Welcome to the Saltwells Inn [Free House]

The Saltwells Inn Free House family pub is well known in the area for it's good well priced food and excellent beer, Set in the heart of the Saltwells Nature Reserve the Saltwells Inn enjoys an idyllic setting with splendid rambling walks, ideal for boaters also with the Dudley No2 canal a 5 minute walk away.

Doctor Robert Plot in his Natural History of Staffordshire published in 1636, refered to '....the Salt Wells of Lady Wood', their popularity, in the Black Country, and the numbers of people 'taking the waters'. It is likely that a tavern was standing on the site at this time to provide refreshments.

Originally known as Lady Wood Saline Spa, but commonly called the 'Salt Wells'; the first reference to a licence here is in 1810, when an alehouse of that name was kept by Thomas Holloway.

Mr Bently in his Trade Directory dated 1841, wrote '...Saline Spa, or Salt Wells, situated in a retired spot at Lady Wood, about 2 miles south of the town (Dudley), are much resorted to in the summer by invalids and others, to derive benefit from their highly medicinal waters'.

Both Georgian and Victorian licensing hours were generous to a fault; 18 hours a day, 4am to 10pm seven days a week, closed only during Divine Service, Christmas Day, and Good Friday. As an inn, the Salt Wells was permitted by Dudley magistrates to remain open as long as a bed or room was empty; offering basic accomodation, simple victuals, homebrewed ale, and stabling to the lawful traveller. The Saltwells Inn was, of necessity a homebrewed house, it was outside a days carting distance from the nearest common brewer in Dudley. Holloway would have brewed the popular ale, a form of malty mild; heavy, dark, sweet, strong, and cheep at 2d a quart. It was difficult for Victorian tradesmen to make a living from a single occupation, running a public house was not then regarded as a profession

The Earl of Dudley sold the premises to Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, 19 August 1927. Sadley the old brine baths fell into decline through lack of interest. The old Saltwells Inn was demolished and rebuilt partially on the old site. It reopened in 1939, and remains today little changed. As a final historical note, in the 1850's a movement was made to form a company to run a pipe line to Netherton, but the price demanded for royalties was so high as to make the scheme impracticable. Had the projected plan gone ahead, it would have transformed the whole area. Netherton Spa might have become a tourist attraction. The historic Saltwells Inn is now owned by Dean Pearsall

 Lady Wood Saline Spa 1884