Club History

The Grange is situated on Grange Avenue in Latchford, Warrington. Grange Avenue originally got its name from this building.   The Beginnings The original part of The Grange dates back to 1647 and was owned by John Earle. At that time the house was located on the banks of the River Mersey, before the diversion of the river. On early maps the house was known as The Old Manor House and later as Latchford Grange.

Admiral Lord Nelson

The Earle Family settled in Warrington about 1600 and a branch moved to the Liverpool area in 1688 and became wealthy merchants and ship owners. The descendants of John Earle supplied goods to Horatio Nelson, who in December 1797, wrote a letter apologising for not having paid them. He explained that soon after receiving the goods, he had sailed from Cadiz to Tenerife, where he was wounded in battle and his right arm was amputated. The debt was overlooked but he promised to pay the sum of £8. 3s. 3d.

Old Billy

A very famous horse in Warrington, 'Old Billy', lived out his life at The Grange. He was born in 1760 in Woolston and he used to haul barges along the Latchford Canal and was then a gin horse until 1819. In 1820 Old Billy took part in the Manchester celebrations of King George IV Coronation as a celebrity in his own right. Instead of being sent to the knackers' yard at the end of his working life he was given a 'pension' and allowed to live in the stables of The Grange. He was believed to be the oldest horse in the country as most horses have a life span of 25 years. He still holds the record of the longest lived horse ever recorded. He died in 1822 aged 63. His picture hangs in The Grange to this day. He is pictured with Henry Harrison who was 76 and had known Billy for 59 years.

Previous Owners

Over the years The Grange has had many owners and been used for many different purposes. It was a farm owned by William, Earl of Everton, for a while.

In the 1890s it was owned by John Fairclough of the corn milling family.

For about 20 years until 1949, the house was owned by Mr Trevers, a vet who used the stables and grounds for his business.

In 1950 The Grange was bought by The British Aluminium Co, who modified the buildings to provide a club house for their employees. It was opened on May 25th 1951 and had facilities for cricket, football and bowls.

In 1994 The British Aluminium Co sold the property to its present owners. It still has all the sports and social facilities and is now known as The Grange Sports & Social Club.

Details

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 December 2011

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