Grid Reference: E 16b

John Gregory

Personal Life

John Gregory is probably best known locally for being the popular landlord of the Dog & Partridge in Wednesfield High Street from around 1885 to his death in 1915.  Of course, he also gave his name locally to the bridge at the Lichfield Road end of the High Street, still referred to as Gregory’s Bridge today, but properly known as Pinfold Bridge after the animal pound that stood there for many years.

John was born in Wolverhampton where he married Mary Ann Lane in 1865. Mary Ann was the daughter of Henry Lane, but not the Henry Lane of trap-making fame. Mary Ann’s father was a farmer, a son of Robert Lane of Wednesfield, a shoemaker, although both Henrys descended several generations back from the same family.  

John & Mary Ann had 13 children in all. Three of them died at a young age, but 5 of them were still living at home in 1911 – home being The Dog & Partridge Inn.

Business—supporting the growth of Wednesfield

Using old newspaper reports as evidence, it appears that The Dog & Partridge went through a rough period in the first half of the 19^th century with frequent changes of landlord and at least one case of assault by a landlord on a female servant and a fine for allowing illegal gambling.  However, when John Gregory obtained the licence from William Rushton in 1885, a period of calm and good service descended on the Inn. 

The bowling green at the rear of the premises was very popular. It wasn’t the only one in Wednesfield at the time, but John’s bowling club found its way into the newspapers quite often.

After 30 years of serving the community John passed away on 7^th February 1915 after contracting influenza which was so prevalent in the early part of the 20^th century. Mary Ann had died 10 months previously and their son, Ernest John Gregory, became the new landlord.