The Castle Inn, Vere Street

[RobertS]

Hello Folks

In the 1890's there was a pub called the Castle Inn at 43 Vere Street. The landlord was one Thomas Henry Davenport Hibberd.

Can anyone help with further details of the pub or the landlord? (Ive looked for references to old pubs in Vere Street and the only one I can find was the St Lukes Tavern on the corner of Vere Street and St Lukes Road.)

Thanks

 

[mikejee]

Robert

Have looked at directories I have, and cannot find the name of the Castle inn listed. This isn’t unusual for a beerhouse of the period, as directories didn’t always list the name. Have listed no 43 from 1862 – 1904 which seems to be approximately the period it was a pub. Haven’t found Davenports name though. He presumably is in the missing periods or was only there for a short period of time and didn’t make the directories

1858 Vere St not listed either by itself or coming into Benacre St. A rough map of 1961 shows blocked-in buildings on both sides of most streets around, but a blank where no 43 is.

1862 Edmund (or Edward) Bromley (also listed as a painter and brewer
before taking over no 43)
1868-80 Mrs Mary Bromley
1883 William Ball
1884 Mrs Louisa Parker
1888-1890 John Thomas Draper
1892-1895 Mrs Mary Cooper
1896 -1899 Edwin Turberville
1900 William R. Long
1904 Arthur Saunders
1908 James Walter Smith, sawdust dealer

No 43 is not listed in 1912 or 1921, and is a shop in 1932.

No name is listed for the pub, which is listed as a beer retailer, beerhouse or, in 1873, as a retail brewer. Certainly in early years they only had a licence to sell beer, not wine or spirits.
Traced the censues for 1871 and 1881 and no name for pub given. In 1871 the landlady was in a court off Vere st , so maybe she didn’t always live in, if it was a small place.
Hope this is of some use
Mike

 

[RobertS]

Thanks Mikejee

What an amount of information!

All I had was an 1891 census entry with Thomas Henry Davenport Hibbert (Publican) and his wife Ada Ann and a daughter Rose B Hibberd (only 1 year old) at 43 Vere Street, 'The Castle Inn', (St Martins Ward) Birmingham.

From your research it seems the premises had a history of selling drink, was probably small (wonder if converted house with with rooms to let?) and their tenure must have been short. (I know that by 1911 they were at 29 Porters Lane Aston Manor.)

I have been able to find out little about Vere Street. I didn't know it when I was a lad (and I thought I was well versed in the streets of Balsall Heath).

I have managed to find that it was home to a few artists, and a musical instrument manufactury (best known for double bases) Gisbourne, Boisell & Co, Musical Instrument Makers, 14 Gray's Inn Road, London W-C Manufactory, Vere Street, Birmingham, England. I wonder what else lurked there? Vere Street seems neglected.

I'm off to see if I can find any photo's

Thanks for your help

 

[mikejee]

A few things:
I forgot to attach a map showing where I think the Castle was on a 1889 map(in red). (Note on reposting map - I am now sure this is no 43)
Carl Chinn’s “The Streets of Brum” says that hope St and Vere St are named after Harriet Hope Vere, the second wife of Sir Edward Sherlock Gooch, sixth baronet, who owned the land before development.
At https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Thomas_Bromley it states that no 44 Vere st was the home of William & Charlotte Bromley , the parents of Thomas Bromley the painter. I guess they must be related to the Mary Bromley who was at the Castke next door. (I always treat wikipedia with as much trust as a politician – so beware)
Mike

 

[RobertS]

Thanks Mikejee

The map is very useful. Thats correct about Thomas Bromley, have the info from Birmingham Society of Artists. What I didn't connect was the Bromley in the line of Castle Inn publicans!

Attached is a bit more on the instrument makers!

The firm of Gisbourne was making 1839 and 1914. (From 1852 they supplied the Army). Between 1894-1902 Gisbourne & Co manufactured instruments at Vere Street.

Thanks again for all your work