Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #45

Buckle up one and all as we plunge headlong once more into the dusty depths of the WME photo repository. The cobwebs are being blown off five more Lost Pubs but which of these - if any - do you remember visiting?

- The Belvidere -

I'm leaving the Black Country behind this time around and instead recalling a quintet from our surrounding shires. First up we'll visit the Belvidere which used to grace Shrewsbury's eastern extremities, tucked away on Crowmere Road among pleasant semi-detached housing. I never staged a drinking visit here, instead having to make do with this fleeting sighting from the days when it functioned as a sports bar. It was built by Banks's in the 1960s to serve the expanding estates in this part of town but ceased trading circa 2016 and has since been demolished.

- The Globe -

Staying with Shrewsbury but moving closer to the town centre, the Globe could be found on Coleham Head within easy walking distance of English Bridge. This always looked a plain but traditional prospect with its mostly whitewashed frontage and simple blue signage, hence I can well imagine it being popular for pub games such as darts and dominoes back in the day. The building is still standing but has become a private residence in tones of battleship grey.

- The Brandy Cask -

From Shropshire to Worcestershire next and the market town of Pershore in the district of Wychavon. The Brandy Cask was one of my prized pub finds during Rail Rover Week 2012, an independent free house serving their own real ales and earning praise in the Good Beer Guide meaning there was a lot for me to like. A very enjoyable pint of Brandysnapper proved ample reward for my efforts in getting here and the elegant Georgian setting had its charms too, so I'm sad to report that this Bridge Street property has latterly been converted into flats.

- The Cricketers Arms -

Having accounted for one from Wychavon, let's swoop over to Wyre Forest and the carpet town of Kidderminster. Backstreet Banks's efforts didn't come much more beguiling than the Cricketers Arms, an end-of-terrace brickbuilt property a few doors along from the Milton Hall Baptist Church and Sunday Schools chapel. Handy too for the Severn Valley Railway station, my main memories of this place involve visiting with Roger and Ant to play darts (badly). It has now reverted into being a standard house with not much to indicate it was ever a pub.

- Tweeddale Arms Hotel -

Let's finish in Staffordshire, albeit only just given that Tamworth nudges close to Warwickshire territory. The Tweeddale Arms (as was) is a very familiar landmark on the roundabout outside the town's railway station so countless numbers of passengers must have wandered past over the years, and I dare say a fair few would have quenched their thirst here too. Despite having 'Beers from Coors' at the time of this photo, it would go on to become a Domino's Pizza outlet.

WME Flickr Focus - July 2026

Heatwave temperatures, World Cup heartbreak, another change in Prime Minister - all par for the course where July 2026 is concerned. Amidst all the sweat, blood, goals and political turmoil, the WME photostream has quietly stayed out of the limelight, happy enough to do its usual update thing. Here's what the last month has brought our way...

It doesn't require a presidential trophy lift or a speech from behind a Downing Street lectern when declaring WME Wolverhampton to be July's chief contributor. We've hit a rich seam of Wulfrunian material lately with West Park and Wolverhampton Art Gallery both attracting more than their fair share of arrivals. Funfair posters, magnolia blooms, park pathways and classical Chemistry figures have all earned selection alongside less thrilling items (a West End Club parking notice) although there is a Whitmore Reans Santa Claus to see if you're so inclined. Sprinkle in a triceratops alongside some gingerbread people and you've got quite a lineup!

WME Dudley has shown itself to be partial to a medal presentation (or the occasional lap of honour) and continues its strong performance across the whole of 2026 with a fresh batch of additions. Wollaston makes solid strides here, boosted by several street signs - Gerald Road, Eggington Road, Lawn Avenue etc - plus a peek at Swan Pool Playing Fields, although we mustn't overlook the efforts of Withymoor Village to donate its doctors surgery and Turners Lane to our noble cause.

