King William Pub in Pensnett Road
The King William IV was opened during the reign of that monarch. From directory entries it is known that Sarah SHARE nee WHITEHOUSE was the victualler of the pub at 8 Pensnett Road between 1850 - 1861 although at that time it was known as The King's Head. In 1841 her first husband Samuel is listed as a coal miner but it was not uncommon for a small family house to be run as a pub by the wife while the husband pursued a different occupation. The couple probably set a bar up in their home between 1830 and 1837. Samuel died in the first quarter of 1849 and Sarah continued to run the establishment alone. The Post Office Directory of Birmingham, Staffordshire & Worcestershire 1850 has “King's Head Mrs S. SHARE Holly Hall Dudley”. Similarly Slater's Directory for 1851 has “King's Head Sarah SHARE Holly Hall”. A Samuel SHARE is listed in the same PO Directory and Sarah SHARE in the Slater's directory as shopkeeper. These are thought to be Samuel and his wife Sarah nee WALL who lived next to the pub.
In 1851 Daniel BAKER, a constable, was lodging at the pub. Sarah and Daniel married in 1853 and Daniel was listed as the publican at 6 Bug Hole on the 1861 census. Sarah died in 1867
After Sarah and Daniel the next record so far found is an entry in the PO Directory for 1876 which has “SHARE Samuel King's Head Holly Hall.” This is thought to be Sarah's nephew Samuel son of Joseph SHARE and Nancy. Sarah’s son Samuel had died in the first quarter of 1871, his wife Sarah nee WALL was still listed as a shop keeper in the Post Office Directory of 1876. Samuel moved to the Old Coach and Horses and his son Joseph SHARE was managing the King William in 1881 but in 1891 Joseph was a bar man in his father’s pub. In 1891 a Joshuah MANTLE was keeping the King William, 8 Pensnett Road, no family connection with him has been found.
The Old Coach and Horses was in Stourbridge Road, Woodside, the “ Old” in its title was added to distinguish it from another Coach and Horses, also located on the Stourbridge Road. Samuel SHARE was the publican from 1881. He is also listed there in both Kelly’s Directories for 1892 and 1896. The original pub was gutted by a fire and demolished. The existing pub was a replacement building which opened in 1965.
In Kelly's Directory of Worcestershire 1896 a Joseph SHARE is at the Seven Stars Public House, 20-21 Market Place. This may well be the same Joseph as no other has been found on the censuses for 1891 and 1901. Joseph died in 1898.
