The Midland Railway Hotel (to use its full title), was built circa 1884, with Robert Davis as landlord, and owner Sometimes recorded as Midland Railway Inn.
In August 1895, notice of application was lodged at the Brewster Sessions for a full seven day licence. The culture of drinking was changing and all pubs now had to be more than just drinking dens. Quite a few applied as hotels and many were built around this period.
John Northan Walton was the landlord 1897 after Brunt Bucknall Brewery Burton on Trent had supplied or purchased.
William Mockford was victular 1905, Ernest Stringer c1914, William Henry Brown Brunk Bucknell were taken over by Thomas Salts Brewery 1919 and in 1927 Bass Ratcliffe & Gretton.
Ernest James Long landlord 1925, Arthur Morrison 1928. Leonard Smith 1946.
She would tell her sons John, and his brother, never to drink the mild as Walter, the cellar man, would pour the slops back into it. This included Herbert Voss’ glass, containing remnants of his snuff. This practice wasn’t confined to the Midland: many pubs adopted the practice of back pouring into the mild as a dark drink it couldn’t be detected. Some claimed that it ‘enhanced the flavour.’
Edward Cave Landlord from 1955.
After Edward Cave, Derick Smith c1960, Other licensee from Joseph Regans list Thomas Kirkpatrick c1972, Geoffrey Sumerfield c1973, Alfred Coles c1975 , Dennis O’Leary 1976, Patrick Curry 1981, Keith Manning 1985, Micheal or Michall O’Connell, James McBarren 1990.
In later years the pub gained an unsavoury reputation which culminated in 2015 with the landlord losing his licence after a police raid. Landlord Barry Driver was arrested as the police found a loaded sawn off shotgun, together with a stun gun under the bar. The pub was shut down until a new licensee could be found.
Part of the ground floor had already been turned into flats in 2010 and the enforced closure represented the final death knell, when application was made for change of use into fourteen more flats.
A once thriving, bustling local slowly died a death – although the single story part of the building reopened, remaining as a bar and referred to as the Midi. It finally closed its doors in April 2019.
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There was a riot between somevtraveller families there after a funeral on the Saff
Any more info on that Bill, was the wake at the Midland and what year etc. thanks for your interest. Cheers
Thankyou for info. My mam ,Nellie Worley was housekeeper for mr.&mrs Cave .Mr. Ted Cave collapsed in the bath one morning and my mam gave resuscitation, she saw a demo at abbey park show ..mam and me both cleaned at Mid and i barworked In 70s. Den O’Learys and Tom Kirkpatricks tenancy. I remember everyone in photos and Evelyn was a friend of our family
Lydia, thanks for your input and interest, very informative, thanks again
Ooh if walls could talk.