Look back: Prospect pub on Bolton Road in Bradford

The recent granting of planning permission to demolish the former Prospect on Bolton Road and replace it with a block of flats, and consequent letters and comments in the Telegraph & Argus, prompted a look at its history.

Like so many old Bradford pubs, it began life as a beerhouse. Then in September 1847, a William Swaine was granted a full publican’s licence for the premises.

Supporting the application, the magistrates heard that it was regularly visited by police constables and found to be well conducted, had good accommodation, was in a ‘populous neighbourhood’ and would be convenient for market people and others passing. It was one of 14 applications that year, eight of which were granted, an exceptionally large number according to the newspaper account of the proceedings, and which included the Albion on Leeds Road and the Ivy on Barkerend Road.

It was indeed a populous neighbourhood, part of the then developing Wapping and Bolton Road district, once densely built up with housing but now largely empty and bisected by the inner ring road.

That December, a coroner’s inquest was opened at the pub, as was common at that time, when the jury would view the body before hearing the details of the case, here that of a girl found in the nearby Bradford canal. By 1853 it was up for sale when then owner and landlord William Laycock had been declared bankrupt.

It had a brewhouse and stabling and was just two stories high. It was rebuilt towards the close of the 19th century by brewers Waller and Son. Their brewery on Trafalgar Street, next to the railway line out of Forster Square, was visible, smoke permitting, from the Prospect. The plans, part of the collection of building plans kept at Bradford Archives, are dated September 1898, and were by architect John Jackson of Bradford. As part of the rebuild, the old privy and ash pit were replaced by a modern WC and urinal. That is the building which we see today, at least for a little while longer.

Of note, despite its current sorry state, are the pub’s name in relief at the top of the building and the twin heads on either side of the entrance. They represent a man with an impressive moustache and a woman, but who are they?

Also visible is its latter name: Prospect of Bradford. It is that prospect which I and certainly others remember, the great view over the city. As CAMRA’s guide (they held their meetings there) in the mid-1990s put it: where you could ‘watch City play for free’. The guide also noted its ‘excellent function facilities’ and the ‘accommodation by prior arrangement’. The function facilities were certainly excellent, in an upstairs room, as I recall speaking to a local group having a meal there, some time ago now.

It has been closed for several years and gradually fallen into its present derelict state. There are calls to incorporate the building into any development but precedents for such an outcome are not encouraging.

* Dr Paul Jennings is the author of Bradford Pubs and The Local: A History of the English Pub.