Plan submitted to turn The Plough into flats. What do you think?

The Plough

The owners of the locally listed Plough, Church Street, Brierley Hill have submitted a planning application to convert the nearly derelict building into four flats.

The building’s owners, Danbury Associates Ltd, Co Fermanagh, Ireland, submitted the application on 23rd May and it was registered on 13th June. The Planning Application Reference is P14/0789 and you can view it by clicking the link.

From a heritage point of view the plan would see the building renovated with its historic frontage remaining as it is now (see plan below).

This would seem to be a positive step to find a new use for a historic building whilst preserving some of its features. What do you think?

The Plour Proposal

Brierley Hill listed ghost pub facing dereliction crisis

Pushing open the unsecured door of The Plough in Church Street highlighted the sad state of this locally listed building. Despite its dereliction the rooms were still atmospheric as if haunted by the ghosts of past drinkers who still haunt their favourite venue. I remember it as a popular Simpkiss pub with a roaring fire. The local authority are pursuing the owners who are located in Ireland to persuade them to repair this historic building.

The sales cataloge from 1926 has this description:

“PLOUGH INN, Church Street ….. beerhouse on. Under management. A well erected double fronted property immediately adjoining the brewery, conveniently arranged for the trade, in a good class district on the main road just off the centre of town. The accommodation includes :- Smoke Room (front), Tap Room (front), Kitchen: Private Sitting Room. Two Cellars. Three Bedrooms. Bath Room. WC and Club Room. In a fully paved enclosed yard, with separate approach from Derry Street, is Scullery, Coal Place, Urinal and WC. The property is entirely self-contained and Electric Light is installed. Licence £13. Compensation Fund Levy £3. Rated with brewery”

Sale catalogue 23rd March 1926 – courtesy Hitchmoughs Black Country Pubs.

The Bar

Entry door to bar

The Bar

The Bar 2

Window seat

Window seat

The old fireplace

The old fire place

The rear view from the bar

Rear view

The snug

The door to the snug

Old juke box play list

Jukebox

Window seat in snug

Window seat in snug

Old shelves

Old shelves in snug

Serving hatch in snug

Serving hatch in snug

Entrance hall, through bar to kitchen

![Entrance hall][Entrance hall](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/14310064818_445bddcda5_z.jpg“Entrance hall through bar to kitchen”)

Kitchen

Kitchen

Ceiling

Ceiling

Finally here is a video I filmed. Can you hear the ghosts?