The Shawe’s Arms
The Shawe’s Arms, London Road
Shawe’s Arms, London Road, Privately owned but up for sale, has had repair work carried out but not currently in use.
The building is secure and appears to be water-tight. The roof was replaced relatively recently. This was part of work that an article in Blog Preston described as an ‘extensive structural refurbishment’. There had been a fire in the building, whilst it was described as being in a derelict state during 2022. Fire crews said that youths were spotted climbing the scaffolding and getting on to a flat roof adjoining the building before the fire started. This happened on Sunday 19th June 2022.
The building is in a good location on the River Ribble and is on the Guild Wheel route. Surely there has to be potential for some sort of refreshment stop in that location.
Blog Preston article:
https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2024/01/shawes-arms-up-for-sale-again-following-extensive-structural-refurbishment/
Shawe’s Arms History
The Shawe’s Arms, address is 279 London Road and it is adjacent to the Ribble Bridge in the Fishwick area of Preston. The building is quite small, and it thought that it was originally a Farm-cottage. Shawes Arms was once a landmark pub in Preston, dating back to at least 1824, but it has been closed since 2014.
It was renamed to Shawe’s Arms from the ‘Black Horse’ in 1843. Historically, one of the most well-known landlords was William Lobban (Loban), who ran the establishment from 1892 to 1921.
Why “Shawes Arms”?
The Shawes Arms takes its name from the Shawe (or Shaw) family, who were once prominent landowners in the Fishwick area of Preston. The family lived at Fishwick Hall, recorded in the 18th century as the seat of the Shaws. In 1760, William Shaw, an attorney of Preston, purchased part of the manor of Fishwick and made the hall his residence.
It was common practice for inns and taverns to adopt the arms or surname of influential local families, both as a mark of respect and as a way to identify with the neighbourhood’s gentry. When the former Black Horse Inn on London Road was renamed in the mid-19th century, it became the Shawes Arms, commemorating this family connection.
More in formation about the history of the Shawe’s Arms at Fishwick can be found on the PRESTON’S INNS, TAVERNS and BEERHOUSES website.
https://pubsinpreston.blogspot.com/2012/03/shawes-arms-london-road.html
