Black Country (Bilston) Friends and Neighbours - more names

[Trees]

Welcome to rootschat Julie,
On the last page Willow has a long list of pubs in the area if you click on her name you will be able to send her a personal message asking if she can identify the pub from the address you have.
Pubs can be very interesting The record Office may be able to find the licence application for your ancestor among the quarter sessions papers that will tell you how long they were there and could name the pub too.
Have you tried historical directories http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/

If they aren't in any on line directories again you may find more at the Dudley RO

You should have fun it sounds a nice project.
I have about 50 pubs on my tree and have enjoyed trying to find out about them Good luck let me know if I can help
Trees

[Trees]

Just had a quick look at the old directories a Thomas Thmopson was at the BULLS Head in Bilston Street in 1896 so I'd try  to find out if Thos Thompson was followed by your relation at that pub I can see there was also a Charles Jones a beer retailer in Bilston St I wonder how long the street was?
Trees

[juliem27]

Hi Trees,

Thankyou very much for your help. You have given me some good links and I will watch out for Willow / send her a message. Does she currently work in a pub in Bilston ? She seems to have a very good knowledge of the local pubs and their history !
I did read a post she had written, saying that at one time there were over 100 pubs in Bilston, so it was big business !

Their address on the 1901 census was 14, Bilston Street, and his profession was listed as a publican but my husband seems to think they were not living on the pub premises as the pub was not mentioned on the census.

I am new to researching so am not quite sure how to go about things / who to contact, so the links / info you gave me will be very helpful.

Many Thanks.

Julie

[Trees]

Hi Julie you are bound to get a lot of help here on rootschat have a good look around.
Many of my publicans don't give the pub as their main occupation and they are often not named on the census. Most of the publicans had a second trade coal dealer, shoe maker,  blacksmith etc if they had trained in that trade that was seen as most important to record on the census.  May early Pubs were converted front rooms of cottages and houses but I don't think this would apply in 1901 in an industrial area  If they stay at the pub for any length of time eventually they turn up in a named premises then you can use the position on previous censuses to see if they have moved or were in the same "house"all the time  I think your best bet is to try to find the recognizance of the licence at the local RO I think it will be DUDLEY but may just be Litchfield its worth e mailing both to ask where the quarter sessions with licence applications can be seen In 1901 the Pub is almost bound to be named on the license unlike earlier ones.
Don't overlook the Directories they can be very helpful.
Trees

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Julie

Welcome to Rootschat!

The Bulls Head is number 29 Bilston Road Sedgley and its still there. Bilston Road is a very long street the Beacon Hotel is number 129 (home of Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild - very yummy and you fall over quickly!) There is also the White Lion further down and also the White Horse. I think your husband is right and they weren't living at the pub at the time but there are new buildings on the other side of the road from the Bulls Head where number 14 might have been (I'm not sure of the numbering) so there may have been a pub there. I will keep my eyes open

It might be worth contacting Sedgley Local History Society to see if they can help http://www.sedgleylocalhistory.org.uk/na/News.html

And yes I do work in a pub but its in Wolverhampton but I live in Bilston (and have worked in pubs here too) 

Willow x

[Trees]

Thanks Willow
Knew you'd come to the rescue its just amasing any of the publicans made a living there were so many in close proximity
cheers Trees

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Trees

Maybe thats why they all had second jobs lol. One of my relatives kept the Travellers Rest in Clearwell Gloucestershire for over 10 years but on the registry entries of his childrens marriages hes listed as a farmer

Willow x

[juliem27]

Hi Willow,

Many thanks for that.

An email has been sent to Sedgley Historical Society lol !

I hope they can help me.

I definetely have the " geneaology bug " lol as have been rather " obsessed " with it this week lol

Thanks again anyway.

Regards,

Julie

[Willow 4873]

No problem Julie glad to help

If you do make it over to Sedgley do try the Ruby ale - but let the other half drive! 

PS theres no cure for the geneology bug - your infected for life lol

Willow x