The Plough & Harrow, Cradley Heath
Pub dates back to early Victorian times and is still going strong
NEAR the junction of Corngreaves Road and Graingers Lane, the Plough & Harrow was first licensed in 1849, when Henry Hickton was the landlord.
It was originally part of a terrace, adjoining a butchers’ shop, which was later incorporated into the bar. Until 1896, it was kept by the Hickton family, including Henry, William, Eliza, John, Harry and Caroline.
Henry Hickton was related to Benjamin Best of the New British Iron Company, who originally owned the building. The pub was close to these works and the Corngreaves
Hotel. North
In 1896, it was acquired by Worcestershire Breweries (Stourbridge), before passing to Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries in 1909. It formed part of the Banks’s estate until 2012, when it passed to Katy O’ryan’s Group, and later to the Worcestershire Brewing Co. in 2014 and Westbourne Leisure in 2018.
Henry Hickton was also a shopkeeper and kept the pub with his wife, Mary. They had six daughters and four sons – and he also had an iron leg. Henry’s son, William, took over the pub in 1865, after he married his wife, Eliza, in 1858.
In 1876, the New British Iron Company put the pub up for auction when it was also used as a venue for selling local property. William died in 1879 and the license was transferred to Eliza. By 1881, John Hickton was at the helm, but a year later he was charged with permitting drunkenness and fined 20 shillings with costs. This was clearly not a good year for him, since one of his pigs had to be destroyed due to swine fever!
In 1891, Harry Hickton was running the pub, after marrying his wife, Caroline, in 1884. After he died in 1908, she ran the pub and remarried to George Payne in 1895. Like many Black Country landlords, he also brewed his own beer at the pub.
After the pub had been bought by North Worcestershire Breweries, the licensing magistrates were told of concerns of the local police about a back door to the pub. It opened onto a passageway along which around 30 local residents could access the pub without going through the front
Like many Black Country pubs, the Plough & Harrow was used for inquests, often into drownings
door. In 1905, the brewery agreed to close the rear entrance and doorway to the pub.
Unfortunately, George Payne died in August 1908 and, after the licence was transferred to Caroline, she remarried, to John Frederick Wylde a year later. They kept the pub until 1928, when it was taken on by Joseph & Ann Roberts until 1934, followed by Joseph & Edith Andrews.
During this period, like many Black Country pubs, the Plough & Harrow was used for inquests, often related to drownings. They included 9-year old Charles Moore, who drowned in 1855 after falling off a plank while bathing in a pool at the New British Iron Works.
A similar event took place in 1876 when 17-year Eli Rider drowned in another pool belonging to the ironworks. Earlier, in 1865, Thomas Etherton also drowned in a whimsey pool while bathing.
In the same year, 4½-year old Joseph Gregory went down the stairs in his nightclothes and was found engulfed in flames, and he died shortly afterwards. In 1880, 60-year old William Richards was killed when he fell 37 feet down a pit shaft at Cotsall Colliery. A verdict of Accidental Death was recorded in all circumstances. The customers of the pub, not surprisingly, didn’t always behave properly. In 1860, chainmaker William Croft was charged with stealing a horse-rug belonging to John Payne, from William Hickton’s pony and trap. He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. In 1881, a “daring robbery” took place at the pub, when the cash box was stolen, containing £68 1s.6d. In 1882, ironworker William Knight was accused of being drunk in the pub and fined 5s, with costs. Ten years later, Army Reserve James Powell was charged with being disorderly and refusing to leave the pub, challenging another man to a fight. He was fined 10s, with costs. In 1889, there was a sad railway fatality at Cradley Heath. The body of 18-year old Patrick White had been found on the railway tracks, and was only discovered after his dog was heard barking. At the
inquest at the pub, a verdict of Death from Natural Causes was recorded.
But the pub also witnessed happier events. In 1905, the players of St Luke’s FC were entertained to dinner by George Payne, with songs in the evening. The club also held its annual dinner here, along with smoking concerts with singing and “gramophone solos”. However, the club was also subject to reported disorders after football matches, but it was not found to be serious and the club took extra precautions to prevent any unseemly behaviour.
By 1935, the pub was in the hands of William Westwood, who kept it throughout the Second World War until 1953. During this period, it was known as “Billy Plough’s”, and some customers remember the air-raid shelter round the back of the pub. In 1948, William’s wife, Irene, chased intruders she had caught entering the pub, who were later committed for trial.
The pub was then kept by a succession of relatively short-term licensees. The longest serving were George Willetts (1953-1963), John & Evelyn Homer (1966-1977) and Ron Lloyd (1981-1995). He kept the pub with his wife, Andrea, assisted by their daughters, Mary and Sue.
When they arrived, after keeping the Black Horse (Tipton) for twelve years, the pub was in a pretty rundown condition, but they knocked it back into shape and it became one of the most popular drinking places in the area.
At the time, Ron said, “if a stranger comes in, he’ll be made very welcome, but the regulars are the salt of the earth – some of the most wonderful customers in the country”.
They included Ronnie “Dustbin Mon” Yardley, and Geoff and Bob, both retired train drivers. Regular customer, Barry Loughran, also sponsored a 60ft underwater dive at Netherton Reservoir and a parachute jump for charity, whilst Albert Head knew all the 54 pubs in Cradley Heath! Nine customers owned greyhounds, a couple owned racehorses and there were several darts and dominoes teams. Even darts champion, Jocky Wilson, came to the pub for a drink!
In 1995, the pub became the Restaurante Royale and was later renamed Raggaddys. But it returned to its original name in 2001 and was refurbished in 2012.
Gary & Sarah Davies took the helm in 2013 and in 2019 it gained CAMRA’S West Midlands and local Pub-of the-year awards. It’s also recently won local CAMRA’S Community Pub-of-the-year award. After Gary retired, the pub is now being kept by one of the long-serving barmaids, Emma Green, who runs it with her partner, Malcolm.
The Plough & Harrow continues as a fine community pub, holding charity and local events. Visitors and regular customers alike receive a warm welcome from Emma and her friendly team.
So join them for an excellent pint of real ale and a chat you’ll never forget!