First look inside the new look historic Raven Inn

VIDEO: AFTER nearly five years of hard work the historic Raven Inn at Glazebury, which was almost demolished to make way for housing, officially re-opens today (Saturday) after a remarkable community effort!

Ahead of the opening, Warrington Worldwide was given a first look inside the new look premises, which has been painstakingly renovated in a bid to retain as much of its history as possible,

One of those who helped make the dream come true was local businessman Bob Eden who was on hand to give Warrington Worldwide a first look inside the impressive premises, which officially opens at 12 noon today, serving food and drink.

Originally the Raven was the site of a water mill. It is firmly believed ‘Lyttyl Mylle’ was repurposed as a hostelry in the 16th Century. Supporting this timeframe, the mill walls at the north end of the Raven are Tudor in origin. During renovations, beautiful brickwork was revealed and remains on display for all to admire.
Records show that In July 1770, the Tyldesley family sold, what was then referred to as “…the ancient hostelry, the Raven Inn…” and other properties to John Lyon. Lyon was responsible for greatly expanding the inn, ‘wrapping’ the new Georgian building around the old Tudor fabric.
Fast-forward to the latter part of the C20th, inappropriate use of modern building materials during refurbishment (plastic membranes and cement render) kept out the damp but also trapped damp in the building from the leaking roof.
But after the Raven was bought and saved in 2022, all membranes were removed and the brickwork was repaired with lime mortar pointing and lime render throughout. The brickwork can now ‘breathe’ allowing the building to dry out.
During the conservation and renovation work, brick pockets chiselled into the brickwork to take floor timbers were identified; their width & height, spacing and height from the ground were sufficient to recreate the original C16th timber beam arrangements by recycling nearly 100 Victorian ceiling joists. Everything required was already on site.

Local campaigner Bob, along with Lyttyl Mylle historian Van Hostetler, in Arizona, unearthed and evidenced the incredible history of the Raven, which Bob has enacted, directed, and overseen the detailed, sympathetic preservation and restoration work.

Within hours of Warrington Worldwide broadcasting last night’s VIP event, hundreds of people were posting messages of congratulations on social media, with thousands more watching the live broadcast.

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