In the last two issues we have used John Cockayne’s book ‘Walsall Pubs: A History’ to do an imaginary pub crawl down Stafford Street and Park Street some time in the 1920's. Using John’s book again let us extend the crawl up from The Bridge through Digbeth to High Street – the market area.  Right on The Bridge is The George Hotel. Some will remember it as the
splendid art deco building demolished in 1974, in the 20's however it was still a largely 18th century building and owned by Walsall Council.  Walking up the market the first pub we come to is the Old Still on the right, a Highgate pub probably the oldest in the borough with Tudor origins.  Heading up and still on the right was the Old Turk’s Head, described in 1925 as a very old property with stabling for six horses, it was owned by Bents Brewery.  Bents were a Liverpool company who in 1889 also became established in Stone, Staffs by acquiring Montgomery’s Brewery. Almost facing on the opposite side of Digbeth was the Talbot also a
Bents pub, a 17th century building. The building that was the premises of the modern Talbot still stands occupied by Motability Plus.  On the left on the entrance to the Old Square shopping centre was the Woolpack, an attractive 19th century black and white building on the site of the medieval Woolpack. Highgate took over the premises from Arthur Beebee Ltd of
Sandwell Street in 1924. A little uphill and still on the left was the elegantly fronted Bear and Ragged Staff, by the 1920s probably a William Butler pub. On the right and on the corner of George Street was Paine’s Wine Vaults, large premises again acquired by Highgate from Arthur Beebee.  A little further up on the Asda site was the King Edward VII, a fine frontage and a Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries pub.

 

This completes our 1920s crawl up Walsall market.  To repeat the experience today head
straight for Paine’s Vaults (now the Market Tavern and owned by The Davenports Pub Company), the only one left. Let us wish success to the last pub on the market. Interestingly
the Green Dragon had closed by the 1920's and was the office of the magistrates’ clerk. With the Guildhall development of the mid 1980's it reopened as a pub, latterly becoming the Cobra Bar. This is now closed with an uncertain future.

 

 

If you want to recommend an award winning beer brewed in the West Midlands region to your local licensee then here are some serious contenders worth consideration from the West Midlands Beer of the Year 2007 competition.  The overall Gold Medal was awarded to Hobson's Brewery of Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire for their Hobson's Best Bitter at a presentation ceremony in December.  The 3·8% ABV beer, winner of the Bitter category is described in the
2008 Good Beer Guide as "A pale to amber, medium-bodied beer, with strong hop character throughout. It is consequently bitter, but with malt discernible in the taste."
The Silver Medal went to Church End Pews Porter (4·5%) from Nuneaton, with Beowulf Dragon Smoke Stout (4·7%) from Brownhills taking the Bronze.

Other category winners were:
• Mild - Cannon Royall Fruiterer's Mild (3·7%).
• Best Bitter - Malvern Hills Black Pear (4·4%).
• Strong Ale - Woods Wonderful (4·8%).
• Golden Ale - Salopian Golden Thread (5·0%).
• Winter Ale - Sarah Hughes Snowflake (8·0%).
• Speciality Ale - Salopian Lemon Dream (4·5%).
• Real Ale in a Bottle - Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout.

 

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The Editor, Kils ‘n’ Kins, c/o 31, Balmoral Drive,
Willenhall, WV12 5TT. Tel no. 01922 861626