Dennis Williams
Gone but not forgotten
Pubs played quite a part in Birmingham's history and development. In 1779, the GREYHOUND INN at 27 Navigation Street for instance, according to Joseph McKenna (in his "Central Birmingham Pubs" book, from which I've plundered profusely and can't recommend highly enough, and I hope he one day forgives me), began life as "The Man Loaded With Mischief". The landlord John Woodcock adapted William Hogarth's painting of the same name as his Inn sign. The sign was then copied by a Richard Wilson, "better known as a white clock dial painter, and attracted such crowds that the Magistrates were called in and ordered its removal". The mind boggles. Rioting over a pub sign? Haven't tracked it down yet, but one of you clever folks might? Pretty please. Hope it's suitable for viewing before the Pope's visit...
It was renamed the Stag's Head by a John Porter, but when his successor George Garner, lacking a few customers and before Karaoke was invented, turned his hand to literally making a few bob to supplement his takings and got fingered for forgery, and was rightly transported to Australia (Like Thylacine): the new guy renamed it the Greyhound again to 'avoid this stigma'.
In 1838 John Southall, 'a man of culture' then took it over and instigated the 'Musical Society and the Apollo Glee & Friendly Society', meeting on a Sunday evening to perk things up a bit. It was here that the great musical tenor Vernon Rigby (nope, me neither) first appeared; but more importantly two other even more famous sons of Birmingham also watered there - David Cox, the landscape artist, and Joseph Gillott, the millionaire pen maker. The pub was sometimes even better known as Southall's by some locals. Anyway, it was pulled down in 1909 to make way for an extension to Queen's College. Even in those days pubs weren't safe, even with millionaires as patrons.
The nearby HOPE & ANCHOR was even more important but more for its Politics than its Free and Easys. On Sunday evenings, instead of the strains of 'Come into the garden Maud', one heard the rantings of the emerging Liberal Party's MPs George Dixon (he of the School), and John Bright (who later had a nearby Street named after him in 1881) banging on about Proportional Representation and stuff. The gaffer, John Edmonds, licensee for 30 years, also started a Sick Club for the poor long before the Welfare State, and an 'Artisans Penny Fund', with money going to fund the Queens Hospital (could this be a forerunner of the Saturday Fund perhaps?). The Hope & Anchor also had musical soirees though, with our ubiquitous local tunesmith Vernon Rigby also giving it large in the snug. It was pulled down circa 1886 to accommodate the enlargement of New Street Station. I don't think these latter two facts are related. Necessarily...
There is a photo of the Hope & Anchor in McKenna's book, but I can't find any shots of the other Navigation Street pubs mentioned; viz., the Acorn; the Nags Head; the White Swan; the Roebuck; the Mogul; the Country Girl; the White Lion; the Swan Luncheon Bar; the Vine Inn; and the Anglers Arms. So many pubs in its history! Not one still standing. Any one got any pictures to add? Or maps showing where these pubs might have been?
Thanks for listening. Sorry it's a bit lengthy.
Dennis
It was renamed the Stag's Head by a John Porter, but when his successor George Garner, lacking a few customers and before Karaoke was invented, turned his hand to literally making a few bob to supplement his takings and got fingered for forgery, and was rightly transported to Australia (Like Thylacine): the new guy renamed it the Greyhound again to 'avoid this stigma'.
In 1838 John Southall, 'a man of culture' then took it over and instigated the 'Musical Society and the Apollo Glee & Friendly Society', meeting on a Sunday evening to perk things up a bit. It was here that the great musical tenor Vernon Rigby (nope, me neither) first appeared; but more importantly two other even more famous sons of Birmingham also watered there - David Cox, the landscape artist, and Joseph Gillott, the millionaire pen maker. The pub was sometimes even better known as Southall's by some locals. Anyway, it was pulled down in 1909 to make way for an extension to Queen's College. Even in those days pubs weren't safe, even with millionaires as patrons.
The nearby HOPE & ANCHOR was even more important but more for its Politics than its Free and Easys. On Sunday evenings, instead of the strains of 'Come into the garden Maud', one heard the rantings of the emerging Liberal Party's MPs George Dixon (he of the School), and John Bright (who later had a nearby Street named after him in 1881) banging on about Proportional Representation and stuff. The gaffer, John Edmonds, licensee for 30 years, also started a Sick Club for the poor long before the Welfare State, and an 'Artisans Penny Fund', with money going to fund the Queens Hospital (could this be a forerunner of the Saturday Fund perhaps?). The Hope & Anchor also had musical soirees though, with our ubiquitous local tunesmith Vernon Rigby also giving it large in the snug. It was pulled down circa 1886 to accommodate the enlargement of New Street Station. I don't think these latter two facts are related. Necessarily...
There is a photo of the Hope & Anchor in McKenna's book, but I can't find any shots of the other Navigation Street pubs mentioned; viz., the Acorn; the Nags Head; the White Swan; the Roebuck; the Mogul; the Country Girl; the White Lion; the Swan Luncheon Bar; the Vine Inn; and the Anglers Arms. So many pubs in its history! Not one still standing. Any one got any pictures to add? Or maps showing where these pubs might have been?
Thanks for listening. Sorry it's a bit lengthy.
Dennis
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