In the Slasher’s footsteps ... recalling Some of Tipton’s historic pubs
NOWHERE is more typical of the Black Country than Tipton. Originally a farming area (Tibintone), the Industrial Revolution saw the town exploited for its rich mineral resources of coal and iron.
The opening of the canals (1769) and railways (1850) saw a massive growth in the town. From a population of 4,300 in 1801, it grew to over 30,000 a century later.
The most concentrated areas of heavy industry included factories making chains and anchors, machine tools and even bedsteads, engineering forges, iron and steel foundries, tube works and brickworks. And in 1890, Palethorpe’s converted George & Elisha Whitehouse’s old brewery into a model sausage and pork pie factory.
In Tipton’s industrial heyday, the main source of leisure was the public house. Like many Black Country towns, most pubs brewed their own beer, some having their own breweries. Over the years, around 120 pubs served Tipton (excluding Princes End, Great Bridge and
Dudley Port), but fewer than a dozen survive today.
Memorable
The centre of Tipton is focused on High Street and Owen Street, once a thriving shopping centre with around a dozen pubs. One of the most memorable is the Fountain, a favourite for canal boatmen, first recorded in 1828 and now a Grade II listed building. It became the headquarters of William Perry (the “Tipton Slasher”),
England’s champion prize-fighter from 18501857, celebrated by a plaque on the wall and a statue in Coronation Gardens.
Once owned by Holt’s (Birmingham) and Showell’s (Langley) breweries, it reopened as the first Holt, Plant & Deakin pub in 1984 and is the only surviving pub in Owen Street.
Opposite St Paul’s Church was the Britannia (1818), once a commercial hotel, but closed in 1978.
On the corner of Albion Street was the Albion
(1828-1978), where landlord James Whitehouse helped to back William Perry who also fought at the pub.
The Black Cock (18281978) had etched windows depicting fighting cocks and was kept by William & Florence Brown from 1946-1964.
The Miners Arms dated from 1859 as the Round of Beef, known locally as “The Widders” after landlady Marjorie Buxton (1929-1950), but closed in 1977. Two shorter-lived pubs included the Cow & Calf (1881-1924) and the Grapes (1848-1937).
Another of Tipton’s oldest pubs is the Noah’s Ark in Wood Street, dating from 1841. Landlord Isaac Chater brewed his own beer here and kept pigs in the yard. But it’s probably best remembered for the Cartwrights, a local boxing family who kept the pub from 1933-1970 and trained local boxers in their gym. The Black Country Society held their first meeting here in 1967, marked with another plaque.
On the corner of Furnace Parade was the Three Furnaces (1828), which closed in 1938 after frequent flooding.
On the corner of Elliotts Road, the Beehive (1849-1978) had its own brewery and was kept by featherweight boxer, Hal Cartwright from 19581964.
In Union Street were the Hop & Barleycorn (1851-1925), Globe (18591928) and Union (18512002). Tipton Harriers were founded at the Waterloo (1870-1972) and nearby were the Rose & Crown (1851-2008) and Barrel (1903), closed in the 1970s.
At the end of High Street, the Castle Hotel (1837) was a prominent landmark, kept by Joseph Whitehouse until 1876. William Perry sparred in the boxing gym here, but it was demolished in 1957 for road improvements.
Walter Woodhall brewed his own beer at the Two Furnaces (18701939), opposite the chain works.
In the back streets were the British Oak (18611901), the Bell (18181926) and the Queen’s Head (1861-1956).
The Barrel (1881-2006) had “Good Stabling and Well-aired Beds”, whilst the Cape (1851) was rebuilt around 1939, but converted into flats in 1990.
Around Lower Green were the True Briton (1834-1908) and Crown & Anchor (1864-1931), where John Purnell brewed his own beer.
Alongside the canal were the Navigation (1818-1926), home to Tipton Volunteer Rifle Corps, and the Boat (1818-1925) in Boat Row.
Survivor
At the top of Park Lane West is the Red Lion, Tipton’s oldest surviving pub, dating from the late 18th century, first licensed in 1818 and now a Grade II listed building. In the 1830s, landlord Richard Nicklin was a popular bare-knuckle fighter, and Thomas Round brewed his “Celebrated Lion Old Ales, Stout & Porter” here until 1872. Between 19191958, it was kept by longserving landlords Sydney Smith and Frederick
Cherrington.
Other historic pubs in Park Lane West included the Cross (1847-1929), used for miners’ meetings, whilst landlord Harry Scriven worked in the ironworks as a puddler, giving his name to the Puddlers Arms (18611928).
The Bridge (1871) was known locally as “Annie’s” after landlady Annie Harvey, who introduced live music and waiter service.
The Black Horse (1844) was demolished by 1970, whilst the Bush Inn (1845) was badly damaged during a Zeppelin raid in 1916, rebuilt after the war and converted into a shop in 1995.
Near Victoria Park, two pubs were named the Boscobel, one in Boscobel Street dating from 1861. It closed in 1978 when a replacement pub opened
in Park Lane West, converted into a nursery in 2008.
In Park Lane East, the Park Inn was built as a
hotel in 1900 to replace the old Seven Stars Inn. It was reputedly haunted by the ghost of a little girl who died when accidentally trapped in the attic, but was converted into flats in 1996.
Further along were the Park Lane Tavern (18581920), originally known as the Poor Man’s Friend, and the Wellington Inn (1848-1999), a former home-brew pub next to Thomas Morris’s ironworks.
Tipton’s only “roadhouse” was the Tipton Arms along Birmingham New Road, designed by local architects, Scott & Clark, opened in 1939, but closed in 1994.
Dudley Road was the main route between Dudley and Princes End, with the tramway and several
pubs. The oldest was probably the Old King’s Head, first licensed in 1818, but closed in the mid-1970s. On the corner of High Street is the Waggon & Horses (1840), where licensees Benjamin & Annie Meller were not only brewers but also saddle-makers. Vera Langford was a popular landlady who kept the pub from 1949-1960.
Pies
The Victoria (1851) was originally the Bird in Hand, known locally as the Bird, but converted into a takeaway in 2012.
At the cross-roads with Sedgley Road West is the popular Pie Factory, originally built as the Five Ways Inn in 1857. It was rebuilt in 1923 by Showell’s
and renamed the Doughty Arms after William Doughty, chairman of Tipton UDC between 1917-1924. Landlord Tom Whitehouse (1929-1943) was a professional boxer (known as the Tipton Tornado), but in 1987, it became one of Mad O’ Rourke’s “Little” pubs as the Pie Factory, which it remains today. It’s allegedly haunted by three ghosts, Nobby, a former landlord dressed in a black cloak, a little girl who sings and laughs, and a cavalier.
Further along Hurst Lane was the Factory (1848-1965), opposite the former Bean motor works. At Factory Bridge, the Old Bush (1818) was rebuilt in the 1920s and kept by James & Betsy Morgan from 1923-1964, but survives as a bar and grill.
So, although many of Tipton’s historic pubs have gone, there’s still a handful serving up happy memories and good pints!
■ With acknowledgement to Tony Hitchmough, Joseph Mckenna, Keith Hodgkins, John Brimble, Bev Parker, Paul Green, Robin Pearson and Tipton Civic Society.