Another 2026 big-hitter maintaining consistent levels of output would be WME Birmingham, waiding - sorry, raiding - its box marked 'W' for titbits from Weoley Castle (a pub dartboard), Walmley (ditto) and Winson Green (Midland Metro tram stop railings designed to represent James Watt's engineering ingenuity). WME Telford took its time to get going by comparison but has hit a purple patch from springtime onwards - Wellington ensures this momentum is undimmed and yes, there is even more boot bunting to report! The Oddfellows, Cock Hotel and Dun Cow pile up the pub quota too.

After a productive time of it in June, WME Walsall takes things slightly easier this time around but nevertheless has enough energy to pick out a Holtshill Lane pumpkin and revisit Walsall Wood's Boatmans Rest; WME Staffordshire tickles Tutbury a little more, obtaining the Cross Keys and a war memorial poppy wreath; WME Worcestershire extracts two more lock items from the Tardebigge flight, leaving WME Warwickshire holding up the rear courtesy of The Butts in Warwick itself. All eyes will now be on August to see what else might appear...

A Heatwave Hub Marketing Homage

The summer of 1976 has gone down in folklore as one of the hottest ever on record, with day after day of baking heat lasting for weeks. The young Chairman was there to experience it first hand, living near West Bromwich and being subjected to the Wurzels’ ‘Combine Harvester’ repeatedly by neighbour Mad Matthews. Fifty years on, another prolonged heatwave is taking hold so we have perfect conditions to relive D9's youth... 

- All aboard the 47 -

Trip Log: Thursday 16th July 2026 and it doesn't seem five minutes since we were last in the Wednesbury area, full of World Cup excitement. Alas the country is now recovering from the agony of England's semi-final defeat to Argentina but the Hub Marketing Board put aside any lingering melancholy when meeting at the Great Western Street tram stop. Chairman D9 is in charge of the evening's itinerary, picking out places that bring back personal memories of his schooldays - he had hair back then! - and his first instruction is to board the number 47 bus for a ride along Ridding Lane, Hydes Road and Crookhay Lane. To get ourselves into even more of a nostalgic mood, the WME Silly Song is Max Bygraves and 'The Drought of 76', complete with references to water rationing and Percy Thrower's radishes!

- The Coach & Horses -

Passing the Gough Arms as Mr D9 recalls a character nicknamed the 'Hateley Heath Beast' (she had a certain liking for bus drivers), we make our first port of call the Coach & Horses on Kesteven Road. This has been spruced up since we last came and has banners stating that it is under new management, although it still counts as a flat-roofed estate pub however much they try to make it look more fancy. According to the Chairman, some teachers at the nearby Menzies High School (nowadays renamed as the Phoenix Collegiate) might have been known to have a sneaky tipple in here back in the day. Our choice of lubrication is Carling, giving the Secretary a £3.50 discount which would seal spreadsheet honours as the trip unfolds. ODI cricket meanwhile shows on the big screens with Jasprit Bumrah batting for India at Cardiff.

- Remembering Menzies C Block -

Our very own Chairman was himself a pupil at Menzies in the 1980s so Marsh Lane has us travelling back in time, pointing out where the entrances to B Block (containing the school's library plus Maths and Geography classrooms) and C Block (housing the English, Drama and Art facilities) would have been. The athletics track appears to have been repainted and tidied up after previously falling into disrepair, although it's far too warm to contemplate running the 400 metres today. Instead we recreate the route a youthful D9 would have taken to get home at the end of a busy school day, briefly linking onto Jubilee Street before Princess Grove has apparently changed very little since the late 1970s. Some of the garden fences and concrete lampposts could well still be intact from when this part of the estate was originally built.

