The Cheshire Tap

The eighth location on the trail is the Cheshire Tap at 36 Railway Street which used to be Deans grocers, hop merchants and seedsmen. Railway Street was previously called Ashley Lane and was a row of early eighteenth century cottages connecting George Street with Ashley Road and the Downs. The 1849 Bowdon Railway Station was across the road from the Cheshire Tap, between Lloyd Street and Goose Green. Lloyd Square behind the Cheshire Tap used to contain several blocks of back to back cottages the remains of which can be seen in Kings Court. Railway Street went on to George Street past the end of Regent Road which was very narrow at this point as it crossed into Goose Green. There were three inns on this section of Railway Street. The Woolpack was on the corner of Regent Road and was a low thatched building dating to 1679. It was rebuilt in 1865 and demolished in 1969 but lives on as modern day licensed premises. The Orange Tree Hotel and Faulkners Arms were across what is now the start of Stamford New Road and were pulled down in 1880 when the new road to the new railway station was built. The trail now takes a short detour through Goose Green before coming back to Stamford New Road.