In the 19th century many beer houses opened in people's front rooms, where beer was usually dispensed from a jug. Most were never named, but some were, just like public houses. Several of the more successful establishments eventually became conventional pubs. Some of the named beer houses were as follows:

It was once the headquarters of the town's horse racing fraternity, and is shown here just before demolition.

The Red Cow was de-licensed, and sold at auction around 1928/29 by the brewery that stood just around the corner in Church street. It was bought by William Samuel Butler, a wonderful man who my mother says was always like a grandfather to her. I can remember seeing an old photo of him, an imposing chap, complete with suit & waistcoat, starched collar, tie, hat, full-hunter watch and guard, walking stick etc., not forgetting his handlebar moustache! A proper Victorian type of gent.

William Butler moved into the property, and employed my gran; Annie Spruce, nee Gibbs, as his house keeper. A short while later, my gran, granddad Thomas, and three children, Elizabeth, Thomas and Kathleen, all moved in with him. On the 15th of May 1930, Freda, my mother, was born at the property.

Following Mr. Butler’s death, the house was then owned outright by my gran & granddad, because Mr. Butler had left it to them in his will. A coal yard was then opened at the side, which operated for a number of years, before my grandfather sold out to Hodson`s coal merchants of Willenhall. My mother says that my gran nearly belted my granddad around the head with a frying pan when he told her what he had done, as she knew nothing about it! They also kept pigs and chickens in the yard of the property, and slaughtered them there as well. I can still remember the old brick-built pigsties as a young child.

The original building was eventually demolished in 1971/2, after the new house which stands there now, had been built at its side, and my Aunt Kathleen Sheldon, her husband and two children moved into it. It had been intended to renovate the old place, but it was found to be in too poor a state, hence its demolition.

The house finally went out of family ownership in 2003 following the death of my Aunt Kath. Around the time the new house was built, its number was changed by the Council from 17 to 37 Dale End, as a development of new low-rise flats was built to the side, and off Church Street.  

I have many fond memories of the ramshackle and sprawling old house/Red Cow, and indeed the one that stands there now. My favourite place was always the top attic, which had previously been my mother’s and Aunt Kath`s bedroom. My mother, Freda, still lives in the Darlaston Area, and is 79 soon. She is a real font of local knowledge, and we have many conversations about old Darlaston town and its long forgotten buildings and people.

Dave Bourne. May 2009

Another view of the Old Barrel with George Golcher stood in the doorway, wearing his straw hat. Courtesy of David Adams. The photograph was taken by David's father Alfred Adams.

The photo on the right, courtesy of David Adams, shows George Golcher and his straw hat.   The obituary on the left, also courtesy of David Adams, is dated 21st June, 1947.

George Golcher behind the bar at the Old Barrel. Courtesy of David Adams.

A trip from the Old Barrel to Wolverhampton. Courtesy of David Adams.

The Swan in Victoria Road.

A final view of The Swan taken in December 2010.
 

The Aladdin's Lamp in Wiley Avenue, built in 1962 to replace The Lamp in Foundry Street.

The Staffordshire Knot in Catherine's Cross.

The Royal Exchange also in Catherine's Cross, is better known as "The Widdows" or "Widders". It was built around 1870.

This photograph taken in December 2010 shows the empty pub up for sale. Hopefully a new buyer will soon be found so that it can reopen.

The Vine in Bell Street.

The Red Lion in Moxley Road.

The New Junction in Forge Road taken in May 2008 showing two "For Sale" signs.

The New Junction as it is today, back in business.

A group of regulars outside the rear of the New Junction pub in the 1920s. Courtesy of the late Bill Whitehouse. Back Row standing, left to right: Mr. King, ?, Joe Whitehouse, George Woolley, Dick Whitehouse,?,? Middle Row seated, left to right: Harry Lunn, Bill Whitehouse, ?, Tom Whitehouse, ? Front Row left to right: Tom Marney, Bill Holden, and Alf Bliss. Mrs. Morgan from Factory Street is looking through the window.

Casualties

The Boat, by the canal in Bentley Road South. The original Boat pub, built around 1818, stood on  the opposite side of the canal. The pub was demolished and rebuilt in about 1935, and refurbished  in 1995.

The Boat as it was in April 2007 after a mindless arson attack.

The Boat in December 2007 in an even worse state of dereliction.

Another view from December 2007.

A rear view, also from December 2007.

A view of the interior as it was in December 2007.

Another view of the interior.

A final view of the interior.

The Moxley Arms, High Street, Moxley in a very sorry state. The empty building has been the victim of several arson attacks. It is seen as it was at the beginning of March 2008, two months before demolition.

Another view of the last days of the Moxley Arms.

The Victoria Inn in Walsall Road, just before demolition.

Christmas celebrations at the Victoria Inn in the mid 1960s. George Smith is playing Father    Christmas. Courtesy of George's daughter, Irene Bishop.

Herberts Park Tavern in Forge Road.

Herberts Park Tavern in 2010.

The Three Horse Shoes. From an old postcard.

The Old Castle Hotel in Pinfold Street, demolished for the building of St Lawrence way.

The Railway Tavern in the mid 1990s.

An advert from 1975

I would like to thank Ian Baker, Paul Bridges, Doug Cherrington, the late Harry Flavell, Barry Rutter, and the late Bill Whitehouse for their help in compiling the list of pubs, Irene Bishop for the photo inside the Victoria Inn, Ian Beach for the photograph and information about Martin Perry Foster, Dave Wilkes for the photos and information about the Three Horse Shoes and the Red Cow, and last but not least Dave Bourne for his memories of the Red Cow.