~ Pubs ~
The Leopard
The Leopard, 127 [16] Dudley Road adjoining Clarence Street, just over the Upper Gornal bounds, this old pub dated back to the 1830s.
Theophilus Tinsley, a Sedgley Gentleman nail merchant bought the copyhold plot in 1809, he subsequently built a large warehouse and three houses at 13, 14, 15 Dudley Road and the Leopard at No.16.
On this plot, along Valley Road, he also built a row of houses with nail shops at the rear.
In 1839, his son Thomas married Eliza Butler, daughter of a brewer, Thomas also built up a nail factoring business with his brother Theophilus jnr. the partnership was dissolved in 1845, they were described as 'nail ironmongers'.
Around 1851, the Tinsleys moved to a new house 'The Limes', a short distance along the Dudley Road and the Leopard ownership changed.
Thomas died in June 1851, shortly after their move, but his wife Eliza continued expanding the business to become a wealthy Iron Mistress in the iron trade, she died in 1882.
The Eliza Tinsley Company is still manufacturing hardware today.
The Leopard Public House was marked on the first edition OS map of 1881 as ‘Leopard Inn & Sedgley Brewery’, the Brewery is thought to have been the enterprise of John Kimberley.
The old nail warehouse appears to have been demolished around the 1930s,
Sometime before 1960, The Leopard was re-numbered to 127 Dudley Road and the houses 13-15, to 125, 123, 121.
The old houses of 121, 123, 125 Dudley Road were demolished in the early 1960s, the Leopard car park being built over the remainder of the site sometime after 1963.
The Leopard and entire site was sold to developers, and the pub closed in 2015.
The local authority refused the new development plans which involved demolishing the Leopard as it was regarded as being of local historic and architectural interest.
However despite these objections, the development went ahead and the pub was demolished in the autumn of 2016.
New housing was quickly erected on the site.
1885: South Wales Echo, 16th March.
A BREWER HEAVILY FINED
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At Sedgley, this afternoon, John Kemberley, [Kimberley] brewer, was fined £100 and costs, and also ordered to forfeit a number of vessels, for having defrauded the Inland Revenue by allowing his workmen to put sugar in casks of beer in order to make it saleable as strong ale. It was stated that the defendant had been previously fined £300 for defrauding the Inland revenue. Defendant said the offence was committed without his knowledge.
1886: Denbighshire Free Press, 6th March.
JOHN KIMBERLEY, a brewer near Wolverhampton, has been fined £5 for an offence against the Inland Revenue. He made an entry of his intention to use seven quarters and four bushels at his next brewing, whereas the actual quantity used was nine quarters three bushels odd.
1860, Wolverhampton Chronicle, March 28.
SALE TO-MORROW.
THE "LEOPARD INN," UPPER GORNAL, SEDGLEY.
MR JOHN CASSERE will SELL by AUCTION,
upon the premises as above on Thursday next, March 29th, 1860, the whole of the STOCK-IN-TRADE, BREWING PLANT, FIXTURES, LICENSES and POSSESSION, furnaces, cooling vats, nearly new; lead piping, brass taps, 14 strike mash tub, several capital ale casks, perfectly sweet; four-pull ale machine, complete; ale, wines, and spirits, pocket of hops, 1859; very fine sow and pigs. Whitechapel trap; also part of the HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, two superior cottage pianofortes, 6½ octaves, by Nutting and Addison, and Allison and Allison; music stools, bookcase, chairs, tables, noble set of four-post bedsteads, two timepieces, stands, beds, blankets, and an immense number of other useful articles, all of which, will be sold without reserve, the proprietor having entered into other engagements.
Sale at twelve o'clock to a minute.
Auctioneer's Offices, No. 51 Snowhill, Wolverhampton.
The HOUSE to be LET, with immediate possession.
Licensees.
1833, Theophilus Tinsley, described as 'nail factor, grocer and victualler'.
1834, Theophilus Tinsley. [Whites Directory]
1842, William Lowe. [Pigots Directory]
1851, William Lowe, age 50, licensed victualler. [Census]
Wife Sarah, William was described in later census as a locksmith.
1860, Sold on.
1865, Benjamin Smith, Horse Dealer. [Jones Mercantile Directory]
1871, Zachariah Parkes, publican aged 70. [Census]
He died later that year.
1872, John Kimberley. [P.O. Directory]
1881, John Kimberley. [Census]
1891, John Kimberley, age 45, brewer. [Census]
1901, Daniel Rowley, publican age 49, his wife was Fanny. [Census]
1939, Lawrence Abbiss, age 40. [Register]
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