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www.midlandspubs.co.uk
Guest
I'll be putting this on the website soon but thought I'd post it here first. If anyone has any memories of the place it would be great to hear from you.
Old Mint Tavern [pic attached]
This old beer house stood on the corner of Park Road and Dover Street. The pub's name commemorated the fact that coins were produced a short distance away at the Soho Manufactory established by Matthew Boulton in 1784-5. The building ceased production in 1848 and shortly afterwards the presses, powered by Watt's steam engines, were acquired by Ralph Heaton & Son who established a mint in Bath Street before moving to the famous site at Icknield Street in 1860. At the end of the 1860's Job Chambers was the licensee of the Old Mint Tavern. Born in Leicester in 1831, he worked as a rope maker. He and his wife Sarah moved to Birmingham and found accommodation in Great Tindal Street. After running the Old Mint Tavern, the couple moved to Norton Street from where Job continued to work as a rope manufacturer. The Old Mint Tavern was seemingly one of the last of Birmingham's old beer houses to gain a full licence; this was granted on November 15th 1962. The licensee at this time was Alfred Edwards. He was the gaffer behind the counter when this photograph was taken on May 12th 1965. During the following year, he was succeeded by Charles and Beatrice Gadd who remained at the helm until the early-mid 1970's. The Old Mint Tavern closed its doors on February 1st 1976. The building was later demolished.
Old Mint Tavern [pic attached]
This old beer house stood on the corner of Park Road and Dover Street. The pub's name commemorated the fact that coins were produced a short distance away at the Soho Manufactory established by Matthew Boulton in 1784-5. The building ceased production in 1848 and shortly afterwards the presses, powered by Watt's steam engines, were acquired by Ralph Heaton & Son who established a mint in Bath Street before moving to the famous site at Icknield Street in 1860. At the end of the 1860's Job Chambers was the licensee of the Old Mint Tavern. Born in Leicester in 1831, he worked as a rope maker. He and his wife Sarah moved to Birmingham and found accommodation in Great Tindal Street. After running the Old Mint Tavern, the couple moved to Norton Street from where Job continued to work as a rope manufacturer. The Old Mint Tavern was seemingly one of the last of Birmingham's old beer houses to gain a full licence; this was granted on November 15th 1962. The licensee at this time was Alfred Edwards. He was the gaffer behind the counter when this photograph was taken on May 12th 1965. During the following year, he was succeeded by Charles and Beatrice Gadd who remained at the helm until the early-mid 1970's. The Old Mint Tavern closed its doors on February 1st 1976. The building was later demolished.
