THE GREYSTONE INN

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Stanley
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THE GREYSTONE INN

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THE GREYSTONE INN


The Greystone Inn used to be on the west side of Coldweather about a quarter of mile closer to Gisburn than the present day Moorcock. I say 'used to be' because I understand it is now a housing development but in the 1950s it was a roadside inn catering for travellers. I think it was built to cater for horse drawn landau trips out into the countryside from Nelson and Colne and at one time was owned by Massey's Burnley Brewery.
I forget how I came to be in there one night drinking Guinness but remember it clearly because in those days Guinness was bottle conditioned and contained sediment. In consequence it had a limited shelf life and every bottle the landlord gave me was definitely past it's sell by date! We gave up in the end and I had a Pale Ale. Evidently there wasn't enough trade to keep the stock fresh.
The landlord was a man called Bob Feather and he was a bit of a character. I was a bit puzzled how he and his wife held the tenancy of what looked like a failing pub but one night he told me a story. I don't know if he embroidered it but it fitted the facts and here it is.
One wet windy night at about 9PM a man called George Rushworth was travelling over Coldweather from Gisburn and decided he wanted a drink and a warm by the fire. He pulled in but found the door was locked so he hammered on it until he got a response. A window opened upstairs and Bob popped his head out. I should mention that George Rushworth was a man to be reckoned with, he had a successful scrap business in Colne and owned several farms round Whitemoor Reervoir. Bob told him he was closed and had gone to bed. Rushworth told him that he was Rushworth from Colne and he wanted a drink. Bob told him he didn't care so George threatened that if he didn't open up he would buy the pub and chuck him and his wife out. This had no effect so the following morning George bought the pub but funnily enough didn't evict Bob and his wife, I suspect he quite liked him.
Some time later George was found dead on the moor and it was put down to a heart attack. When his will was read it was found that there was a codicil stating that Bob Feather and his wife were to have the tenancy of the Greystone until death or them voluntarily giving it up. I think Thwaites Brewery bought it as an investment and waited until natural causes gave them control and seem to remember them trying to revive the pub as a roadhouse but it was never a success.
That's my Greystone story, all I have is Bob's word but I believed him because it fitted the facts. It would be a shame not to pass such a good tale on.

Image

Greystone Inn location in 1950.
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plaques
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by plaques »

Which fits very nicely with Marriott Edgar's monologue 'George and the dragon'

last three verses...

With these few remarks th' old girl took in her head
And slammed winder to in his face;
He took a look round and for t' very first time
He noticed the name of the place.

He picked up some pebbles he found in the road
And tossed them against winder pane,
And before very long lattice opened above
And out came the old girl again.

'What d'ye want?' she enquired. 'Not you,' Joe replied,
For this treatment had fair raised his gorge
'I see George and t'Dragon's the name on the house,
'And I'd just like a word now, with George.'

see link for others...Linl.
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Marilyn
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Marilyn »

:biggrin2: I like that...
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Marilyn »

:biggrin2: I like that...
( must have liked it more than I thought, as I posted it twice!)
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Stanley »

Nice connection P.
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Tizer
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Tizer »

Thanks for that link, Plaques. I love the stories and dialect, and didn't know about that web site. It's heaven in the midst of all this Brexit stuff. I've been rocking with laughter for a while already! :laugh5:
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
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Stanley
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Stanley »

:good:
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Stanley »

Bumped because the story is well worth repeating!
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Gloria »

👍
Gloria
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Stanley »

Thanks Gloria..... :biggrin2:
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Davee »

I used to work there when it was a Toby inn in the seventies / eighties, it was a lovely place to work , my girlfriend at the time also worked there, we lived in at the accomadation at the rear. on the second floor.I was there for a few years as I remember. great in summer but a bit grim in the winter.
We used to go to the Moorcock down the road for a meal and a few drinks on our days off . It was a busy place in those days , the weekends for packed.
I passed the place a few years ago and saw it was closed , sad to see , a lot of happy memories and times. I think the Moorcock has closed now as well.
I had a stroke last year, so I don't drive anymore , mind you pushing 70 so not to bothered . I was just having a bit of a look around where I worked back in the days, see the DE TABLEY ARMS Ribchester has had the same fate. Tke care everyone Dave
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Re: THE GREYSTONE INN

Post by Stanley »

Thanks for that Dave..... Drink driving penalties are so severe now the concept of the 'road house' has failed I think.
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