A busy scene around the junction of Coventry Road and Cattell Road with the Greenway Arms on the corner. Richard Webb was both owner and publican at the time of this photograph. Succeeding Charles Evans as licensee in the early 1870's, he remained at the helm for over forty years. Following the pub's sale to Mitchell's and Butler's, Charles Walters took over the licence as manager for the Cape Hill Brewery. Born in Kidderminster around 1838, Richard Webb found work at the Salutation Inn on Snow Hill after he moved to Birmingham. Following his marriage, he and his wife Elizabeth kept the White Hart in Bagot Street before moving to the Greenway Arms. Elizabeth died at a young age so Richard's sister Jane took over the running of the household. Indeed, she more or less managed the pub which had a small army of staff, including three barmen, two billiards markers and a groom for the horses. Richard Webb diversified and by the turn of the 20th century he was documented as a wine merchant. He married again later in life and moved out to a large house in Solihull. His sister Jane remained in charge of the Greenway Arms. The pub closed in 1981 following a compulsory purchase order by the local authorities. The Greenway name did re-emerge for a period on the Wrexham public house a little further up the road.
© Copyright. Image supplied by Digital Photographic Images.

Many of the pubs in Birmingham and the Black Country operated by the Burton-based brewery of Peter Walker & Co.Ltd. were dubbed The Wrexham. Indeed, the building's name was often officially changed to such a name - the Small Heath Tavern is one such example. The reason for the nickname was that the company also operated a brewery in Wrexham and it was the popular lager produced there and sold in the Midlands that created the colloquial term. Peter Walker & Co. had a Birmingham office in Colmore Row. The Small Heath Tavern was located on the corner of a narrow thoroughfare called Bowling Green Terrace, suggesting that a bowling green once stood next to the building. The original Small Heath Inn was trading in the early 19th century. William Henry Bland was the publican in 1835. For many years during the mid-19th century, the Small Heath Inn was kept by Henry Jones. Elizabeth Wheildon was the owner-publican of the Small Heath Tavern in the early 1880's. She employed three servants, suggesting a busy hostelry. She later moved to Acock's Green. The licensee of the Small Heath Tavern at the time of this photograph was Isaac Benson.
© Copyright. Image supplied by Digital Photographic Images.

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History and Information on the Public Houses of Birmingham with Licensees and Newspaper Articles PLUS Genealogy Connections