- Outside the former D9 family home -

It was back during the spring of 1976 when the Chairman first moved to what would be the D9 family home for his formative years. This means the likes of Caldwell Street, Walsall Road and Alexandra Terrace inspire fond reminiscing on the long hot summer, even though hearing the Wurzels ad nauseam must surely have driven everyone to distraction! Other tunes to resonate off the Chairman's playlist include 'Save Your Kisses For Me' by Brotherhood of Man and 'Let Em In' from Wings, the latter a reminder of the chimes on Mrs Morris's doorbell. D9 thoughts of next door neighbours and old friends come flooding back at this stage of our stroll, not to mention the lady who ran the local sweetshop.

- Pennyhill Primary School -

And the memories don't just end there. Next up is Pennyhill Primary School, occupying a site bounded by Hollyhedge Lane, Willett Road and Connor Road. When the Chairman attended lessons here, it was effectively two conjoined schools (Charlemont and Hollyhedge) with the current name adopted circa 2007 when these were amalgamated. Young D9 would have been taught in the Charlemont side, where provision had first been established in 1929, whereas the Hollyhedge counterpart was set up from 1964 onwards. Some of the school railings look as though they might have been around since the 1960s actually, and our accompanying soundtrack has now switched to hearty renditions of 'Jeans On' by David Dundas.

- Royal Oak (Newton Street) -

All this wallowing in the past has made us rather thirsty so a pit stop in the Crown & Anchor is deemed necessary. More commonly referred to as the Jinglers, this falls under M&B's Sizzling brand with a predictable offer in terms of both food and drink, majoring on stacked skillets and big burgers. A cool glass of Carling is sufficient for our needs, allowing the Chairman to recall when the Edwards family used to run the place. The Secretary is pining for quality cask ale however and gets his wish granted care of the Royal Oak, a homely free house just around the corner on Newton Street. We've been here a couple of times before but it suits us nicely for well-kept Enville White, watching the Open golf from the comfort of a very cosy lounge.

- Spotted near the Spinney -

Pressing onwards, the next location lined up for D9 reflection is the Charlemont estate where Beaconview Road offers glimpses of several blocks of flats. Marshall House was demolished many years ago but others have survived, notably Camberley and Briarley (the tallest tower) which still have the hallmark of 1960s construction albeit with modernisation over time. Of the local pub provision, the Mill is sadly no more after falling victim to fire damage, leaving us the Spinney to supply our next slice of Carling action. We begin indoors in the presence of signed Chris Brunt West Bromwich Albion shirts then move outside to a plain beer table so that the Chairman can fully appreciate what he calls 'proper scenery'.

- A Gospel Oak nightcap -

It isn't only 1976 that the Chairman is keen to relive so the final two pubs on our mini-crawl enable him to dip into his 1980s catalogue. The Stone Cross is a large roadhouse midway between Walsall and West Bromwich, perched on a busy gyratory encircled by the A4031. The current pub building replaced the previous one in 1934, and after years of Mitchells & Butlers ownership it is now an Indian bar and grill. Yet more Carling is supped to the tune of Judy Boucher's 1987 smash 'Can't Be With You Tonight' and a bit of Bros might have entered the equation too. After helping hands from the 40 and 11A buses, our landing point ends up being the Gospel Oak near Tipton for a 1988-themed nightcap listening to the likes of Kylie and other Stock Aitken Waterman alumni. With that, our wander down memory lane is over but it goes to show how certain songs, locations and temperatures can really trigger vivid recollections of people and places that mean a lot to us. Cheers!

National Trust... At The Double!

The transition of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums to the custodianship of the National Trust means that they should be fully safeguarded for future generations, although Bookworm Bygrave and I haven't been able to make much use of our annual passes during the handover period. The flipside is that our yearlong tickets are now valid at other National Trust venues so the warm weather entices us to go exploring...

- St Cassian's Church -

Two local(ish) trips in two days is our agreement, with the Clent Hills up for consideration on Tuesday 14th July 2026. Wishing to make the most of the weather, let's throw in Chaddesley Corbett for added value - I'd not been to the village since an early 2011 Rog visit so a fifteen year gap is reason enough to have another look. St Cassian’s Church is at the heart of things, the flag of St George billowing from just below its spire, while Miss B finds decades-old Jim graffiti etched into the stonework. A separate churchyard building of arched windows looks most intriguing - could this be a former schoolhouse or parish hall we wonder? 

