Comments & Correspondence

"Mad keen family history buff here - and was very interested to note some relatives were involved in the "Anchor Inn", Horseley Fields, Wolverhampton between around 1891 (Census) and 1905 (Probate for Mary Ann Newell)..."

Timna Green
Brisbane, Qld. Australia
June 2015

"I just wanted to say thank you for your invaluable guide to the history of the Black Country Pubs and their Licensees. I have been tracing my family tree and it has helped to fill some of the gaps and bring a few of my ancestors alive especially the Astons of Brades Village and the Millers of West Bromwich. I shall be starting on the Netherton branch of the family next who knows I may even find a connection to Ma Pardoe!"

Dawn Adams nee Aston
June 2015

"I really enjoy your Black Country Pubs and through reading it have made some discoveries about my family."

Dorothy Turley
February 2015

"Only came across your web site a few days ago whilst searching for a different pub having only an address and publican in West Bromwich, as taken from a census return – found it in no time at all, the Prince Albert at 79 Moor Street. Family history searches had me following the ‘servant girl’ aged 14 at the pub namely “Carry Harvey” – full name Caroline Ann Harvey. It’s a brilliant piece of work as I seem to have a lot of Black Country publicans popping up in my family tree."

Roy Hayward
February 2015

"I think your work is fantastic and amazing. Love looking at all the pubs and how old a lot of them are or where they used to be. Your hard work is much appreciated."

Michelle Jones
February 2015

"Thought this may be of interest to you...... (Bridget Durkin, my great gran.)
District News-Dudley Aug.11th 1888 (Birmingham Daily Post)
VIOLENT ASSAULT WITH A PINT CUP
Bridget Durkin (32) Chapel Street, a well known hawker, was charged with cutting and wounding Thomas Henry, the manager of the Three Horse Shoes Inn, Stafford Street- There was a quarrel in the house between a gipsy and a woman, and Durkin interfered. The latter took up the pint cup and knocked the gipsy over, cutting him with it. The manager Henry, then tried to save the man, and Durkin cut his cheek open with the remains of the cup.-Defendant pleaded mis-adventure, and said she had apologised to the complainant. The Bench said she was well known as a violent woman, and she would have to go to gaol for a month.
Would just like to add, your site is absolutely 'bostin'."

Jackie
August 2014

"Congratulations on your excellent work - a fascinating subject and very well researched."

Catherine Sommer
August 2014

"Excellent site. I have searched sporadically over the years for the Great Western Inn in Chapel St and the Duke of Wellington in Church St. and now I have found the Duke William in Hill St. Upper Gornal. Members of the Carter family were licensees - Joseph and Elizabeth and then William Henry and Sarah Ann. To find all these in the one place is fantastic!!
Only problem is I don't know where Upper Gornal is! I would love to look up the information you have on the Duke William. Am hoping if you point me in the right direction to the Duke William in Upper Gornal there might be an image.
Thanks for all your hard work in compiling the information and then for making it accessible to all."

Val Leskovar (Australia)
July 2014

"Firstly, may I state how interesting I find your webpages regarding Black Country pubs and I should like to thank you for your generosity in making them freely available online.
I think I may have come across a pub not listed in your West Bromwich section.
It was called the Royal Oak and apparently stood on the junction of High Street and Dartmouth Street. It is mentioned in a 1858 conveyance and again in another one in 1863."

Dave Timms
July 2014

"May I first congratulate you on a brilliant piece of work, quite exceptional if you don't mind me saying.
What brought us onto your site was my maternal GG Grandfather, Thomas Emery who was licensee of The Fox Inn, Stafford Street, Walsall for a short time, he died about a year after taking over. Up until yesterday I had never seen any written evidence that he was the licensee although I knew he was from birth certificates of his children etc and family rumour. The other thing I didn't know was that my GG Grandma', Emma Emery (nee Chambers) Tom's wife, took over after his death for a short time."

John Griffiths
June 2014

"Thanks to your site i've put an old family tale to rest regarding my nans grandparents George & Lizzie running the afore mentioned pub. There are 3 different Northall's running the original pub, which may well have been related to George & Lizzie."

Jay
Re: Old White Horse - Newbury Lane
June 2014

"I was really delighted to come across your meticulously researched and comprehensive guide to the history of Black Country Pubs.
I am a descendant of the Cole family who were connected with a number of Dudley pubs in the 19th century. Stephen Cole (Miners' Arms) was my great-great grandfather. I am going to thoroughly enjoy working through all the material you have managed to gather together."

E Scott
June 2014

"A real pleasure to come across the website Hitchmough’s Black Country Pubs – a fantastic resource for Brierley Hill historians. What’s more it is offering free downloads of all the information he has gathered over the years."

Tim Sunter
Brierley Hill Blog
June 2014

"We were really pleased with the CDs. They are easy to use and have a great deal of information on them for the various pubs, and will be useful resource for the group."

Alison Agnew
Midlands & Northern England Interest Group of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists
February 2012