The buildings you can see in the photograph are no longer standing.

The site was cleared in 1937 and is now occupied by Vesey Gardens. Look closely and you will be able to see the Royal Oak Inn.

This pub was demolished in 1889 and replaced by a more impressive building. The new Royal Oak was owned by the Lichfield Brewery Company and called itself a hotel.

The Royal Oak sought to attract many of the visitors to Sutton and began to advertise in the Birrningham newspapers.

Quality

These declared that spirits 'of the very best quality' and cigars 'of the choicest brand' were available, and lunch, dinner or tea could be provided 'at the shortest notice.' With its mineral water from Church Stretton, it even catered for those who had converted to temperance.

A servant at the inn in 1893 was provided with accommodation, but earned only £13 a year.

The Royal Oak was open from early morning until late in the evening. Many of those who visited came not to drink spirits or mineral water, but pints of bitter and mild.

At this time men were permitted to bring their dogs into pubs and at times it must have seemed as if there were almost as many dogs as customers in the public bar. In summer 1891 a visitor from Perry Barr arrived at the Royal Oak with his little dog, Jerry. When Jerry disappeared, his owner offered a reward.

Though the Royal Oak presented itself as an upmarket establishment, there were occasional episodes of drunken behaviour. In August 1895 a woman entered the public bar 'in a very drunken state.'

A police constable was called to remove her. The magistrates were informed that she was 'an old offender' and she was sentenced to 14 days in prison with hard labour, Clubs often met in pubs. For example, March 1900, Sutton Coldfield Hockey Club held a smoking concert at the Royal Oak. Amongst the 50 men present was F Taylor, a member of the first team who had volunteered to serve in the war in South Africa. The Royal Oak even formed its own football club in 1913.

The players of Eversleigh FC were aged 17-18 and arranged matches through the newspapers.

Glimpses into Sutton's Past Parts I-III by Stephen Roberts can be ordered from Amazon, priced £4.99-£5.49.

Associate Professor
Stephen Roberts