Pub history · No.17 of 18 · Ironbridge
The Valley Hotel
1939 | An old building but a much younger pub — building of 1757, formerly Severn House
And here's another dating trap.
Look at the Valley and you'd be forgiven for putting it much higher up our ranking.
The building dates to 1757.
Originally called Severn House, it was a private residence and later became associated with several important local industrial families.
From 1871 it was occupied by Arthur Maw of Maw & Co.
Around 1890, craftsman Robert Henry Clarke installed the extraordinary encaustic tiles in the entrance hall and staircase, a wonderful surviving connection with the Gorge's tile industry.
But we're ranking pub histories, not simply the age of the bricks.
It wasn't until 1939 that the Wrekin Brewery acquired the property and converted it into a commercial hotel and taproom.
So: Building, 1757. Pub and hotel, 1939.
That's why the Valley sits at No.17.
How we know this date
- DocumentedHistoric England's Grade II* listing confirms the building dates from around 1757, built as the private house Severn House and later home to Arthur Maw of Maw & Co from 1871.Source: Historic England list entry 1054130
- TraditionThe 1939 date, when the Wrekin Brewery acquired Severn House and converted it into a commercial hotel and taproom, comes from the hotel's own history. We haven't yet seen the original brewery records that would confirm it.Source: The Valley Hotel's own history
This is a working date. If you have a document or photograph that changes it, we'd genuinely like to see it.
Building: 1757. Pub/hotel: 1939.
Then
Now
The Valley Hotel · Ironbridge
Can you help with The Valley Hotel?
We're still researching this pub. Old photographs, licences, newspaper cuttings, brewery documents or family memories all help — and if you have evidence that changes our date, we'd genuinely like to see it.
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