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“In The Beginning” |
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Dudley or Duddeley as it used to be called, was predominately, a mining area. Dudley castle was situated on top of lime-stone workings. The whole area became known as “The Black Country” because of the mining and industrial trade, such as the chain mailing. Part of the chain used on the infamous Titanic was made in Dudley. The railway station opened in 1850, the main hotel at the time was called “The Castle”. In 1896 a meeting was called to discuss the building of a new hotel, which was to be known as “The Station Hotel”, the license was granted and Wolverhampton & Dudley brewery proposed the building be situated on the corner of Birmingham Road and Trindle Road. |
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The hotel partially opened on the 28th May 1898, the building was black and white with a courtyard and stables. The main entrance for horses and carriages is now the entrance that is situated on the corner of Trindle & Castle Hill. At the time, it had a fountain situated where the traffic lights are now. Carriages and later cars could drop people off right out-side, infront of the main doors. |
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The fountain outside of the building had been moved from its original site at the top of Castle Hill, which made way for “The Earl Of Dudley’s” statue. The horses would have used the fountain as a drinking site before moving on their way. Opposite the Hotel “The Opera House” opened in 1899, it brought to Dudley the rich upper classes, who would often frequent the Opera House in their masses. |
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