“Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
William Blake
THOMAS FULFORD (1817- 1882)
Licensee : THE BARTONS ARMS (1860 -1882 )
Photograph Jane Fulford August 2023
Courtesy: Flickr
PARENTS:
Father: John Fullford (Brewer/Publican)
Mother: Ann
BORN: 18th June 1817, Legge St, Birmingham
BAPTISED: 14th August 1817, St Phillips
Courtesy: FamilySearch
SIBLINGS:
- Joseph (1812-1868) Born: 20 September 1812. Baptism: 28 December 1812, St Phillips. Brewer: Minerva Brewery. Publican: Minerva Vaults.
- Mary Ann (1814-) Born: 8th May 1814. Baptism: 29th August 1814, St Phillips, Residence: Legge St.
- John (1816-) Born: 6th February 1816. Baptism: 27th August 1816. Residence: Legge St, Brewer: Trinity Rd, The Bulls Head: Publican.
- Thomas (1817-1882) Born: 18th June 1817 Baptism: 14 August 1817, Legge St. Publican: Beer Hse, 1 Barr St, The Bartons Arms.
- Henry (1818-) Born: 21st September 1818. Baptism: 11th January 1819. Residence: Dale End. Publican: The Vine Inn, Summer Lane.
- Edwin (1820-) Born: 11th June 1820. Canal St. Baptism: 3rd July 1820. Publican: Beer Hse, Blews St, The Globe Public House.
- Harriet (1822-) Born: 25th July 1822. Residence: Canal St.
- James (0) (1823-1824) Born: 24th November 1823. Baptism: 16th December 1823. Residence: Canal St. Buried: 8th November 1824. St Mary.
- William (1825- ) Born: 25th May1825 Canal St, Baptism: 23rd January 1826. St Phillips.
- Louisa (1826-1827) Born: 8th November 1826. Baptism: 6th July 1827. St Phillips. Residence: Canal St. Buried: 2nd November 1827, St Mary’s.
- Ann (1828-1831) Born 13th July 1828. Died: 1831 at 3 years, Residence: Canal st. Buried 23rd September 1831
- Elizabeth (1830-1831) Born: 27th February 1830 Residence: Canal st. Baptism: St Phillips
- Emily (1832-1833) Baptism: 11th September 1832, St Phillips. Residence Canal St, Died 1833. Father listed as Victualler.
MARRIAGE: Emma Fulford nee ‘Jenkins’ (1821-1870) Emma died aged 40 years.
CHILDREN:
1. Roger (1840-1844) On the 1841 Census record but died at four years of age.
2. Emily (1842-1882) Died aged forty years.
3. Ann (1843-1880) Died aged thirty-six years.
4. Thomas (1845-1900) Died aged fifty-four years.
Thomas (1845-1900) Death Certificate
OCCUPATION:
Census: 1841/1851: Thomas Fulford (1817) Brewer: Beer House, 1 Barr st
BEER HOUSE, 1 Barr St.
Diagonally opposite on opposing corners to brother Joseph Fulford (1812) at the Minerva Vaults, still showing signage of the pub renamed, The Hampton and across the road from 1 Barr st, Beer House.
Courtesy: google maps
THE MINERVA VAULTS later THE HAMPTON
Courtesy: Birmingham History Forum (BHF)
THOMAS FULFORD (1817- 1882)
Licensee: THE BARTONS ARMS (1860 -1882) Walsall Rd, Aston Manor, Aston.
The Bartons Arms is a Grade ll listed building and viewed as one of the top ten examples of Victorian public house architecture in England. The pub has extensive cellars to cool the beer barrels and a four sided clock tower modeled on the tower at Aston Hall. The original pub was reported to have an underground tunnel running to and from Aston Hall nearby.
In 1890/1 the current Bartons Arms was rebuilt by renowned architects James and Lister Lea, who also designed the magnificent Aston Hippodrome opposite. The public house is famous for the finest examples of Minton tiles, stained glass windows, an ornate sweeping staircase, snob screens and smoke rooms, which historically offered middle class drinkers privacy and separation from the working classes. Midlandspubs.co.uk provides an extensive history of The Bartons Arms.
Photograph Jane Fulford August 2023
Photograph Jane Fulford August 2023
Photograph Jane Fulford August 2023
Snob screens Photograph Jane Fulford August 2023
‘Smoke Rooms’ Photograph Jane Fulford August 2023
Courtesy: midlandpubs.Uk
Liscensees of the Barton Arms
Courtesy:midlands pubs.co.uk
WILLIAM ASTON
William Aston was recorded on the 1841 Census as a Retail Brewer based at the original Bartons Arms which had areas dedicated to brewing and producing ale on its ground floors.
Courtesy: midlands pubs.co.uk
THOMAS FULFORD (1817-1882)
Thomas Fulford (1817) took over the License at the Barton Arms in 1860 for twenty two years until his death at the pub in 1882.
