The claim
Nicholson's calls it Manchester's oldest building of its type: a black-and-white timber-framed house built in 1552, which now pours cask ale beside the cathedral in Shambles Square. It was a draper's shop and family home, including to the shorthand pioneer John Byrom, long before it was a pub. During late-1990s redevelopment it was dismantled and rebuilt about 100 metres away.
What the records show
The timber-framed building is dated 1552 and was a draper's shop from 1554, per operator Nicholson's. It was a house and shop for centuries; the date it first became licensed was not verified here. It has been relocated, so the fabric is old but not on its original site.
| Year | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1552 | Claimed founding | The pub |
| c.1552 | Present building | Building fabric |
What to look for inside
- Built 1552; Nicholson's calls it Manchester's oldest of its kind
- Home of the Byrom family; John Byrom devised an early shorthand
- Moved about 100 metres from its original Market Street position
Visiting
The Old Wellington is in Manchester, England, at 4 Cathedral Gates, Manchester M3 1SW. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/northwest/theoldwellingtonmanchester
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Wellington_Inn
- camra.org.uk/pubs/old-wellington-manchester-137520
- ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1818972
Then and now
Photographed about 1977, and today. In 1977 the inn stood on a raised podium in the Shambles; it was moved to its present site in 1999.
Photo: David Dixon · licence
Photo: N Chadwick · licenceKnow something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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