More tales from the Tavern – in the shadow of the Old Mill
Pub was named after its neighbour – one of the Black Country’s most distinctive historic buildings
In 1886 the pub included two cellars, compact brewhouse, piggery and two wells
NEW managers Jon Steventon and Ryan Bissell have recently taken over the Mill in Windmill Street, Upper Gornal. But the pub has a long and interesting history, dating back to the 1850s.
In 1852, John Hyde built the Mill pub and kept it with his wife, Mary and son, Enoch, until 1875. It originally had a small brewery at the rear and was first licensed as a beerhouse. The name of the pub recalls the historic windmill in Hill Street at Rewardine (or Ruiton, the old name for this part of Gornal). It was originally built in the 17th century and replaced by a newer windmill built in Vale Street in 1830 by George Richmond. This was one of several mills in Gornal used at this time for grinding flour or sand until the 1870s, and it still survives as a Grade II listed building (but without its sails).
By 1871, Mary Hyde was a widow and died three years later. In 1875, Sedgley-born stone mason, Henry Rollason bought the Windmill Inn for £520 and kept it until 1884, when it passed to Isaac Clark, a local bricklayer. He bought the Old Mill Inn when it was put up for sale by auction in 1886, where the sales details included “two cellars, compact brewhouse, capital stabling, piggery and two wells”.
It was then acquired by William
Parrish, a coalmaster from Pensnett, who also kept racehorses and owned the Junction Inn at Gornal Wood. A few years later, the pub was acquired by Peter Walker & Sons of Liverpool. During this time, the pub was kept by several short-term landlords, including Thomas Nicholls, Jack Halford and William Hale. In 1898, the Old Mill was acquired by Frederick Smith’s Aston Model Brewery (Birmingham), who employed Samuel
Towle to run the pub.
In 1911, it passed to William Naylor, who kept it with his family, Thomas and William, until the 1940s.
William bought the pub in 1919 for £2,250, after keeping the Bull & Butcher in nearby Vale Street, and continued to dispense his own special brand of “wum-brewed beer” for the best part of 45 years.
After the Second World War, the Old Mill was leased by local Dudley brewer, Holden’s, who eventually acquired it in September 1981.
During this period, the pub was run by a series of licensees, including William Williams, Vera Flavell and Raymond Kinsell, when it was home to a pigeon flying club.
In 1976, Pat Green took over and kept the pub until 1989 when it passed to John Midwood, who later became chairman of the Stourbridge branch of CAMRA.
By 1993, the pub was in the hands of Simon Flavell and later with Jan Anslow. During this period, the pub held popular curry nights and Sunday lunches were only £3.50! In 2014, the pub was refurbished and reopened as the Mill, with Chris Vasey behind the bar.
It’s hoped that this work would prevent the unexplained bumps and bangs and things moving around by themselves in this one-time haunted pub.
Towards the end of 2022, Holden’s gave the pub a good spring-clean. In January 2023, they employed Jon Steventon and Ryan Bissell to run it, who’d previously been at the Kings Arms in Ombersley.
Although limited to a drinksonly venue at present, it’s hoped to offer food later in the year. In March, customers will be able to enjoy Holden’s Black Pale Ale 101, to be relaunched after originally being brewed to celebrate the brewery’s centenary in 2015.
So, the future’s looking great for the Mill. Long may it prosper!
With acknowledgement to and