Mad for beer? No shortage of boozers in Bradley!
Recalling some of the old pubs in ‘Iron Mad’ Wilkinson’s town
The Swan was used for regular inquests into drownings in the local canal
BRADLEY lies to the south of Bilston and is well-known as being the cradle of the Black Country.
When just twenty years old, legendary iron-master, John ‘Iron-mad’ Wilkinson, built the first blast furnace here in 1757 and his legacy lasted until the 1920s.
Today there is little to show that Bradley was at the heart of iron and coal-smelting technology, other than the grave where Wilkinson is buried in an iron coffin, and a plaque at the playing fields along Great Bridge Road, unveiled in 1956.
The Industrial Revolution brought great change and growth to the area, particularly with the coming of James Brindley’s canal and the railways. All this was thirsty work and, over the years, more than forty pubs helped to slake the thirst of the colliery and iron and steel workers. Today, only a handful remain.
Some of Bradley’s oldest pubs could be found in Salop Street (or Shropshire Row as it was first known). The Lamb & Flag was first licensed in 1818 and once owned by the local vicar, Rev. Charles Lee. But it was also known as the “Hell House”, since it was the most riotous pub in the area. Landlord Tommy Banks was a big, burly character, known as the ‘devil’, but he was also the local butcher and held dog and cock fights in the cellar.
The pub actually stood in the parish of Sedgley and became a sanctuary for those under pursuit by the local policeman, until it closed in 1911.
The Old Mermaid also dated from 1818 and was once owned by Eley’s (Stafford) Brewery, but closed in 1940.
The Royal Oak (1828-1950) was a Holt’s (Birmingham) pub, known locally as the “Long Pull”, whilst the Royal Exchange (1868) was closed in 1918.
A few doors away, the White Hart (1843) was kept by homebrewer Joseph Griffiths from 19011921, but was later taken over by Atkinson’s and Mitchells & Butlers.
The Navigation (1854) was another home-brew pub where Thomas Butler brewed. It was later kept by Thomas & Lizzie Williams from 1909-1931, when the Bradley Marathon started and finished here.
Next door was the Star & Garter (1861), which later became a William Butler (Wolverhampton) pub.
In Wright Street, John Humphries built the Sydney Village Inn in 1871, but it closed around 1956.
In Hatton Street, the California (1861) was once a Showell’s (Langley) pub, which passed to Butler’s and closed in 1946.
In the back streets near the Bradley Iron, Steel & Tin Works (Sankey’s), John Street was home to the Bull’s Head (1861-1959), an Ansell’s pub, where the Bradley Scottish Jazz Band was founded in 1930.
Along Highfields Road, near the Highfields lime works and Capponfield ironworks, the Commercial (1868) was a popular pub until it closed in 1932, whilst the Prince of Wales (1868) became a shop in 1983.
In Bank Street, Oliver, Alfred & Roland Summers kept the Crown (1828) from 1901-1950. It’s remembered for its spittoons and fresh sawdust on the floor, along with baskets of bread and cheese on the bar counter. The Swan (1841-1950) was another homebrew pub, whilst the Hope & Anchor (1873) was gone by 1918.
The Crown & Cushion (1854) was demolished and rebuilt on the opposite corner in the 1960s, when Bill & Elsie Yeoman were popular licensees. The Bradley Pigeon Flying Club met here, but it closed in 2011 and was later demolished.
Hill Street continued to Hall Green, and was home to the Railway (1841-1957) and Bird in Hand (18612000), kept by John & Annie Reynolds from 1913-1954. Next door was the Elephant & Castle (1861-1913).
In Cross Street, we’d find the Greyhound (1841), home to Bradley United FC, along with a colourful selection of pubs including the White Lion (1868-1924), Brown Lion (18711918) and Green Dragon (18711971), kept by James, Elizabeth & William Hawkes from 1889-1940 and taken over by Holden’s (Dudley) in 1946.
Batman’s Hill was home to the
Star Foundry, which later became Edward Matthews’ Vogue Bath Works.
Opposite, alongside the canal, is the historic Old Bush Inn (1828), where Joseph Adams brewed “excellent ales”; it’s now a popular Marston’s pub.
Around the corner in Rose Street was the Round Counter (1871), once an Atkinson’s (Birmingham) pub, closed in 1918.
In Bradley Lane, the Great Western (1871-1930) was popular with iron and steel workers and had its own fishing club. In Twenty House Row, we’d find the historic Swan Inn (1818), close to Bradley Pottery and first owned by Lady Foley. It was regularly used for inquests into those who drowned in the nearby canal, but closed in 1916 due to structural instability.
Wesley Street was home to the Vic
toria (1864-1963), where the Bradley Brewery was acquired by the Wolverhampton District Brewery in 1898. The pub was locally known as “Tuffy’s” after landlord William Tuft (1940-1953) and is remembered for the tame duck which used to waddle between the bar stools!
A few doors away was the Land Oak (1861-1926) and British Oak (1873), known locally as “Turton’s” after licensees Joseph, Mary & Joe Turton (1924-1956). It was replaced by the modern Ironmaster in 1972, which itself was replaced by housing in 2013. In Brierley Lane, the Red Lion (1828) was gone by 1904.
At the heart of Hall Green is Hall Green Street, home to the Britannia (1828), known locally as “Brownie’s” after licensees William & Annie Brown (1915-1940). They kept a parrot in the outdoor and always had a joint of pork in the smoke room for the local customers
to help themselves from. It was also home to Bradley FC and the Britannia Pigeon Flying Club, but closed in 2005.
A few doors away was the George & Dragon (1828), also known as the “Crownyard”, but demolished after a fire in 2007. The Shoulder of Mutton (1823-1971) was known locally as the “Fourpenny Shop” due to the price of the beer.
In the back streets, at the Barrel in Chell Street (1873), landlord George Simkin was also a safemaker, but it closed in 1908.
In Hall Street, the Royal Oak (1843) was a popular Hanson’s (Dudley) pub, closed in 1940.
At the top of Ash Street is the Great Western (1871), originally a house dating from 1840, converted by the Great Western Railway and known as the Railway, as well as being the headquarters of Coseley Ladies FC.
A few doors away was the Fox (1873-1914). The Golden Lion dates from 1841 and was known locally as “Smithy’s” and “Zacha’s” after landlords James Smith and Zachariah Pearson (1933-1980).
The Globe was originally built by James Lane in 1861, but closed in 1995.
The marshy ground around the former Bradley Colliery and Rocket Pools has now been developed with housing. In Willis Pearson Avenue, the Patch Box originally dated from 1903, but was rebuilt in 1964 and closed in 1999. The pools are remembered by the Rocket Pools Inn (1980), now a Marston’s pub.
Today, Bradley retains few features of its industrial past, but there are plenty of memories in the few historic pubs which remain. ■ With acknowledgements to Tony Hitchmough, Joseph Mckenna, Ron Davies and Robin Pearson.