I am always saddened when I see another part of Sutton's heritage disappear.

This is how I felt a decade or so ago when I learned that there would no longer be a pub in the town called the Cup. There had been a pub called the Cup in this place since the mid18th century. Its name was derived from the strong local interest in horse racing.

So this week let's remember the Cup. The tavern was owned by the corporation of Sutton Coldfield. It was an extremely popular drinking place, with customers in the evenings having long waits to get their quarts of ale.

At the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign the licensee was Edwin Bunn. He was determined to keep a good house. In 1839 a cart stopped at the Cup for refreshments. John Gerrard had hired John Green and Moses Baker to convey him from Lichfield to Birmingham in a cart.

Foolishly, he had shown off his bank notes. At the Cup, Green and Baker attempted to relieve him of his money .. Bunn intervened, the constable was called and the men were eventually transported to Van Diemen's Land. For his 'spirited conduct' Bunn was presented with a silver snuff box. George Bunn succeeded his father as licensee. He sought to attract the Sunday trade from Birmingham, helpfully providing in his advertisements the departure and return times of the coaches.

One night in 1857 the Cup was broken into. When Bunn's servant went downstairs in the morning, she 'found everything in a state of indescribable confusion ... the thieves had broken their way all over the lower part of the premises, locks. bolts and bars had been forced open and cupboards and drawers ransacked'. A great deal had been stolen - bottles of rum, brandy, sherry, port and porter in addition to boxes of cigars, hams, bread and a large piece of cooked beef which the thieves enjoyed outside. Samuel Maddox found himself arrested for the burglary. He was sentenced to 10 years' transportation on the evidence that a bottle of brandy from the tavern had been found in his possession.

By the end of the 19th century the Cup was in poor condition. It was demolished and replaced by the existing building.

• The Public Houses of Sutton Coldfield 1800-1914 by Stephen Roberts can be ordered from Amazon, £6.99.

Associate Professor
Stephen Roberts