Courtesy: midlands pubs.co.uk
Courtesy: midlands pubs.co.uk
GEORGE JAMES FULFORD (1849):
George James Fulford (1849), Thomas Fulford’s nephew and son of brewing brother John Fulford (1816), took over from his uncle after his death in 1884 for another sixteen years until Arthur Wade Edge in 1900. Thomas (1817) and nephew George (1849) accumulating collectively, 38 years of Fulford’s at The Bartons Arms public house.
George James Fulford (1849) was previously at The White Swan, 74 Victoria Rd in 1881 with older brother John Fulford (1847) who was also at The White Swan with his family in 1891. For details see John Fulford (1816).
Referring to George Fulford (1849) during his time at The Barton’s Arms, midlandspubs.co.uk write;
“However, although he held the licence it would seem that he installed managers to run the house whilst he concentrated on producing the ales sold over the counter”.
MITCHELLS AND BUTLERS
M&B (Mitchells and Butlers) acquired the freehold of the Bartons Arms on June 2nd, 1899. The Cape Hill Brewery paid F. S. Poole the sum of £13,292 for the property, the equivalent value of £1,719,264.86 today. Reference: midlands pubs.co.uk
DEATH: Thomas Fulford (1817- 1882) Licensed Victualler died 13th April 1882, aged 65 years at The Barton Arms.
WILL: Thomas Fulford (1817) Will was proved by older brother John Fulford (1816), Birmingham Maltster of The Bull Inn, 1 Price Street, younger brother Henry Fulford (1818) Brewers Traveller and Publican of The Vine Inn and nephew George James Fulford (Maltster’s Manager).
NOTABLE EVENTS:
A UNIQUE CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
A ‘SCRAPE’ WITH THE LAW
Below: Erdington Daily Post January 2nd 1864 page 4.
Courtesy: midlands pubs.co.uk
During his court attendance …..
LAUREL AND HARDY
The Bartons Arms is a grand historical landmark in Birmingham. Laurel and Hardy stayed at the Barton Arms and ‘pulled pints’ whilst performing across the road at the Aston Hippodrome during their 1954 final tour of the United Kingdom.
Courtesy: midlands pubs.co.uk
FAME AND NOTORIETY
Numerous famous people have allegedly lodged and drank at the Barton Arms, including; Charlie Chaplin, Enrico Caruso, Marie Lloyd and Ozzie Osborne who frequented the pub regularly during the days of his rock band Black Sabbath.
Courtesy: BHF
The Bartons Arms was also used as a set for the film Felicia’s Journey made by Atom Egoyan, a Canadian film director in 1999. The pub also features in the novel ‘ The Last Viking: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Heist’ and is where the gangsters meet to plan the robbery. Ref: Elliot Brown.
The Barton Arms was surrounded by lost but not forgotten landmarks, such as The Aston Hippodrome and The Globe Electric Palace Cinema (1913-1955).
The Barton Arms
Courtesy: A. J Marriot
The Aston Hippodrome
Courtesy: midlands pubs.com/Birmingham Mail
The Aston Hippodrome opposite The Bartons Arms
Courtesy: Pinterest; Pedro
Courtesy: A. J Marriot
The Aston Hippodrome
Courtesy: A. J Marriot
The Globe Electric Palace Cinema
Courtesy: uncletomstales.com
BARTONS ARMS INN NAME
The naming of The Bartons Arms has been the cause of some discussion. There are reports that the pub and the nearby ‘Bartons Bank’ were sited on an area of land called ‘Bartons Wood’’, so named after the resident farmer. A different suggestion alludes to a ‘Richard Barton’, steward of James Watt Jr., (a resident at Aston Hall), who was rewarded for good service by having the pub named after him. Reference: midlands pubs.co.uk.
Courtesy:Birmingham History Forum (BHF)
TIGERLILY
In March 2006, ‘TigerLily’, GreatGreatGranddaughter of Elizabeth Ann Fulford (1848-1888) who was sister of William Henry Fulford (1844-1909), and Samuel Fulford (1851-1920) (my Great Grandfather) requests information from the Birmingham History Forum (BHF). For details see ‘Name Origin’.
TYGER
In 2008 entries by ‘Tyger’ on BHF, raises the possibility that TigerLily is the same enquirer. If this is the case, ‘Tyger’ provides another possible connection to the Fulford’s at the Bartons Arms.
Tyger ? tells tales of how her Great Grandfather, a wealthy jeweler, would ride his horse intoxicated from The Bartons Arms to his home in Brearley St. Charles P. Barton (1829) became renowned for frequently falling off his horse and paying police in sovereigns to rescue him. This happened so regularly that he gained notoriety which resulted in his name, ‘Barton’ being used for the naming of the Bartons Arms.
If ‘TigerLily’ writing in 2006 is ‘Tyger’, writing in 2008, then it is possible that Charles Barton may be related to the Fulford Brewers at least by marriage. Elizabeth Ann Fulford (1848-1888) married Thomas Trow (1850-1923) and one of their five daughters could have married Charles Barton, potentially making Tyger his Great-Granddaughter.
Furthemore, Thomas Fulford (1817) was the licensee at the Bartons Arms from 1860 to 1882 and then after his death the license transferred to nephew George Fulford (1849) in 1884. It is highly likely that Charles Barton (1829) was frequenting the Bartons Arms during that time period.
