Vintage pub celebrates 500 years

A pub thought to be one of the oldest in the Black Country is celebrating its 500th anniversary.

While the exact origins of Ye Olde Leathern Bottle in Wednesbury are unknown, landlord Derek Cooksey is getting the celebrations under way.

The Tudor frontage is a landmark in the town. It is believed the building may have been developed from a row of tiny nailers' cottages, before turning into a coach house and then into the pub - which would at one time would have had horses tied up outside while their owners drank inside.

Legend has it that notorious highwayman Dick Turpin called in to water his horse at the pub as he made his way from London to York in the early 18th century.

To reinforce the point, a silhouette of a man dangling from a rope is used to illustrate a sign asking people not to "hang about" in the tiny bar area.

All this year landlord Mr Cooksey, who has worked the bar for 13 years, is hosting a series of events to celebrate its milestone.

This bank holiday weekend there is a beer festival taking place, and Mr Cooksey says it is the first of many.

"It's a big deal. This pub is really a big part of local history," said the 53-year-old.

"It's an interesting building and I would like to know more about it.

"There is the Dick Turpin story, which is quite exciting."

The date 1510 is inscribed above the front door for all to see, and the rickety building boasts all the charm of the 16th century, but the finer details of its history have been unfortunately been lost through time.

Mr Cooksey lives next door to the pub and his youngest daughter, 21-year-old Samantha, works with him pouring the pints.

His 24-year-old daughter Clare helps out with the advertising

He added: "I think you would be hard pushed to find an older pub, it must be the oldest around here, certainly in Sandwell.

"It's great to think of it years ago when all the horses would have been tied up outside. It's very olde worlde."