Old Blue Ball Public House

SANDWELL MB HALL END SO 9895 SE Wednesbury 11/87 No 19 (Old Blue Ball Public House)

II

Public house. Early to mid-C19. Rendered brick with slate roof. Two storeys. Two bays. On the ground floor are timber canted bay windows linked by a timber fascia. The first floor windows are sashed with glazing bars. Door between bays. Chimneys on gables in front of ridge. The pub is known locally as "Spittle's" because of its former landlord Jonah Spittle (1765 - 1844) who organised cock fights on adjacent land and was one of the subjects of the well-known broadside ballad "Wedgebury Cocking":

"At Wedgebury there was a cocking, A match between Newton and Scroggins, The colliers and nailors left work And to Old Spittle's went jogging. To see this noble sport, Many noble men resorted, And though they'd little money, With that they freely sported ....."

"The cock pit was near to the church, an ornament unto the town. On one side was an old coal pit, The other well gors'd around ....."

(Raven, J: The Urban and Industrial Songs of the Black Country and Birmingham, 1977, pp 110 - 115).

Listing NGR: SO9859895462