A grand tale of fine old ale
STEVE JAMES concludes his tour of the historic pubs of Netherton
Luke Walker, first landlord of the King William, was a wellknown bare-knuckle fighter called the Netherton Collier
RETURNING to the Market Place, on the corner with Cradley Road was the Junction Inn (1870), rebuilt in 1905 for North Worcestershire Breweries, which later became a drop-in centre for the elderly.
Continuing along Halesowen Road, the Old Crown (1854) had its license transferred to the Moot Meet, a modern Ansell’s pub, opened in 1957, but closed in 2008. The Dolphin (1871) was kept by Elizabeth Gower and her family until 1956, but was demolished in the mid-1970s. At Bishton Bridge, landlord William Bishton operated a packet pleasure boat to Birmingham every Sunday from the canal wharf behind the Crown (1835-1904).
Next to Noah Hingley’s ironworks on the corner of Washington Street was the Loyal Washington (18501955). It was named after its builder and first landlord, William Washington, a timber merchant who became the first local councillor for Netherton. He belonged to that branch of the family who remained loyal to the British Crown, and had his glasses stamped with the crossed flags of the Union Jack and the three stars and two stripes of the Washington family, which formed the original flag of the USA. Further along the street was the Trust in Providence (1854-1912), where Edwin Holden (of brewery fame) met his wife, Lucy, the daughter of brewer Benjamin Round.
At the Star in Primrose Hill (1860), landlords plied their trades while keeping the pub and brewing beer. First landlord, Zacheus Spittle was a stone calciner, while William Bannister,
who took over the pub in 1872, was a chain-maker. George Chatham and George Bywater brewed at the brewery behind the pub, but it closed in 1917 because “the premises were ill conducted”.
Nearby in Chapel Street, the Bird in Hand (1840-1970) was home to William Onslow’s Primrose Hill Brewery and kept by James Kenrick’s family from 1900-1959. The Brickmakers Arms (1835) was rebuilt in 1923, but closed in the 1960s. George Bywater and Wilfred Simms
brewed their own beer at the Colliers Arms (1864) before it closed in 1952. The Red Lion (1855) became a Hanson’s pub in 1939 and closed shortly afterwards.
In Cradley Road, the Blue Bell (1781) was one of the oldest pubs in the area, kept by Hannah and Septimus Griffiths from 1851-1905 and by Thomas and Sarah Harris until it closed in 1939. Brewer, William Hodgkiss, kept the Bridge (1876) before it was demolished in 1918. The Golden Cross (1850-2006) was rebuilt in 1938, while the Providence (1870) was closed by 1920, and the Reindeer (1861) lasted until 1938. The White Swan (1845) was known locally as the “Round Steps” and was affected by mining subsidence in 1912, but was demolished in 1997.
In Northfield Road, the Loving
Lamb Inn was once a vicarage that became a pub in 1855. When it was being rebuilt during the Second World War, customers used to drink in a large wooden building behind the pub, but it was converted into housing in 2004. The Britannia (1835) stood at the entrance to the Wakes Ground and supplied water to fairground showmen, and was Edwin Holden’s first pub, but it closed in 1970. The Hand of Providence (1845) became a Hanson’s pub in the 1900s, but closed in 1923. The Red Lion (1870) was kept by Daniel Ashman until 1931, was later rebuilt and then kept by West Bromwich Albion footballer Joseph “Joe” Smith.
Darby End was home to famous athlete, “Jumping” Joe Darby (1861), who no doubt visited some of the pubs there. The Rose and Crown in Withymoor Road (1839) was a homebrew pub kept by the Bird and Dunn families. Rebuilt in 1901, it was acquired by Holt’s (Birmingham) in 1930, but was converted into flats in 1984. Luke Walker, the first landlord of the King William (1849), was a well-known bare-knuckle fighter (the “Netherton Collier”). The pub was kept by Daniel and Arthur Batham between 1901-1926, rebuilt in 1956, but demolished in 2007. Around the corner in Cole Street, the Gate Hangs Well (1830) was known as “Father Bennett’s” after long-serving landlord, Benjamin Bennett (1904-1938). The Red Cow in Belper Row (1871) used to be a cock-fighting venue, but closed in 1960.
