The Manchester Arms, St Audrey Lane, St Ives

The Manchester Arms

The Manchester Arms dates from before 1838, called after the Dukes of Manchester, lords of the manor of St Ives. Until the early 1960s the population of St Ives had been steady for centuries at about 3,000. The Manchester Arms was a good half mile into the countryside at the crossing of two turnpike roads. Today its a Tesco convenience store.

St Ivians remember:

Went to see "The Sweet" there.

Run by Ron Broughall. He had a pony tail & beard & organised a concert by The Sweet in a huge marquee in the field next door, charging sky high prices!

As a toddler, sat in the car in the car park with a bottle of pop, straw & packet of Smith's crisps with the little blue bag. Teen years playing darts in the room bottom left while the bar had a singer guitarist. I only have to hear 'If You Could Read My Mind' and it takes me back.

Same here, lovely song, plus Streets of London, Lay Lady Lay, The Wild Rover . . . .great nights.

Our old friend Ray Carter was that guitarist.

CB radio “eyeballs” every other Tuesday in early 80’s.

Use to use it on way home from late night shift. Mid 1970s. When the Chicory factory was across the road.

Worked here for a short while for a landlord called Ron. He had a macaw called Angus, does anyone remember him? Eccentric man, with a bit of a temper.

The bird had a bit of a temper as well. Used to eat all the wallpaper.

This was the final stop on our pub crawl round the town, for the disco in the back room.