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The Black Country Flag

~ Pubs ~

Bell ~ Bricklayers Arms, Kent St. ~ Bricklayers Arms, Straits ~ Bull & Butcher ~ Cottage Spring ~ Cross Keys ~ Duke William
Fiddlers Arms ~ Glynne Arms ~ Hop and Barleycorn ~ Horse & Jockey ~ Horseshoe ~ Leopard ~ Limerick ~ Limerick, Kent St.
Lion ~ New Inn ~ Pear Tree ~ Queens Head ~ Royal Exchange ~ Spriggers Arms ~ Swan ~ White Chimneys ~ White Lion

Bulls Head ~ Cottage of Content ~ Crown ~ Durham Ox ~ Five Ways ~ Good Intent
Green Dragon ~ Junction ~ Shakespeare ~ Straits House ~ Waggon & Horses

Black Bear ~ Britannia ~ Bush ~ Five Ways, Himley Road. ~ Forge ~ Fountain ~ Jolly Crispin
Meadow Lark ~ Miners Arms ~ Old Bulls Head ~ Old Mill ~ Red Cow ~ Red Lion ~ Spills Meadow ~ Woodman

The Black Bear - The Horse and Jockey

The Black Bear, looking from Deepdale Lane

Photo 2021

The Black Bear, 86 (37) Deepdale Lane, Lower Gornal

The pub dates to the mid-nineteenth century, the name was changed from The Horse and Jockey to The Black Bear in the 1980s.

There was also the Horse and Jockey pub in Upper Gornal.

Currently appears to be closed (2022).

Looking from Grosvenor Road, photo 2014.

1908: The Mercury, Friday July 3rd.

ALLEDGED WOUNDING WITH A KNIFE

Thomas Price (31), miner, was indicted for unlawfully wounding William Henry Beardsmore with a knife at Lower Gornal, on May 4th, -Mr.Cotes Preedy prosecuting, and Mr. H.J. Lawrence defended. -It appeared that the men were in the Horse and Jockey Inn, Lower Gornal, and that there was a dispute between prosecutor and a man named Bennett with regard to some pigeons. Prisoner interfered in the dispute, and it was alleged that he challenged the prosecutor out to fight. The Landlord put a stop to the dispute in the public house by ordering the men out of the inn, and the men went into a field, where they exchanged blows. Prisoner and prosecutor fell on the ground, and in the scuffle that took place, it was asserted that the prisoner pulled out a knife and wounded the prosecutor on the head with it. The defence was that the knife was used in self-defence, prisoner alleging that the prosecutor threatened to kill him, and that the wounds received by the prosecutor were due to an accident.-The jury acquitted the prisoner.

Licensees:

1835, John Marsh. [Pigots Directory]
1842, Zachariah Guest. [Pigots Directory]
1850, Zachariah Guest. [P.O. Directory]
1861, Zachariah Guest. [Harrod's Directory]
1865, Zachariah Guest. [Jones Mercantile Directory]
1881, David Collins. [Census]
1885, David Collins.
1891, Richard Bate, licensed victualler, age 38. [Census]
1896, Richard Bate. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1904, Alfred Ernest Woodward. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1907, Edwin Holden.

Edwin's son Edwin Alfred Holden (Teddy) was born there and later went on to form Holdens Brewery in Woodsetton, Coseley, Teddy later purchased the Old Mill, Ruiton in 1945 and the Miners Arms (Chapel House), Lower Gornal in 1949 for Holdens Brewery.

1912, John Chiltern. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1916-1921, Isaac Bradley. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1921, Isaac Bradley, age 46, inn keeper (employer T. Plant Co, Netherton), Leah Bradley is his wife [census]
1924-1936, Leah E. Bradley (Mrs). [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1940, Mrs L. E. Bradley [Leah Bradley]. [Kelly's Trade Directory]

Origin of the pub name 'Black Bear'

Although this is a recent name change, the 'Black Bear' is usually of heraldic origin, however it is more likely chosen to celebrate the 19th century portrayal of a dancing bear in Sedgley Bull Ring.

this aye fur noggin yeds