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www.midlandspubs.co.uk
Guest
The Black Eagle - Gib Heath [pic attached]
Probably dating from the 1940's, this is an excellent view of the Black Eagle. The frontage is essentially the same in the 21st century. The pub is located at Gib Heath in Factory Road, a lane almost certainly named after Matthew Boulton's three-storey manufactory. This building replaced an earlier beer house that stood on the site. George Ward was the publican in the mid-1850's. He produced homebrewed ales using a well which still exists beneath the snug. Along with a fresh water supply, George Ward had expertise at hand in the form of William Glazer, a maltster who lived next door. By 1859, Phillip Webb had moved into No.9 and was operating a malthouse and kiln. In the same year John Steadman had taken over the licence of the Black Eagle. He was both a silversmith and beer house keeper. At one time, the Black Eagle was acquired by Benjamin Kelsey Ltd; a brewery founded in 1859 and based at Ashted Row in Duddeston. Throughout much of the 20th century the Black Eagle enjoyed a good deal of stability but the pub's fortunes slipped during the 1980's and it actually closed down in 1988. The saviours of the pub were three actors with a passion for pubs. Stepping in to salvage the dilapidated building were Tony Lewis, Robert Broadbent and Michael Libesey who had previously worked together at The Ship located on the Thames at Rotherhithe. Indeed, they had all previously worked on both the stage and screen. Robert and Michael have since sought a different path leaving South African-born Tony as sole custodian of this fine example of a late Victorian public house.
Cheers
Kieron www.midlandspubs.co.uk
Probably dating from the 1940's, this is an excellent view of the Black Eagle. The frontage is essentially the same in the 21st century. The pub is located at Gib Heath in Factory Road, a lane almost certainly named after Matthew Boulton's three-storey manufactory. This building replaced an earlier beer house that stood on the site. George Ward was the publican in the mid-1850's. He produced homebrewed ales using a well which still exists beneath the snug. Along with a fresh water supply, George Ward had expertise at hand in the form of William Glazer, a maltster who lived next door. By 1859, Phillip Webb had moved into No.9 and was operating a malthouse and kiln. In the same year John Steadman had taken over the licence of the Black Eagle. He was both a silversmith and beer house keeper. At one time, the Black Eagle was acquired by Benjamin Kelsey Ltd; a brewery founded in 1859 and based at Ashted Row in Duddeston. Throughout much of the 20th century the Black Eagle enjoyed a good deal of stability but the pub's fortunes slipped during the 1980's and it actually closed down in 1988. The saviours of the pub were three actors with a passion for pubs. Stepping in to salvage the dilapidated building were Tony Lewis, Robert Broadbent and Michael Libesey who had previously worked together at The Ship located on the Thames at Rotherhithe. Indeed, they had all previously worked on both the stage and screen. Robert and Michael have since sought a different path leaving South African-born Tony as sole custodian of this fine example of a late Victorian public house.
Cheers
Kieron www.midlandspubs.co.uk
Brilliant
