Building record 1496/0/2 - The Unicorn Public House

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.I p.222 (Book). SCH3228.

References the earliest incidence of the place-name (amongst the sources consulted) as Bryant’s 1831 Map of the County Palatine of Chester (see 2).

<2> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

On this map, the label ‘Unicorn’ is adjacent to a group of buildings to the west.

<3> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 53/2 1841 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The building is depicted on the tithe map for Bollin Fee and shows a building whose foot print is very similar to The Unicorn’s present layout. It is described as a ‘homestead’ on the tithe award entry.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8781 1873-1874 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The building is depicted on this map and shows a building whose foot print is very similar to The Unicorn’s present layout.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R 09/02/2015 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The Unicorn P.H. is listed in The Place-names of Cheshire (1) and they reference the earliest incidence of the place-name (amongst the sources consulted) as Bryant’s 1831 Map of the County Palatine of Chester (2). On this map the label ‘Unicorn’ is adjacent to a group of buildings to the west. A number of these buildings are listed and one, Laburnum Cottage (CHER 1496/0/1), is described in its list description as ‘Formerly farmhouse, later public house, now house’. However the building presently known as The Unicorn is also depicted on this map. Both properties are described as ‘homestead’ on their respective tithe award entries from 1841 (3). It’s possible that beer was being sold from the door, rather than in the manner we are more familiar with today. The accompanying Tithe map shows a building whose foot print is very similar to The Unicorn’s present layout (without the relatively recent additions to the rear), as does the Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25 inch to 1 mile for Cheshire (1873-1874) (4).

The main building looks Georgian in style and the smaller additions to either side buildings appear to be late eighteenth to early nineteenth century. The pitching eye in the two storied building on the western side of the main building is suggestive of a hay loft, perhaps indicating an agricultural function or a stable.