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Latitude: 52.557 / 52°33'25"N
Longitude: -2.0221 / 2°1'19"W
OS Eastings: 398598
OS Northings: 295462
OS Grid: SO985954
Mapcode National: GBR 24D.H8
Mapcode Global: WHBG0.XZ8M
Plus Code: 9C4VHX4H+Q5
Entry Name: Old Blue Ball Public House
Listing Date: 29 October 1979
Last Amended: 29 September 1987
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1077110
English Heritage Legacy ID: 219299
ID on this website: 101077110
Location: Church Hill, Sandwell, West Midlands, WS10
County: Sandwell
Electoral Ward/Division: Wednesbury North
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: Wednesbury
Traditional County: Staffordshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): West Midlands
Church of England Parish: Wednesbury St Bartholomew
Church of England Diocese: Lichfield
Tagged with: Pub
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
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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