Swiggin in Wiggin : September 2012 - Wigan

Masons Arms win top Wigan CAMRA awards
rise in sales of real, otherwise known as ‘scrumpy’,
ciders, including the current range of five tubs on
sale at the Masons.
The Masons is LocAle accredited and there are
generally five beers on handpump, with at least
one being a LocAle. On Wednesdays there is a
quiz night followed by ‘Play your cards right’ ;
Thursdays a well established folk music session
(any sort of instruments welcome) ; and on Fridays
Burchalls famous pork pies are available, but they
don’t last long!
The Masons is a regular award-winner having
previously won Wigan CAMRA Community Pub of
the Year in 2009 and 2011. Other non-CAMRA
awards include EU Community Pub Award in April
2011, presented by the British Pub and Beer Group
in the European Parliament.
A recent addition at the pub is The Masons Arms
Community Garden which has been established on
the land behind the beer garden. Used for various
community events including bonfire nights, and
the Queen’s Jubilee, the area has been regularly
used for the pub’s special events.
Following extensive ground work, re-fencing
and landscaping a natural small pond has been
extended that attracts various forms of wildlife.
Bird activity has become quite lively with swifts,
house martins and mallards becoming regular
visitors, a place intended as being for peace and
tranquillity, where one can sit and reflect or just
watch the birds and other wildlife.
The pub is also Billinge’s gateway to the splendid
woodland walks through the Goyt Valley and
Carr Mill Dam. Garswood, Crank, Kings Moss and
Rainford are all within a few miles radius and
ramblers and cyclists are always assured of a warm
welcome. As the pub does not do food, they are
quite happy for guests to bring their own butties
and eat outside and enjoy “Billinge’s best suntrap
with its own micro climate”.
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There is a detailed history of The Masons on
the pub’s website compiled by Sue Ruffell, from
information collected by Margaret M. Whittle,
granddaughter of G.F. Crank. It provides an
interesting insight into almost 250 years right up
to 1961 when the tenancy reverted once again to
members of the family, when Ernest and Emma
Smith took over the lease. Their son Vincent and
his wife, Barbara, took over the tenancy in 1974 for
the next thirty three years. Their son, Ian Smith, in
partnership with his wife Gill and her sister Sue and
husband, John Ruffell, became the current tenants
in 2007.
Clearly the history of The Masons is one of strong
family and community links: long may it remain so!
The Masons has been lovingly restored over the past
two years reversing the 1960’s ‘modernisation’ it
underwent with so many other pubs of the era. Its
small cosy atmosphere is enhanced by wooden
beams, growing collections of memorabilia
much of it with a local interest including historic
photographs, maps and a large collection of rugby
league artefacts including stunning rugby league
player sketches by local artist Bill Bradburn on
display in the bar.
The event also provided Wigan CAMRA with an
opportunity to present a cheque to Pat Rayner
of Wigan and Leigh Hospice who explained it
cost £6,400 a day to run. Our £800 cheque was
based upon the proceeds of fundraising at Wigan
Beer Festival and was presented by branch Social
Secretary, Ian Prior. Ian and John from The Masons
kindly topped this up to a four figure amount with
a further £200 cheque of their own - another
generous act!
Wigan CAMRA Branch are proud to support Wigan Hospice, providing specialist
care, for those who are at the end of their life, to hundreds of people every year.