Some history of the Star Music Hall at Darlaston in Staffordshire

Staffordshire | Darlaston | Star Music Hall

The Star Music Hall opened as a beer house and was located on the Walsall Road in the James Bridge and Fallings Heath area.

Dating from around 1930, this photograph shows the Star Music Hall when it was operated by Frederick Smith Limited of Aston. This hotbed of bizarre entertainment had earlier been owned by Ansell's Brewery Ltd. The licensee at the time of the photograph was Samuel Edginton who had been here for almost two decades. He remained until 1932 and was succeeded by Bill Slade who was still manager of Walsall Town F.C. He was in charge of the team that famously beat Arsenal in the F.A. Cup in January 1933.

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More information on the Star Music Hall at Darlaston to follow. I probably created the page as I had a link to the Star Music Hall from another page. When building the site it is easier to place links as they crop up rather than go back later on. I realise this is frustrating if you were specifically looking for information on the Star Music Hall. There is information on Darlaston and Staffordshire dotted around the website - click here for a suitable starting place.

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"On Tuesday morning Mr. A. A. Bethan [deputy coroner for South Staffordshire] opened an inquiry at the Star Music Hall, James Bridge, into the circumstances attending the death of Alfred Jones, 42, a gunlock filer, late of Sparrow's Forge Lane. Edwin John Husted, 21, and William Goldby, hawkers, of 24, Burrowes Street, Walsall, who on Tuesday were remanded before the Wednesbury Borough Bench on a charge of causing the death of Jones, were present in custody at the inquest, and watched the proceedings with interest. Mr. R. Peace, of Wednesbury, watched the Inquiry on behalf of Goldby. The Deputy Coroner at the outset intimated that he did not propose to go far into the evidence that day. Thomas Jones, gunlock maker, of 9, Sparrow's Forge Lane, Wednesbury, brother of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. Witness also spoke to being at the Fountain Inn on Saturday night, in company with the deceased [who joined them about 10.30] and witness's nephew, Richard Jones. They stayed till nearly turning-out time. None of them were drunk. Deceased was a bit jolly, but not too far gone. After leaving the Fountain witness and his companions met the two accused near the Fallings Heath Tavern. At this point the Deputy Coroner said he proposed to adjourn the inquiry. The doctor had made a post-mortem examination of the body, and, if the jury wished, they could hear his evidence now. The jury decided to hear the doctor's evidence at the adjourned inquiry. Mr. Peace, on behalf of Goldby, here raised the question of bail, mentioning that bail had been refused by the magistrates, and urging that no man ought to be kept in prison unless there were some reasonable grounds for doing so, such as the bad character of an accused person, shocking circumstances attending a case. Detective-Officer Green [who represented Superintendent Salt] replied that the question of bail could not be gone into by that Court. The officer also explained that Sergeant Williams, who had the charge of the case, was engaged at Stafford Quarter Sessions, and Superintendent Salt was unable to be present on account of domestic bereavement. The Deputy Coroner said the question of bail could not be considered by him till he had heard the evidence, and he did not propose to go into that now. If the magistrates on Friday granted bail he did not think he [the deputy coroner] should object. A crowd assembled outside the place of inquest to watch the removal of the accused."
"Opening Of The Inquest"
Walsall Observer & South Staffordshire Chronicle
October 24th 1896 Page 3