Samson And Lion Public House

The Samson and Lion Public House and attached dwelling was built between 1913 and 1915 by Arthur Edwards for Holders Brewery Ltd. It is constructed of red brick with buff terracotta detailing and black brick diapering, and has a clay tiled roof with coped gables and end and ridge stacks. The building occupies a corner site and has an L-shaped layout, comprising a symmetrical frontage range and an attached dwelling along Blakeland Street.

The front of three bays facing Yardley Green Road is symmetrical, with two full-height canted bays flanking a central entrance. Projecting, round-arched canopies with dentil ornament shelter both doorways. The ground floor bay windows have 1:3:1 lights with transoms, while the first-floor windows, similarly detailed, break through the eaves and terminate in plain parapets. All window and door surrounds are of terracotta. A circular clock is positioned above the central entrance, supported by iron brackets. The ridge features the bases of two former ventilators. The Blakeland Street facade extends at a right angle and has windows in various 1-, 2-, and 3-light arrangements, some with transoms.

The attached publican's dwelling has a separate entrance with a lintel bearing the date 1914. Two coped gables break the eaves line. The main range contains two front bars, a central servery, and a smoke room to the rear. The original bar back features shallow elliptical arches enclosing brown brick and mirrors. A partition between the two parts of the main bar has three etched glass panels. Fixed wall seating is also present. The smoke room has original fire surrounds and upper lights in its windows with stained glass depicting flags of First World War allies. A staircase has plain square and pierced rectangular balusters.

The public house exemplifies a shift in design emphasis during the early 20th century, moving away from lavish decoration towards greater restraint and simplicity.