Michael McNally, The Fountain Hotel, Consett

[Elliven]

Michael McNally was born in Ireland c1829 and came to Consett probably at the time of the potato famine.  By 1890 he was running the Fountain Hotel - a failing pub - which he turned around and made a thriving concern.  In April 1892 the pub caught fire and burned to the ground.  He managed to get his wife and daughters and four lodgers out safely. 

The pub was back in business the following year and he was still there until 1894 then he dropped off my radar.

Apparently by June of 1892 a plan for the rebuilding of the pub was announced in the Consett Guardian but I have been unable to find that article.  So what I would like to know is whether it was a total rebuild from scratch or whether the building was just patched up and redecorated.  Also, what happened to him after 1894.  He would be 65 that year and may have just retired.  Can anyone help, please?

[CaroleW]

Michael McNally was born in Ireland c1892 and came to Consett probably at the time of the potato famine.  By 1890 he was running the Fountain Hotel

Also, what happened to him after 1894.  He would be 65 that year

Can you confirm his birthyear as it doesn't tie in with the other dates given & I can't see an 1881/91 entry for him

[Elliven]

Sorry, CaroleW

That was a typing error.  He was born in c1829 NOT 1892. 

I am really trying to find out how badly the building was damaged - reports vary from "only the outer walls remained standing" to "only 2 of the outer walls were left standing".  It had also been severely damaged about 10 years earlier by mining subsidence.  The building is still there (still The Fountain pub) and looks to be in pretty good condition so I am leaning towards the belief that it was rebuilt.  Most locals didn't know anything about the subsidence or the fire and just thought it was an old pub!

Neville

[sgf28]

Could this be his death, age is slightly out:

Probate Death Index Durham
Michael McNally died 7th November 1910
Probate 12th January 1911

Linked person: Catherine Lappin

[sgf28]

Death registered Lanchester Durham

Michael McNally age 78
Birth year 1832

Registered 4th qtr 1910 Lanchester
Vol:10a Page:193

[CaroleW]

Found him in 1891- Ancestry have him as Mc Nally not McNally!!

He had a daughter Catherine - 21 in 1891 so the 1910 death could be him

Marriages Jun 1893   

Lappin    James         Lanchester    10a   464    
McNally    Catherine         Lanchester    10a   464

Have to laugh - servant Anne Haughey transcribed as Anne Hung Hey

[CaroleW]

Lappin becomes Sappin in 1901 but daughter Catherine is living with him

Michael is 70 occ Mason

1901 ref Piece 4670 Folio 25 Page 39

[Elliven]

sgf28 and CaroleW

Thank you both,

In the 1891 census his birth was shown as c1829 so I am not particularly concerned about the slight age difference - whoever registered his death might have got it wrong or it might have been a mistake on the census.  His middle daughter, Catherine would have been about 42 at the time of his death in 1910 so she could easily have been Catherine Lappin.

Lanchester covered a huge area at that time and did cover Conside and Knitsley (modern Consett) so even that fits nicely.  I presume he was a Roman Catholic and that church was only dedicated in Consett in about 1926 so a marriage in Lanchester in 1893 was not a surprise.

Now I have something to go on!  Thanks again.

[AllanUK]

A number of local newspapers in late April 1892 reported that The Fountain Hotel, Consett was destroyed'

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 26 April 1892, ran a report of the fire stating 'resulted in the wreck and almost total destruction of the house' [snippet image courtesy of Find My Past]