At Windmill End, one of the most unusual pubs was the Dry Dock. Originally the Bull’s Head (1842), it was once known locally as Reuben’s after long-serving landlord Reuben Kirby (1931-1958), but closed in 2013. In 1985, it became one of Colm O’rourke’s “Little” pubs, famous for their “Desperate Dan” cow pies. But this pub had the added quirk of having a bar servery made out of an old canal narrowboat!
Joseph Tilly and his family kept the Wheatsheaf (1849) until 1904. It was known locally as “Ocker’s” when Thomas and John Parkes (his nickname) kept the pub, until it was rebuilt in 1955. The Old Bush (1842)
and White Horse (1869) both closed in 1913.
In the early 1800s, Bumble Hole was a centre for coal and iron industries, along with a glassworks, when there were 14 inns and several “wobble shops” (illicit drinking houses). The Fox and Goose (1835) was next to the canal bridge of the same name, but was closed by 1941, while the Malt Shovel (1841) was a popular cockfighting venue, closed in 1957. The Dog and Duck (1855) was a canalside pub with an entrance from the towpath into an upstairs bar, but was converted into housing in the 1930s. The White Lion (1841-2015) was later rebuilt and also converted into housing.
In St Peter’s Road, the Boat (1850) was formerly the Navigation and Boatman’s Inn, but became a printers in 1987. At Bumble Hole boatyard, the Willows (1986) was a short-lived disco pub, which closed a few years later.
In Bowling Green Road, the Cottage Spring (1871) was rebuilt in 1955. In Saltwells Road, the Woodman (1938) opened when the surrounding housing estates were built, while the Bunch of Bluebells (1957) became a Holt, Plant and Deakin pub in 1987. Superb views are available from Yew Tree Hills, where Yew Tree House in Hockley Lane was converted into a pub in 1954, but it was demolished in 2015.
In Dudley Wood, the Elephant and Castle originally dated from 1854, but was later rebuilt and became one of Holt, Plant and Deakin’s pubs, kept briefly by the Old Swan’s Tim Newey in 1987. Dudley Wood Road was home to the Victoria (1845), where James Bartlett and George Bridgewater brewed at the small brewery here until 1950. George Bridgewater and Joseph Sidaway later helped to set up the Cradley Heathens speedway and greyhound track, which was replaced by housing in 2002.
Not far away is Mushroom Green, a chain-making community, which was saved by the Black Country Society and preserved by the Black Country Living Museum, complete with an original chain shop. There were once a few beerhouses here, including the Cottage (1830) and Jolly Miner (1849), but they’d gone by the 1900s.
Finally, we mustn’t forget the Saltwells Inn, originally dating from 1809 when it was owned by the Earl of Dudley. In 1823, enterprising landlord, Thomas Holloway, decided to launch the nearby saline springs onto the fashionable spa market. The spring had been known for its healthy waters since Dr Robert Plot wrote about it in 1636. Customers of the inn would visit Saltwells Spa, which were used as a cure for rheumatism, sciatica and gout. In 1833, Samuel Lewis noted that “Lady-wood is a valuable spring, called the Spa Well, in high estimation for its efficacy in cutaneous disorders and complaints arising from indigestion”. It’s even said that the waters were taken by William Perry (“Tipton Slasher”) and by footballers from Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion. Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to work for landlord George Flavell, who hobbled around with gout and always kept a shotgun within reach. Once, a customer trod on his foot and he shot the clock on the wall to pieces, remarking that “next time, it’ll be thy dial as guz west”! Unfortunately, mining activity polluted the waters and prevented further use of the spa and the pub was rebuilt in 1939.
So, although Netherton has lost many of its historic pubs, several remain, including the iconic and possibly unique, Old Swan. Long may they prosper! ■ With acknowledgement to Tony Hitchmough, John Richards, Joseph Mckenna, John Maddison, Barry Trinder and Ned Williams.