A Brief History of The Old Gate Inn at Heathton by John Richards

On 3rd May 1784, Yeoman Arthur Hidson sold a cottage and land at Heathton to John Plimley. Adding a parcel of land in 1801 bought from the Rev. John Charles Beckingham, paying 61 pounds 19 shillings.

In his will dated 12th May 1818, John Plimley bequeathed his estate to another John Plimley, son of his late nephew. A mortgage was arranged in November 1830 to secure £100 following which John Plimley opened his beerhouse in the late l830's, turning his private dwelling into a public house and calling it 'The Wicket'. He is listed in the census of 1841 aged 31, as 'young' John Plimley, a publican, married to Mabel, 28, with a family; John, 6, Ann, 4, Eliza, 2, and Emma, 6 months.

By 1859 the name had changed to The Gate and had achieved inn status, permitting it to remain open 'as long as a bed was empty', offering basic accommodation, food, homebrewed ale, and stabling.

In 1892, John Plimley the oldest of 'young' John's children, defaulted on mortgage repayments and as a consequence the Gate Inn passed to farmer Charles Bannister; who sold on later that year to Wolverhampton maltster and brewer, Charles Hames Chater, for £619.

Local Magistrates inspected the 'Old' Gate inn, 23rd July 1896 and were satisfied, finding the premises fair and clean, with 3 rooms upstairs, 4 rooms downstairs and stabling for 4 horses. Managed by Albert Pritchard and rated at 13 pounds 2 shillings and 6 pence.

In June 1899, Charles Chater sold the Old Gate Inn to Bloxwich brewers J & J Yardley, paying £850. They merged with South Staffs Breweries, becoming Old Wolverhampton Breweries Ltd, in 1910; selling to Frank Myatt of Wolverhampton in 1920, for £2,000.

Frank Myatt and 94 licensed houses were acquired by the Holt Brewery, Birmingham in 1927, who in turn were absorbed by Ansell's Brewery, Aston, 1934.

The Old Gate Inn has seen many changes over the past 2 centuries, but remains, as originally intended by 'young' John Plimley, a social and convivial centre of the community.

Since 1988 when Jamie and Diane Atkins obtained the premises, it has been bestowed awards for "the keeping of fine ales and the creation of fabulous food."
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History by John Richards