According to the BHF, Charles Barton was living at 71 (back of) Brearley St, West in 1876 and 1880.
JOHN FULFORD (1813) AND MARY ANN: THE SPRING HILL TAVERN
Listed at 76 Brearley St West was John Fulford (1813) married to Mary A Fulford (1816), with children; Hannah (1836), Charles (1841), William (1843), John (1848) and James (1851) Reference: Rootspoint.
Is this the same John Fulford (1813) and Mary Ann (1816) below at The Springhill Tavern ?
The England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 reports the death and Will of John Fulford ‘Publican’ on 23rd October 1868 at Springhill Tavern, Heath Street, granted to Mary Ann Fulford (widow) also at Springhill Tavern. Effects under £300.
JOHN FULFORD (1819-1877): THE LEOPARD INN AND BROTHER WILLIAM FULFORD (1825): THE WITTON ARMS
To complicate matters further, yet another John Fulford (1819-1877), Publican held the licensee of The Leopard Inn, 142 Brearley St as listed in Kelly’s directory 1867.
John Fulford (1819-1877) had a brother William Fulford (1825-1874) who is also a Publican at The Witton Arms. John Fulford (1819) is shown as having a Thomas Fulford as father. This indicates that William Fulford (1825) of The Witton Arms public house is not the William Fulford (1825), son of John Fulford (1785) and Ann as previously thought.
THOMAS FULFORD (1783)
These brothers are likely sons of Thomas Fulford (1783) who is brother of John Fulford (1786). See John Fulford (1819) Leopard Inn for details.
TIGERLILY: 2009
In 2009 ‘Tigerlily’ writing on the Wiganworld.co.uk forum states that all her, “paternal family ran pubs”.
TigerLily states that her, “3x Gt Grandfather Peter Lee was the landlord of the Eagle and Child in Upholland in the 1840,s”
An unproductive search recovered no history or photographs of the Eagle and Child in Upholland but the Wigan directory of 1881, Commercial listings, record Ann Barton at the Eagle and Child and a separate entry of Thomas Barton, Beer Retailer!
OLD ENGINE AT ORRELL
Demolished in 2011
Courtesy:Wiganworld.co.Uk Photo: Rev David Long
CENSUS RECORDS:
1841 Census:
Residence: 1 Barr st
John Fulford (1816) (25), ‘Traveller’, with wife Mary (25),
‘Thos’ Fulford (23), ‘Traveller’, Emma Fulford (20), Roger Fulford (1)
Jane? Middleton? (18) F.S. Family Servant
The 1841 Census shows two brothers alongside each other on Barr street. John Fulford (1816) with wife Mary and Thomas Fulford (1817) with wife Emma and their one year old son Roger Fulford (1840-1844) who died aged four years.
All three brothers (Joseph (1812) John (1816 and Thomas (1817) alongside and opposite each other in 1841 ! Joseph Fulford (1812-1868) at the Minerva Vaults 17 Hampton Row with the Minerva Brewery around the corner on Mott Street.
Courtesy: Family Search
Rootspoint provides evidence of Thomas Fulford (1817), Emma and Richard living at Residence 1281 with brother John 1816 ‘Traveller’ and Mary living alongside at Residence 1283, Barr street.
1851 Census:
Beerhouse 1 Barr st
Thomas Fulford (1818), 33 ‘Brewer/Labourer’, Emma wife (1821) 30, Emily (1842) 9, Ann (1844) 7, Thomas (1846) 5.
- Caroline Whittington, 23 (sister?)
1861 Census:
Residence: The Bartons Arms . Walsall Rd, Aston Manor, Aston
Thomas (1817) 43, ‘Victualler’ Emma (1821) 40, Thomas (1846) 15, Emily (1842) 10, Ann (1844)
1871 Census:
Residence; Walsall Rd (The Barton Arms)
Thomas (1817) Widowed, ‘Licensed Victualler’ (53), Emily (29), Ann (27), Thomas (25)
- Alfred Rowney ‘Assistant in Brewing’
- Sophie Southall ‘Servant’
Courtesy: Family Search
According to midlands pubs.co.uk, Emma Fulford (1821) wife of Thomas Fulford (1817) had died in April 1870 after a long illness.
1871 Census:
Of note there is another extremely similar Thomas Fulford b @1818, Widowed. Occupation: ‘Victualler’. Event place: Handsworth, Staffordshire.
Living with Selina E. Whittington (sister in law)
Were there two Thomas Fulford, Victualler’s or is this the same Thomas living at both The Barton Arms and with his sister-in law?
Courtesy: Family Search
1881 Census:
Residence: The Barton Arms
Thomas (1817) 63, Emily 39 daughter, Thomas son 35.
Courtesy: Family Search
1891 Census
Eliza Fulford nee Chatwin Widow of Henry Fulford (1818) ‘Living on own means’
Lorenzo ‘stepson’ ‘ Brewers Traveller’
Thomas Fulford, Nephew Living on own means’