- Bathams Best Bitter at the Swan -

Chaddesley Corbett is home to three pubs although the Talbot only seems to serve alcohol at the tail end of the week, instead operating as a timber-beamed coffee shop and meeting place the rest of the time. One day I might get round to sampling the Fox but - just as with Roger - it's the Swan which really steals the limelight; this is a Bathams tied house, need I say more! I'll go many a mile for a cracking pint of their Best Bitter and this one is nectar of the highest order, matched only by the quality of the cobs (in our case, cheese served with bonus side salad to give Emily her daily cucumber fix). The lounge side has high ceilings and baronial chandeliers that would not look out of place in a medieval castle while the beer garden is a sun worshippers dream. Hopefully I'll make it back here well before 2041!

- The Four Stones (well, three of them) -

Delighted to see the Swan on such excellent form, we hop back in the car for the short drive to Clent, going through Drayton and Belbroughton en route. I usually associate the National Trust with stately homes and other historic examples of bricks and mortar but this overlooks their role as stewards of some of the country’s finest landscapes. The Clent Hills come under their jurisdiction and comprise circa 440 acres of wide open spaces, woodland and wildlife habitat to enjoy. Adams Hill acts as our gateway in, following arrows for the Buzzard Trail to reach a toposcope viewing platform pointing out some of the geological landmarks on show - the Welsh Black Mountains, the Malvern Hills, Turners Hill communications masts and even the glory of Wolverhampton. We check out the Four Stones as erected as a folly for Lord Lyttelton (a former Chancellor of the Exchequer no less, and resident of Hagley Hall) then troop back down the slopes for a restorative drink in the happily resurrected Hill Tavern.

- Bookworm Bygrave at Wightwick Manor -

Wednesday 15th July 2026 brings with it the prospect of Wightwick Manor, an acclaimed Arts and Crafts property on the fringes of Wolverhampton which was built for the Mander family between 1887 and 1893. The house is especially renowned for its examples of William Morris wallpaper and Pre-Raphaelite art, with a current exhibition celebrating the extensive influence of the Rossetti family (Dante Gabriel the celebrated painter, Christina the poet, William the critic and Maria the author). It's fascinating to see some of their works and learn about the impact they collectively had, challenging Victorian conventions with a bohemian spirit.

- Mander Brothers Ltd Memorial -

Emily and I enjoy a thorough wander through the main house, from the Great Parlour to the Dining Room (hearing about incontinent wombats as evidence of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's descent into madness), and then heading upstairs to the Indian Bird and Acanthus Rooms as named after their respective wallpaper patterns. The Malthouse Gallery showcases artistic works by Evelyn de Morgan and her husband William, the noted ceramic tile designer. The Mander family were prominent industrialists, especially in the manufacture of varnishes and paints, and the Mander Brothers Ltd war memorial can be found in a remembrance garden where it presents a Roll of Honour of workers who lost their lives during the two World Wars.

- The Peach House at Wightwick -

A second hand bookshop beneath the Malthouse Gallery was always going to elicit much Bygrave attention, and with two titles duly purchased, we stroll around the wider grounds. I remember the Kitchen Gardens almost resembling a pumpkin production line when I last came in October 2023 but this time around the sweet peas are more prominent, daintily swaying on the faint wisps of breeze. The Peach House dates to 1891 and is absolutely sweltering inside given the recent high temperatures; we catch glimpses of tomatoes and aubergines starting to ripen up nicely. It's great that the estate grows its own produce with some of the potplants being sold at the gift shop. Hot drinks and summer berry flapjacks courtesy of a tearoom housed in the old stables adds to the indulgent flavour, and we've enough time to call into the nearby Mermaid for further refreshment on the way home.