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The Cuckoo Tavern

J

Julian Parker

proper brummie kid
Hi , nice to meet you all .
I'm afraid my Birmingham local history knowledge and geography in pretty low, so I'm in need of help please.....
I'm researching a picture that has appeared on the Black Country history Facebook page It is of a public house called the Cuckoo Tavern. The location given is Hill Top West Bromwich/ Wednesbury. Research reveals this to be in correct ,as the only reference in Kelly's directory for a licensee of the same name ( Alfred Moses Dabbs) is The Cuckoo Tavern , 62 Cuckoo Rd,Nechells, Birmingham circa 1915 .I believe a previous incumbent was one Mrs Elizabeth Lloyd circa 1900. I have been able to view similar pictures of The Cuckoo from people who have ancestors in the picture, and verify a Birmingham location .
There is some school of thought that says The cuckoo changed its name to The Reservoir Tavern.But The Reservoir Tavern seems to have been on the corner of Cuckoo Rd and Lichfield Rd for years, way back into the 1800s .
Can anyone put a location to the Cuckoo tavern ? .
Was this area ever known as Hill Top ?
Many thanks
Julian Parker
 
Welcome Julian, nice to meet you.

The Cuckoo Tavern was definitely on the corner of Cuckoo Road and Lichfield Road until quite recently. I work (when I can go) at Cuckoo Wharf which is just past the site of the old pub. I have only ever heard the name Hill Top in relation to West Bromwich but I'm sure if this area has been called that someone else will put me straight.
 
Cheers Pedrocut , I've got that far. But I can't see why someone would think they are the same place. So I'm trying to place exactly where # 62 Cuckoo Rd was ,
Thanks for the input
 
Lady Penelope said:
Welcome Julian, nice to meet you.

The Cuckoo Tavern was definitely on the corner of Cuckoo Road and Lichfield Road until quite recently. I work (when I can go) at Cuckoo Wharf which is just past the site of the old pub. I have only ever heard the name Hill Top in relation to West Bromwich but I'm sure if this area has been called that someone else will put me straight.
Click to expand...
Hi Lady P
Ouch, my brain hurts now.. !! ...
So was the Reservoir Tavern close by?
Cheers
JP
 
If it helps , the photo .
Licensee Alfred Moses Dabbs , The Cuckoo Tavern ,
 

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Now I'm confused Julian! I thought the Cuckoo Tavern was the one on the corner but maybe not. It certainly didn't look like the one in the picture above. Perhaps that was the Reservoir Tavern and the Cuckoo Tavern was further up Cuckoo Road? I'm trying to visualise the sign (with great difficulty) and I now think I was wrong in my last post and the one on the corner was the Reservoir. Sorry, it makes sense for it to be the Reservoir as it was directly opposite Salford Park. I'm now thinking there was a large sign on the side of the pub. Oh, I do wish I could ask my Dad - he knew all the pubs and was born almost opposite this one.
 
the reservoir pub was on this corner pen...frothy got the pub sign when they were demolishing it (he did ask lol)

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Lady Penelope said:
Welcome Julian, nice to meet you.

The Cuckoo Tavern was definitely on the corner of Cuckoo Road and Lichfield Road until quite recently. I work (when I can go) at Cuckoo Wharf which is just past the site of the old pub. I have only ever heard the name Hill Top in relation to West Bromwich but I'm sure if this area has been called that someone else will put me straight.
Click to expand...
Lady Penelope said:
Now I'm confused Julian! I thought the Cuckoo Tavern was the one on the corner but maybe not. It certainly didn't look like the one in the picture above. Perhaps that was the Reservoir Tavern and the Cuckoo Tavern was further up Cuckoo Road? I'm trying to visualise the sign (with great difficulty) and I now think I was wrong in my last post and the one on the corner was the Reservoir. Sorry, it makes sense for it to be the Reservoir as it was directly opposite Salford Park. I'm now thinking there was a large sign on the side of the pub. Oh, I do wish I could ask my Dad - he knew all the pubs and was born almost opposite this one.
Click to expand...
Hercules bicycles was behind the pub
 
This is my theory (but I bow to Mike's knowledge)
I think the pub on the corner was the Reservoir Tavern, and further down the road, by the bridge,
and Hockley Brook in 1890 was the Cuckoo Tavern

Only Nos 70 to 80 on the corner are shown on later maps
62-64 would have been by the bridge

1890 map
1890W2.jpg
 
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RobT said:
This is my theory (but I bow to Mike's knowledge)
I think the pub on the corner was the Reservoir Tavern, and further down the road, by the bridge,
and Hockley Brook in 1890 was the Cuckoo Tavern

Only Nos 70 to 80 on the corner are shown on later maps
62-64 would have been by the bridge

1890 map
View attachment 154691
Click to expand...
Can't make the numbers out , i assume under the words cuckoo bridge in red ?
Thanks
 
At last I've sorted myself out! I think the Facebook page just confused the information.

