Our village stretches back more than 750 years, and while some of our buildings have a rich history going back centuries, we hold fond memories of café’s and pubs from more recent times too.

Food and drink have been part of Knowle’s High Street story for centuries, and several of the places you can visit today have stories worth knowing about. So why not sip and sup in some of our finest buildings?

Centuries Old Buildings

Elderberry Blacks

Now a popular café, Elderberry Blacks occupies a pair of former cottages dating back to the late16th/early 17th century. Over the years the building has been home to a sweet shop, a greengrocery, a wool and card shop. In the 1970s the two shops were combined into one, and Thimble Lane leads to what was once the wash house. Before Elderberry Blacks, it was a Smoode for few years, serving delicious smoothies.

The Bread Collection

The Bread Collection continues a baking tradition on the High Street that stretches back centuries. The timber-framed building was constructed around 1700 and was bought by miller Thomas Chamberlain [the miller from Darley Mill] around 1900 who altered the house into a bakery. In 1906, George Curtis took on the property, and it remained in the family for nearly a hundred years before being sold in 2004, remaining as an artisan bakery.

The Greswolde Arms

The Greswolde began life as The Mermaid Inn, an important coaching inn on the Birmingham to Warwick turnpike. It was renamed after Henry Greswolde Lewis of Malvern Hall, and its two distinctive wings were added in stages. A popular Lido once stood behind the building, operating from 1936 to 1966.

The Wilson Arms

The Wilsons Arms has its own layered history. Built in the early 1600s as The Rising Sun, it was renamed in 1839 after the so-called local squire of Knowle Hall. In the 1920s its outbuildings housed the first garage in Knowle; those outbuildings were incorporated into the main building during a 1990 extension.

The Red Lion

The Red Lion is a 17th century timbered pub with an original fireplace in the front room. Many dances and local dinners were held in the assembly room. In the yard, , John Wesley – founder of Methodism – once preached here. For a short spell, the pub was named the Felon and Firkin before reverting back to The Red Lion. The ornate bracket and pub sign hanging from the building is a distinctive feature of the High Street, and has it’s own history – the bracket was once on The Swan, once situated on the site the Schmidt Kitchens.

Swan Inn

The Swan Inn, a 15th century inn, once stood on the land occupied now by Schmidt Kitchens. In was demolished just before the second World War. The building was for many years NatWest Bank, and has been brought back to a busy shop by Schmidt Kitchens. You can see references to The Swan Inn in the stonework in the building.

Stories behind other café’s pubs and restaurants.

While there may be less history through the centuries, the following businesses still have a rich past.

Cheals

Cheals Restaurant has dramatically changed since it was built in the 1920s. Once a busy banking hub for Midlands Bank and then HSBC, it was a reason for many to visit the High Street. After significant investment, it is now welcomes people through its doors as a place for fine dining, upstairs and fabulous cocktails in Warren’s Bar downstairs.

The Vaults

In 1889 this building was once the home of the first bank in Knowle and when the bank moved was extended to become The Bank Hotel.  The buildings history lives on in the name of the Vaults Bar and throughout the interior with old keys replacing bar hooks and images of notorious bank robbers on the walls. Read the history on the walls next time you visit.

Loki Wine

Once again, this is a wine merchant – and funnily enough, it’s where the founder of Loki Wine, Phil, had his first job. The building was owned by W T Haden, a family grocer, in the early 1900s and from 1936 onwards it became a Wine and Spirits Merchant, and remained one-under several names. It has been home to Oddbins and to Wine Rack.

Dry Spy

The Dry Spy is another venue that was previously a bank – Lloyds Bank. Before that, it was a high class Grocers – Band and Meeks. After a short spell as Bonds, it’s now a speak-easy themed bar.

Lloyds Indian Restaurant

Lloyds Restaurant may look old, but this attractive building was actually built in the 1930’s.

 

Swan Yard

Whilst Swan Yard is one of the most recent buildings constructed in Knowle, this bustling café is situated in what was the old Yard of The Swan Inn, hence its name. The pub was demolished in 1939 when it was purchased by the brewery that already owned the Red Lion. The ornate sign bracket holding the Red Lion sign was once part of the Swan.

The Knowle Indian Brasserie 

From 1835 to 1934  the Brasserie was a Congregational Chapel. Since 1934 it has been a snooker club, an antique shop and a dress shop before becoming the current Brasserie.

So next time you are out dining or drinking in Knowle, take a look at the history surrounding you.

Apple Pink

Apple Pink is located at Wrenson’s Corner. Wrenson’s was a popular grocery store.

Monica’s Bakes

Monica’s Bakes, which started out on Station Road, moved to the Precinct recently. The precinct was built in the 1960’s and in more recent times, Monica’s Bakes was home to a popular curtain shop.

Eros

Eros is a beautiful building that in recent times The Bilash Indian Restaurant.

The Ale Rooms, Viola, Ellora and Freda’s Deli

We’re looking for memories of what came before these great places to eat in recent history. Visit our Facebook page to leave you comments.

750 Celebrations

We invite you to Knowle on Sunday 21st June to join us in celebrating 750 years since Knowle became a manor. The High Street will be bustling with market stalls, community stalls and street food. Entertainment will be on stage outside of the Red Lion and also near Slow Century Records. Come for the day, visit our places to eat and drink and celebrate the history of Knowle village. Find out what’s on at https://visitknowle.co.uk/knowles-750-celebrations-everything-you-need-to-know/.

Knowle Society

Read more about our buildings in the trail ‘A Walk in Time’ and visit them in the library during the 750 celebrations. Thank you to Knowle Society for providing the images many of the facts in this article.