Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
From the Book "The Old Taverns of Birmingham" by E Edwards written in 1879.
"When Cherry Street, a hundred and fifty years ago, was cut through the Cherry Orchard, from St Philip's churchyard, its progress in a direct line towards High Street came to an end at the spot where the Lancashire Fire Office now stands. At this point it made a bend to the left to make a junction with Crooked Lane. There was, however, a narrow passage leading from Cherry Street to High Street, which was known as Corbett's Alley. The left hand side of this passage was partially built upon, and it now forms the east side of Union Street. The boundary of the opposite side, or west side, was, for the greater part of its length, the fence of Corbett's Bowling Green, a large area surrounded by trees, and having many pleasant arbours. At the end of the straight part of Chery Street, but fronting the south, in Corbett's Alley, there was an old tavern known as the "Coffee-pot," reaching almost across what is now the roadway. The grounds and gardens of this house extended westwards to Little Cannon Street....
...in the year 1786 a house in Cherry Street, standing opposite Cannon Street, and being No 39, was occupied by a gentleman named Goodbehere....(he) retains a perfect recollection of the locality as it existed in 1790....(his father) conceived the idea that by pulling down the Coffee Pot and taking a slice of the Bowling Green, Corbett's alley may be transformed into a street which would connect Cherry Street with High Street, in a direct course..."
(Much more is said but this was the birth of the House that would receive the name of the commodious Inn called the Union
"When Cherry Street, a hundred and fifty years ago, was cut through the Cherry Orchard, from St Philip's churchyard, its progress in a direct line towards High Street came to an end at the spot where the Lancashire Fire Office now stands. At this point it made a bend to the left to make a junction with Crooked Lane. There was, however, a narrow passage leading from Cherry Street to High Street, which was known as Corbett's Alley. The left hand side of this passage was partially built upon, and it now forms the east side of Union Street. The boundary of the opposite side, or west side, was, for the greater part of its length, the fence of Corbett's Bowling Green, a large area surrounded by trees, and having many pleasant arbours. At the end of the straight part of Chery Street, but fronting the south, in Corbett's Alley, there was an old tavern known as the "Coffee-pot," reaching almost across what is now the roadway. The grounds and gardens of this house extended westwards to Little Cannon Street....
...in the year 1786 a house in Cherry Street, standing opposite Cannon Street, and being No 39, was occupied by a gentleman named Goodbehere....(he) retains a perfect recollection of the locality as it existed in 1790....(his father) conceived the idea that by pulling down the Coffee Pot and taking a slice of the Bowling Green, Corbett's alley may be transformed into a street which would connect Cherry Street with High Street, in a direct course..."
(Much more is said but this was the birth of the House that would receive the name of the commodious Inn called the Union