A Pub That Carries a Landlord's Families Name

The Baker's Vaults takes its name from a 19th Century family of publicans who occupied the public house for much of that century. It is the second building known to be on the site. The present building occupies only half the site of the Baker's predecessor, an inn called the George and Dragon which jutted out well into the market place.

It is not known when the George and Dragon was built, but a likely date is about 1775 when the remaining walls of the old castle, which had stood on the site of the Castle Yard for centuries, were finally demolished.

The first official record is dated 1820, by which time it was well established. The record relates to the billeting of Marines there at a time when most Inns and taverns were used to accommodate the military.

The Baker family became the owners of the George and Dragon about 1824 and it remained in their possession for most of the 19th Century, during which time the premises were transformed.

Charles Baker, the son of the first proprietor, was a successful businessman with political ambitions. He was Liberal councillor for Heaton Norris and was twice elected mayor of Stockport, in 1839-40 and 1852. Baker built up the wine and spirits side of the business as a wholesaler and retailer and was the chief rival to Turners, another well known wine and spirit merchants.

By the middle of the 19th Century, the Bakers owned all of the east side of Bridge Street Brow, including the Kings Arms, part of which (the tap room) became known as the Hole in the Wall. In 1853, the Corporation purchased the market rights and tolls from the lord of the manor, Lord Vernon, the heir of the Warrens, and promptly cleared Castle Yard, taking away what remained of the old castle and lowering the hillock site by several feet. Ten years later, when it was decided to erect the massive iron and glass 'umbrella on stilts' and thus cover Stockport's hitherto open market place, it was became necessary to demolish the George and Dragon. The George and Dragon jutted out into the market place, and the original plan for the market hall included an extra bay, which is no longer there. The extra bay was demolished in 1912 so that 'trackless trams' or trolley buses could run from St Petersgate through the market place and turn the corner by the Boars Head en route to Afternoon.

Baker rebuilt his premises in the so-called 'gin palace' style of the times, and the name "Baker's Vaults" may date from this period. The term 'vault' had two meanings locally, one meaning a tap room where customers were served from tapped barrels over a bar (started by a landlord of the Pack Horse on Higher Hillgate, who opened a special room commonly called the Vault) or as in the case of the Baker's Vaults, signifying underground chambers for storing wines.

The Bakers Vaults

During Charles Bakers' term of office as mayor of Stockport, the nature of his occupation drew sneering comment from the staunchly Tory Stockport Advertiser, which commented, "Is it not disgraceful that the chief officer of the town (i.e. the mayor) should be the keeper of a gin palace".

He was however, very successful and built himself a large house in Heaton Norris (on the site of the present St Mary's RC Church). Bakers Terrace (opposite the church) and Baker Street, in Heaton Norris, are both named after the family.

The new George and Dragon (or Baker's Vaults) of 1861 incorporated all the latest and fashionable designs, notably the big central bar serving members of "private" snugs and rooms, which were partitioned by glazed screens. At one time there were screens all along the pub's bar called 'blinkers,' a glass partition with windows on pivots which could be pushed at right angles when service was required. By law, a vault (public bar) had to have a separate entrance from the outside. Baker supplied no less than four, each opening into a small bar but all interconnecting internally.

The inn brewed its own beer in the basement brew house, which is still largely intact, together with remnants of its fittings. Unique to the Bakers Vaults, is a completely subterranean wine cellar for storing choice vintages - utterly cool and dry. Beer was brewed on the premises until well after the turn of the century and Sir Richard Clarke, the founder of Clarke's Reddish Brewery (now incorporated in Boddingtons) served a seven-year apprenticeship at the Baker's Vaults.

Eventually the pub was purchased by Kay's Atlas Brewery of Hyde and became a tied house. This firm was subsequently taken over by Robinson's Brewery of Stockport.

Today the exterior looks much as it did when completed in 1861. The big lamp over the Castle Yard entrance was probably originally gas-lit and is now something of a rarity.

More recent history - the Bakers Vaults has had a history of putting on live music for the best part of 20 years. Traditionally known as a jazz and blues venue. It had stopped the live music for a while before the current tenants took over in April 2003. Since then the pub has brought back some of the fantastic stalwart bands of Stockport, whilst also welcoming many exciting new acts.