Museum opens brand-new 1960s pub

Black Country Living Museum has opened its recreation of Wolverhampton’s Elephant & Castle Pub, inviting visitors to step in for a drink from the 1950s.

Built in 1905, the Elephant & Castle Pub was once a grand Edwardian pub on the corner of Stafford Street and Cannock Road in Wolverhampton that was magnificent landmark for those coming into the city. In 1910, it became part of the Banks’s estate who were rapidly becoming one of the largest breweries in the Midlands.

Typical of its era, it had a public bar for the working class and a separate smoking room with slightly higher prices for the middle class. The Museum has chosen to set their recreation of the pub in 1960, allowing them to tell stories of a time-period which hasn’t yet been shared there.

The pub’s clientele was known to be diverse, with Wolverhampton becoming home to many thousands of Irish immigrants during the 19th century. After World War Two, both Irish and Commonwealth citizens from India, Pakistan and the Caribbean could be found enjoying a drink in the Elephant & Castle Pub.

The pub’s sad decline in later years was capped by its unexpected demolition in 2001 – shortly before it could be considered for listing.

To faithfully recreate the pub, the Museum has collected memories and objects from families who were previously linked to the iconic building, including stories from former residents and landlords.

They also engaged with local artists A Studio who skilfully recreated the iconic elephant statue, and heritage crafts company Craven Dunhill who recreated the beautiful decorative tiles that adorn the pub’s grand exterior.

The Museum is thrilled to be able to open the doors on this exciting period of history this summer. Visitors can experience life in the post-war era, trying a pint in the public bar and enjoying a bag of scratchings.

Our new development has been made possible thanks to our visitors, donors, Members and Patrons, and supporters including National Lottery Heritage Fund, Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Arts Council England, and West Midlands Combined Authority.