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The William Tyler at the Yew Tree

S

suemalings

master brummie
The old Woolworths Building at the Yew Tree is going to be a Wetherspoons. Apparently it was going to be called The Swan but the notice of the name didn't last long before it was changed to William Tyler.

Has anyone any idea who William Tyler was and, if such a person existed what his connection with Yardley was?
 
This is from "Acocks Green History Society" & where the name possibly comes from....

[h=1]Brick and tile making in Yardley[/h]
The standard work on early Yardley is Victor Skipp’s Medieval Yardley. This is an extract from chapter 19: Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century Crafts, with associated references.

Tile-making collects its first documentary references at the beginning of the fifteenth century. We hear of William Tyler in 1402, Amisia Tyler in 1420, and of Robert Robyns, tyler in 1463.(1) In the mid-nineteenth century the main concentration of tileries was along the Coventry Road, and northwards from this to Yardley village - including four in the village itself (see map facing page 26).(2) Probably the same area was the centre of the medieval industry. However, a deed of 1497 refers to a Kelyn crofte and Kelyn mede at Stechford,(3) while in the south of the manor Tittiford has a Tylehowse Place (alias Pretties Place) by 1588, and in 1612/13 there are two closes at Sarehole called Tilehouse Crofts.(4)

Wetherspoons own site still has it down as "The Swan".
 
Many thanks for that info Albion. Now I need to ask if anyone can remember what was on the corner of Blakemere Avenue and Church Road Yardley, before the laundry.

I'm told Tyler's Tiles used to have a place there, whether it was just a shop or a small factory, I've no idea.

(I bet Len would know!)
 
Yard.jpg
 
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I can't open the photo. I get a screen asking for log in and password but I keep getting a message telling me that I don't exist or my log in failed!

What am I doing wrong?

I am now "currently banned from using the site" Probably because I have tried too many times.
 
Sorry.... My first attempt with a photo' since the new way....

It's just a map from the book i referred to.....

:friendly_wink:
 
If it is Coppermine that you have been banned from Sue you probably haven't. Try requesting new password. If you still have problems Leslam should be able to sort you out. She sorted me out anyway.
 
ALB10N said:
Sorry.... My first attempt with a photo' since the new way....

It's just a map from the book i referred to.....

:friendly_wink:
Click to expand...
No need to apologise good to see you posting again.
 
Hiya kids.... ;)

I received an answer from J D Wetherspoon today about why the pub is being called 'William Tyler'.

 "Farming was the way of life in Yardley into the early twentieth century. The centuries-old trade of tile making was first carried out by farmers and also lasted into modern times. Yardley was ideally situated on a bed of 'particularly good red clay'. The first written record of tile-making is in a document of 1402 and refers to William Tyler. The tile and brick making industry blossomed over the years and at one time Yardley had at least 17 kilns."

So i guess my guess was right.... lol

I've still no idea why they have two archers either side though....

Ta for the kind words Bernie.
 
Mother in Law (lives at the back of the William Tyler) tried to find out why there are archers each side of the name, but the person she spoke too at Weatherspoons didn't know (he was very nice though and sent her a voucher for a complimentary drink!) MIL likened the archer to Robin Hood! Anyway I understand that there is quite a lot of information about William on the inside of the building so next time we are in Yardley we shall take MIL for lunch and have a good look.
 
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