial boom of the 19th century.
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It first became a pub in 1827 and was previously known as The Blacksmiths Arms. It was also known affectionately as The Hammer by locals.
It underwent another name change, becoming the Hammer in Hand, when it was a Taylor’s Eagle house. During its life it has also been a Tetley’s and a Burtonwood house, before closing in the 1990s.
But it was back in 1980, a fascinating discovery was made during renovation work at the pub. Under layers of wallpaper, workmen uncovered a mural of a blacksmith at work at his anvil, signed by H Thistleton.
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Its landlord at the time, Tommy Whelan, told the Manchester Evening News: "The pub is well over 100-years old and has always been known as 'The Hammer' – now we know why."
He added: "We can't be sure how long the painting has been there, but it's obviously very old. It was covered by four layers of paper and customers who have been coming here for 40-years saw it for the first time when the decorators stripped the wall."
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Supporters had hopped to the Smith's Arms on English Heritage's List of Buildings of Special Architectural Interest. One of the high-profile supporters of the pub was Mike Joyce, the drummer in The Smiths.
During a previous protest he told the M.E.N: "We are trying to make people aware of what’s happening with buildings in Manchester – particularly the Smith’s Arms. It’s got an incredible amount of history, like so many buildings in Manchester.
“But this is hundreds of years prior to Victorian times, King George III was on the throne, it was the start of the industrial revolution. It’s just such an amazing heritage.
"I’ve come on board quite late, but like the idea of being able to work in conjunction with the council to get some funding – even just so it could be a façade. It could be a pub, a café, anything – but once it’s gone, it’s gone."
Sadly the efforts were in vain and the pub was demolished in 2016. However, before the building was lost forever, urban explorer The Tourist Historian took a last look inside the doomed pub.
Click below for a tour inside Ancoats' lost Smith's Arms pub
Last photos show inside the now demolished Smith's Arms in Ancoats
The images uploaded to The Tourist Historian's Facebook and Instagram pages, are sure to bring back nostalgic memories for the pub's former locals. Click the gallery to see a selection of the images, including what remained of the hidden mural which was later framed by popular demand of its regulars.
Does the Smith's Arms awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
