Duke of Wellington, Heywood

The Duke of Wellington is well worth a visit to see the splendid baronial-style lounge which is largely intact from its creation in the 1930s. It lies through a doorway to the right of the public bar and it is entered between two fine timber and glass screens. All around the room are benches with bench ends featuring barley-twist columns and some old panelling above. The room appears to have completely panelled walls but actually the top section is a clever design consisting of strips of timber on plaster walls that have been painted brown. Over the ‘panelling' either side of the fireplace is what looks like inglenook-style canopies. What seems to be a plaster frieze with decoration of fruits and leaves is actually a plastic mould - just tap it and you realise it is hollow!

There is a fine plasterwork ceiling, and a 1930s timber fireplace with ornate canopy-style mantelpiece which, unfortunately, has a reproduction Victorian-style fireplace. The original stained glass windows remain at the rear but those at the front have nearly all been replaced with plain windows. The light fittings are recent and rather over the top while the carpet is truly horrid but perhaps protects something interesting. Recently a TV screen was bolted onto the panelling but they're relatively unobtrusive and could easily be removed.