Drinking in Cromwell’s old haunts
Recalling old pubs and inns of Kates Hill, Dudley
Barmaid Mary Ann Mason was shot through the mouth by Joe Meadows as she flirted with miners in the bar
THE Bugle regularly features articles about the history and redevelopment of Kates Hill, so it’s now time to look at some of its old pubs.
Kates Hill saw chaotic scenes in 1684 when Parliamentarians used the area as their base in the Civil War against King Charles I. As a result, some roads recall famous parliamentary figures such as Oliver Cromwell and Sir William Brereton. It’s even said that Oliver Cromwell fired his cannons at the Royal garrison at Dudley Castle from Cromwell Street! But did he also have a beer in one of the old pubs?
The area began to be developed from the 1830s to accommodate people moving into the Black Country seeking work in the many factories and coalpits. After 1915, its rural surroundings changed when hundreds of new houses were built, including Dudley’s first council houses, and more development took place in the 1950s-1970s. Kates Hill has changed dramatically since the early 20th century, yet still retains several pre-1900 buildings, including St John’s Church, although almost all of the pubs are long gone. One of the oldest pubs in Kates Hill is the Bush Inn in Buffery Road, next to Buffery Park. Originally built in 1828, it was described as being “near the Gate, Dixon’s Green” in 1867 and was a “dilapidated and insanitary building” in 1903. It was rebuilt in 1905 by local architect, Frank Lewis for Netherton brewer, John Rolinson, and kept by Frederick and Doris Pardoe (of Old Swan, Netherton fame) in the 1920s. It was rebuilt again in 1937 a few years after being acquired by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries. Another venerable tavern was the Sailors Return in Cromwell Street (1835), apparently named after a sailor who was murdered in Tower Street in the 19th century. It was once one of John Jackson’s Diamond Brewery (Dudley) pubs, before being acquired by Darby’s Brewery (West Bromwich) in 1937. But it may also be remembered for the time in 1855 when barmaid, Mary Ann Mason, was shot through the mouth with a horse pistol by admirer, Joe Meadows, while she was flirting with miners in the bar! The pub closed in January 1955.
Also in Cromwell Street, the Dog and Partridge (1850) was a homebrew pub where local women used to drink in the entry alongside the pub! It used to be the headquarters of Dudley St John’s FC and William Brassington’s Bijou Orchestra, but closed in the early 1960s.
Cromwell Street was also home to Joseph Plant’s Diamond Brewery, established in 1899, but he was bankrupt by 1901 and sold it to Hutchings and Jackson. By 1916, John Jackson bought out his partner and registered the company as J.F.C. Jackson, retaining the old brewery. The brewery and its 15 tied houses were eventually acquired by Darby’s Brewery in 1937.
On the corner of Hill Street, the Junction (1860) was a popular Hanson’s (Dudley) pub which was used for the inquest into the explosion at the Prince of Wales pit, Oakham, in 1875. It closed in the early 1940s. In George Street, the California (1854) was originally a home-brew pub known as the Jolly Collier, where John Bowen brewed his own beer. It was popular with pigeon fanciers, but was demolished to become part of a junior school playground in 1937.
In High Street, landlord Sam Sherwood used to train boxers in his gym at the Loving Lamb (1841). This was another Diamond Brewery pub, which closed in 1950. Next door was the Bird in Hand (1845), a popular Hanson’s pub, kept by Edward Hipkins in the 1880s, who was not only a maltster, but also superintendent registrar at the Town Hall. The pub closed in the 1960s.
Not far away was the Leopard (1856), where Isaiah Aston brewed his own beer until it was bought by the Diamond Brewery in 1926 and closed in 1937. Nearby were the Seven Stars (1872-1929) and Royal Oak (1830-1909), first kept by John Price, who was a pawnbroker. The Golden Lion (1819) was home to Joseph Gwinnult’s lemonade, seltzer and soda water factory, but closed in 1854.
On the corner of Price Street, the Star and Garter (1841-1902) was once owned by Kates Hill Brewery, established by Samuel Salt at the Malt Shovel in St John’s Street (1862-1965). This brewery had a chequered history, being first established by Henry Cox and Co. in 1820 and rebuilt in 1830. It passed to Samuel Salt in 1862 who brewed there until 1895. In 1902, it was sold to John Foley, who then sold it to Thomas Plant (Netherton) in 1910. Not far away from the Malt Shovel was the Jubilee (1880), which was a home-brew pub before being
acquired by North Worcestershire Breweries (Stourbridge) in 1896. Like the California, it also became part of a junior school playground in 1937.
In St John’s Road, the Freebodies Tavern (1835) was a popular local hostelry where landlord Lamech Harper unfortunately committed suicide by hanging himself in December 1880. William Whitehouse brewed his own beer here between 1888-1906 and it was also home to Samuel Wright’s small brewery in the 1930s. The pub was rebuilt in 1976, refurbished in 2004, but closed in 2008.
Nearby, the Fir Tree (1872) was originally a home-brew house with a bowling club, but was demolished in 2005. The Queen’s Head (1868) was originally Samuel Woodhouse’s pub, before being acquired by John Rolinson’s Brewery and later by Frank Myatt (Wolverhampton). It closed in 1938. In John Street, the Acorn (1851) was another Rolinson’s pub, which closed in 1933 and was later used for residential accommodation during the Second World War.
In Brewery Street, the Ivy House dates from 1850 as a home-brew pub before being acquired by the Penn Brewery (Wolverhampton). More recently, it became a Black Country Ales pub, but is currently closed. Not far away was the White Swan (1870), which closed in 1907. In Cross Guns Street, the Cross Guns (1835) was once a Diamond Brewery pub, but closed in 1959. At the top of Watson Street in Cawney Hill, the Cromwell Grove (1830) had pleasure gardens which were replaced by a water reservoir in 1920, when the pub closed.
In Brown Street, there was another White Swan, dating from before 1870, acquired by Frank Myatt in 1913, but closed in 1933. On the corner of Earl Street, the Four Ways (1852) was a home-brew pub where John, Mary and George Lloyd brewed their own beer before being acquired by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries in 1941 and later closed.
Nearby, at Waddam’s Pool, near the Bean Cars’ factory in Hall Street, George England established the Dudley Brewery in 1823, but after several other owners, it passed to George Thompson in 1881. He also ran the nearby Victoria Brewery based at the Victoria Vaults, also in Hall Street.
Today, Kates Hill has experienced almost a complete redevelopment, with its old pubs and houses wiped away, leaving a skeleton of old streets, a few historic buildings, such as St John’s Church, and just one remaining pub. A sad loss.