BEERWOLF - Wolverhampton Campaign for Real Ale

Almost opposite was Lichfi eld passage which
prior to around 1860 saw Lichfi eld Street exit
into Horsefair (Wulfruna Street) and on the
east corner of which we would have come to
a small unnamed beerhouse dating back to
1854. In 1851 it is shown as a grocer’s shop
which at the time clearly only sold to the
off trade. Owned in 1871 by Joseph Potts he
would remain its owner until it closed on 28th
September 1876 and was demolished in 1883.
A few doors further on the east side of
Lichfi eld Passage we come to the Brown Bear
Inn dating back to 1802, in the ownership of
Thomas Hill who would remain its owner
until it was closed and demolished in 1883.
Running to the rear of the south side of
Lichfi eld Street was Wheelers Fold which ran
from Little Berry Street into Lichfi eld Street.
Entering from Little Berry Street on the north
side we go past the Billiard Hall to the Pig &
Whistle dating back to 1818.
Apparently for some reason it was also
known as the Angel & Trumpet. Owned by
Frances Child and being run by William
Duffi ll, this small pub was pretty run down
and it closed its doors for the last time in
1879. It kept its licence until 28 September
1882 when it gave it up and the pub would be
demolished in 1883.
The Pig and Whistle
Wheelers Fold
Next door was the Little Swan dating back
to 1830 when it was called the Royal Balloon
which changed in 1841 to the Balloon Inn a
name it kept until at least 1861. Why it should
change its name to the Little Swan when there
was already a pub of this name in Horseley
Fields I don’t know. In the ownership of John
Hemingsley and being run by Harriet Groom
it would call time for the fi nal time in 1883.
All the buildings on both sides of Lichfi eld
Street and the north side of Wheelers Fold
were demolished by 1889.
Jim Laws, Pub Preservation Offi cer
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