Alfred Moses Dabbs was born at 206 High Street, Hill Top, West Bromwich and his father, also Alfred, was a beer house keeper. Doesn't give the name of the pub. Alfred Jnr still at Hill Top in 1901 by which time his father had died.
The Cuckoo Tavern was in the management of Arthur Henry Hill in 1911 but as we know Alfred took it over before 1915.
Alfred's still there in 1921.
(I noticed that living next door to the tavern on the 1911 census was Thomas William Dabbs - was he a relation? Did he tell Alfred that the tenancy had come up?)
 
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Astoness said:
the reservoir pub was on this corner pen...frothy got the pub sign when they were demolishing it (he did ask lol)
Click to expand...
Yes Lyn, grovelling apology for defective memory!! I did say sorry to Julian for confusing him even further.
I could see that large sign on the side of the pub too. I was so sorry when they demolished the Reservoir and replaced it with that awful distracting advertising sign.
 
Lady Penelope said:
Yes Lyn, grovelling apology for defective memory!! I did say sorry to Julian for confusing him even further.
I could see that large sign on the side of the pub too. I was so sorry when they demolished the Reservoir and replaced it with that awful distracting advertising sign.
Click to expand...
no apology need pen...i only knew where the res was because i followed the sad demise of it

lyn
 
Lady Penelope said:
At last I've sorted myself out! I think the Facebook page just confused the information.

Alfred Moses Dabbs was born at 206 High Street, Hill Top, West Bromwich and his father, also Alfred, was a beer house keeper. Doesn't give the name of the pub. Alfred Jnr still at Hill Top in 1901 by which time his father had died.
The Cuckoo Tavern was in the management of Arthur Henry Hill in 1911 but as we know Alfred took it over before 1915.
Alfred's still there in 1921.
(I noticed that living next door to the tavern on the 1911 census was Thomas William Dabbs - was he a relation? Did he tell Alfred that the tenancy had come up?)
Click to expand...
Ah , well this is my bit ....
Mr Dabbs was registered at birth as Alfred Moses Dabbs Wheatley in 1887.His father Alfred Wheatley Dabbs was the illegitimate son of Ellen Wheatley, she did however marry the father Enoch Dabbs later the same year ,1858. Alfred Moses'' father, Grandfather, and uncle were all serial publicans/ brewers in the Hill Top area .( Brown Lion, Red Lion, Old Crown and A.N.other, #206 High st Hill Top ) .
Dabbs jnr first appears in Brum circa 1911 ,married to Edith and they have one child Ella Florence , and resident in Bellefield Rd.Given trade a Barman. Then by 1915 he is at The Cuckoo, during the early 1920s he keeps the Coach and Horses, 93 Spring Hill . By 1939 he appears to have left the trade , he states on the 1939 register he is a Asphalt Plant Foreman, still married to Edith,and daughter still at home and resident at Wheeler St, Brum . He passes in 1947
Regards

JP
 
RobT said:
This is my theory (but I bow to Mike's knowledge)
I think the pub on the corner was the Reservoir Tavern, and further down the road, by the bridge,
and Hockley Brook in 1890 was the Cuckoo Tavern

Only Nos 70 to 80 on the corner are shown on later maps
62-64 would have been by the bridge

1890 map
View attachment 154695
Click to expand...
Excellent , thanks ...that just about puts the top hat on it....
 
Julian Parker said:
Ah , well this is my bit ....
Mr Dabbs was registered at birth as Alfred Moses Dabbs Wheatley in 1887.His father Alfred Wheatley Dabbs was the illegitimate son of Ellen Wheatley, she did however marry the father Enoch Dabbs later the same year ,1858. Alfred Moses'' father, Grandfather, and uncle were all serial publicans/ brewers in the Hill Top area .( Brown Lion, Red Lion, Old Crown and A.N.other, #206 High st Hill Top ) .
Dabbs jnr first appears in Brum circa 1911 ,married to Edith and they have one child Ella Florence , and resident in Bellefield Rd.Given trade a Barman. Then by 1915 he is at The Cuckoo, during the early 1920s he keeps the Coach and Horses, 93 Spring Hill . By 1939 he appears to have left the trade , he states on the 1939 register he is a Asphalt Plant Foreman, still married to Edith,and daughter still at home and resident at Wheeler St, Brum . He passes in 1947
Regards

JP
Click to expand...
hi julian there are plenty of pre demo photos of wheeler st on the wheeler st thread if you are interested just put in wheeler street in the seach box..any problems get back to me..oh i also have one photo of the coach and horses if you would like it ?

lyn
 
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