18 C O N T E X T 1 2 8 : M A R C H 2 0 1 3 eritage of isure The heritage he heritage of leisure ge of leisure The heritage e heritage of leisure The he of leisure The heritage of heritage of leisure A great example is the Barton’s Arms, Newtown, Birmingham, a majestic Victorian extravaganza which looks more like a small town hall than a pub. Inside it is truly spectacular with its magnificent display of Minton Hollins tiling, decorative etched glass, a huge stained-glass window lighting the imposing staircase, and stained and leaded screens. Sadly this part of the city went from thriving industrial area to urban wasteland, leaving the Barton’s marooned at the side of a dual carriageway. As the last century drew on, it became progressively dilapidated, before closing its doors in 2000. Happily a small brewery, Oakham Ales, decided the pub was far too good to die, bought it, spruced it up and reopened it in 2003. The Barton’s now specialises in excellent Thai food and a wide range of real ales, sufficient additional attractions to persuade people to venture down the A34 to enjoy the place’s unique ambience. It continues to thrive. The Victoria, Great Harwood, Lancashire is another grand old pub which found itself in an unpromising position, hidden in the back streets of a run-down mill town. Dating from 1905, it has many art nouveau flourishes and most of the original multi-roomed layout. Again, the commercial imperative was to give the pub wider than just local appeal. Landlady Jean Baxter has done this by majoring on real ales, especially those from micro-breweries – attracting enthusiasts from far and wide to drink great beer in sumptuous surroundings. All the pubs mentioned so far date from before 1939. What about the conservation of post-war pubs? The reality is that pubs built in the 1950s and 1960s are not, in most people’s eyes, things of beauty. Design was generally utilitarian, and materials cheap and flimsy. Consequently, nearly all have had their interiors torn out at least once for replacement with something more contemporary. However, a tiny handful have stayed more or less intact and are, in our view, precious examples of a style now almost vanished but once a big part of many folks’ lives. And, of course, fashions do change. Many of these pubs were built on housing estates, attracting very local clienteles, and so even now are little known to most pub-goers. Only recently, for example, we discovered the Punchbowl on the Ronkswood Estate, Barton’s Arms, Birmingham, tiled interior (right) and tiled arch (below) (Photos: Michael Slaughter LRPS)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=