Pubs If you are around my age (60+) you will no doubt have spent some time in pubs. My Great Grandfather (Horace Batkin) was a publican so i reckon you could say i have alcohol in my blood. Horace kept pubs in and around the town in the early part of the 20th century. It is a sad reflection of the times, political correctness etc that many of these pubs in the town have now gone. Some, like the Elephant and castle in Stafford street, were mysteriously bulldozed in the dead of night whilst there was a protection order on it, that was never properly explained. Some of the others dissapeared to make way for the towns wonderfull ring road, pubs such as the Darlington Arms in Darlington street. Sadly the remaining pubs are all in danger, the rising cost of beer (it was 1/7p when i started drinking) plus food safety regulations, drink drive laws, smoking ban etc are all contributing to a frightening number of pubs closing a year. If you listen closely you can hear my ancestors turning in their graves. . Frank Batkin. Some of the towns older pubs had a certain reputation, in some cases well deserved. The "Oldest proffesion" as prostitution was often called was a way of life for many of these ladies of the night. It was said that in a certain pub in the town that the "ladies" would write the price of their services on the sole of their shoes and sit and wait for customers. In another town pub it was simply a matter for a customer to wait to be asked if he was "looking for business?" Ever since the industrial revolution prostitution in the town had been a way of life. Whereas once girls lined the arches between high and low level station hoping to catch clients returning from business trips to Birmingham, London or wherever, now public sensibilities drove these girls to other sites to ply their trade, in some of the towns pubs. Protocol was you knew which these pubs were, if you were not interested you simply stayed away. |
||||||
Below, the Red Cow, Bilston street.   Above, the corner of snow hill and temple street showing the pub that stood on the corner.  Above, the Bell. Not sure of the location, can anyone help?  Above, the Union mill, Union mill street, Horseley fields  |
Below, demolition of the Talbot.   Above, the Elephant and Castle, corner of Stafford street and Cannock road, this pub was demolished in the dead of night after a preservation order was placed upon it.  Above, the Molineux hotel, a chequered history this one, originally a family home, then as the hotel before lying dormant for years, now newly renovated it is the home of Wolverhampton archives.  Above, the Red lion, Horseley fields, one of the pubs kept by my great grandfather. left, the Old still inn.
For a list of most of the missing pubs please click the file above. An updated file will be available shortly. TV Themes - Hawaii 5-0.mp3 |
|||||
