General Burgoyne, Great Urswick

Was an unspoilt Hartleys pub of character until 1992 when Robinsons carried out an expanding of the trading areas which was described in ‘Traditional Pubs of Old Lancashire’ by Peter Barnes as “If pubs like this have to change then this is an example of how it should be done”. It was originally a farmhouse with its own brewhouse.

The highlight is the small room on the left still with an oak partition separating it from the small room on the right. It has an inglenook consisting of a stone fireplace with a mantelpiece almost reaching the ceiling and a short bench with baffle on the right hand side. There are two more baffles by the doorway to the right hand bar. There is old dado panelling with benches attached and a hatch to the side of the servery. One beam has a ‘1631’ date carved into it. Sadly, a small section of the wall above the dado has been removed, no doubt ‘for supervision’ reasons.

From the front door there is passage created by two partition walls which are painted black. A wide gap on the right of about half the wall leads into the very small public bar with an oldish bar counter, new top, the bar back is partly old but mostly modern. There is some wall bench seating and only two tables. Down three steps and through a wide doorway is another small room with a screeded floor, beamed ceiling, an old stone fireplace, and some pew-like fitted seating.

The rear wall of the left hand room is opened-up to a small area with corner settle seating; and on the far left a modern dining room extension.