IT was one of the best known pubs in Warrington.

But the General Wolfe, on Church Street, was eventually demolished in the mid 1980s after years of decline.

Readers have been in touch this week to ask about its past after we featured a story on The Brickmakers in last week's Guardian.

The General Wolfe was situated next to the old Star Kinema.

It had a large yard at the back, including an old brewhouse and stables.

In his book Buttermarket to Cockhedge, Warrington historian Harry Wells takes up the story.

"In 1891 we find the licensee was Alfred Wright Brundil who lived here with his wife, their son who was a medical student, their eldest daughter who was a pupil teacher, two younger daughters and a niece.

"There were also three general domestic servants as well as an ostler, groom and a male servant.

"The original pub, having been empty for eighteen months was boarded up by Greenall Whitley in 1987 to prevent vandalism.

"The owners explained that there were then too many pubs in the area for the level of demand.

In August 1990 it was reported that Interchase Limited had bought the site and that construction would soon be starting on a 25,000 sq ft development.

"In October the Motherwell company submitted plans to restore the frontage of the building, while making internal alterations and demolishing the outbuildings for a courtyard office development.

"By February 1991 the plans seemed to involve a replica copy building instead. Councillors were determined to defend the listed building and the plans were refused, but in the same month a mystery fire broke out destroying much of the interior.

"An appeal against the refusal of planning consent was heard in September 1993.

"The developers then commissioned a structural survey which found the building could not be restored.

"In April 1994 a listed building application was submitted by restoration experts Sir Frank Mears Associates of Edinburgh involving the demolition of the General Wolfe and the restoration of the cottages.

"The plans were refused and the company appealed, leading to a public inquiry.

"However the inspector dismissed the appeal saying the owners should have been aware of their responsibility to maintain the buildings for the benefit of future generations. The inspector noted that the building had deteriorated badly and that about half the slates at the rear of the building had disappeared and added that he could see no justification for not carrying out the restoration work without delay.

"With care and skill, he commented, all the buildings on the site were capable of repair and restoration.

"However, whatever the inspector said, the Grade II listed pub then lay derelict and. deteriorating for a number of years, although listed and standing in the middle of a Conservation Area, until it was demolished in 1996.

"The pub's name of course celebrates the legendary exploits of General James Wolfe in the capture of Quebec. It is listed under that name in Baines's Directory of 1824, but its history goes back much further."