The Pear Tree Inn, Gornal Wood, Sedgley, Black Country, West Midlands Pubs

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The Pear Tree Inn

The Pear Tree

Photo: Alan Winfield

The Pear Tree Inn, 73, [58] New Street, Gornal Wood, built c1867.

The pub closed around 1992 and was demolished shortly after, it was replaced by a small housing development on the site.

Pub checks have been around since the mid-19th century, these would be issued by landlords who ran a 'sick and draw' savings scheme in the days before Social Security.
The checks were payments for accrued interest on their savings and would only be redeemed by the licensee.
Most of the checks that are known to be issued by Gornal pubs date between 1900 and 1940, many examples exist for the Pear Tree Inn and are quiet common.

Shown right:- The earliest known check issued by the Pear Tree Inn.
In common with other areas these checks were in brass, about the size of a Penny in the old coinage which was about 1" (26mm) in diameter

Some of these early checks were minted in Birmingham by Vaughtons, 'Vaughtons Gothic Works', Livery Street in the Jewellery Quarter.

Isaac Jones was licensee 1893-1904.

Checks are known in values of 1/2d, 1d, 1 1/2d, 3d and 6d.

Eli Jones was licensee 1916-1936 he was the son of the previous landlord Isaac Jones who died in 1918.

3D (three pence) was about the price of a pint at this time.

John Robinson was licensee of the Pear Tree c1938, so this is one of the last known checks in the area.

Pub check images courtesy of David Stuart.

Pub checks are also known to have been issued by other pubs in Gornal, notably by the Limerick, Summit place.
Thomas Booth, the licensee of both The Red Lion in Abbey Road and The Crown, Ruiton during the 1930s also issued pub checks.

Bankruptcy notice in the London Gazette 1880.
John Greenaway was licensee 1877–1892.

1876: Wolverhampton Express and Star, 7 November.

BRUTAL ASSAULT BY BAILIFFS. -Edward Brookes and Edward Wise, bailiff., were charged with assaulting Job Flavell, miner, on the 3rd of October, under the following circumstances:-Some time ago a dispute arose as to the ownership of the Pear Tree Inn, Gornal Wood, but ultimately a colliery proprietor, named Greenaway, purchased it. The occupier of the house, Mrs. Turner, refused to leave it, and in order to make the house as uncomfortable as possible for Mrs. Turner and her family, Mr. Greenway's solicitor ordered the windows and grates to be taken away and the tops of the chimneys covered up, but notwithstanding all this exposure to weather, Mrs. Turner refused to leave the house, and as it wee feared that considerable damage would be done to the house, the defendants were placed in the house to protect the property. On the night in question complainant was passing the house, when defendants asked "what he wanted there," and after a short dispute defendants struck him and kicked him in a brutal manner; Wise also striking him heavily on the head with a pair of handcuffs.-Several witnesses corroborated the complainant's statement, and also stated that complainant was perfectly sober.-Mr. Gould, who appeared for the defence, contended that complainant was the aggressor, inasmuch as he kicked and threatened his clients before they took any action in the matter.-Job Flavell was then charged with assaulting Edward Brookes at the same time and place. Complainant said be found defendant doing something at the door of the Pear Tree Inn, and because he requested him to desist defendant kicked him on the legs.-Mr. Spooner: What right had you to interfere with defendant?-Complainant: He was interfering with the property.-Mr. Spooner: I think it would have been better if you had stopped in the house. Mr. Spooner ordered the latter case to be dismissed on payment of costs. In the first case there was a dispute over property, and the purchaser had thought it advisable to place defendants there to protect the property. He considered their conduct abominable, and he should fine Wise £2 and costs, or in default six weeks' imprisonment; and Brookes £1 and costs, or three weeks' imprisonment.

Advert c1967

Licensees:

1875, Mary Matilda Turner.
1876, sold.
1881, John Greenaway, age 35. [Census]
1883, John Greenaway.
1883, sold.
1896, Isaac Jones. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1901, Isaac Jones, age 51 with wife Matilda, among others was Eli Jones, son - brewer aged 20. [Census]
1911, Matilda Jones, age 54 widow, beerhouse keeper with son Eli, Brewer. [Census]
1916, Eli Jones.
1931, Eli Jones, licensed victualler.
1939, John W. Robinson, publican and licensed victualler.
1928-1940, Eli Jones. [Kelly's Trade Directory]

1876 Sale notice: County Advertiser, 06 May.

IMPORTANT SALE
OF
VALUABLE FREEHOLD AND COPYHOLD PROPERTIES,
Situate at LOWER GORNAL, in the Parish of Sedyley.

To be SOLD by AUCTION, by Mr. JOHN BENT, at the WHITE CHIMNEYS INN, LOWER GORNAL, on TUESDAY, MAY 9th, 1876, at Six o'clock in the Evening, subject to conditions to be then read:
Lot 1. All that well-established FREEHOLD PUBLIC-HOUSE and Premises, called the " PEAR TREE INN," situate in New-street, Lower GornaL The Premises comprise Front Grocer's Shop, Tap Room, Bar, Smoke Room, very large Club Room, Three good Cellars, Four large Chambers, Brewhouse, Store Room, formerly used as a Malthouse, Piggeries, and other Outbuildings, and are now in the occupation of Mrs. Sargent Turner. The Property is substantially built, and in a commanding situation for business.

A similar advert appeared again in a new sale notice in 1883 with very little difference to the wording, except that there was no mention of the 'grocers shop' and was now in the occupation of Mr. Greenaway.
Also included in the sale notice was several plots of adjoining building land with frontage to New Street.

this aye fur noggin yeds