THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

The Romping Cat, 2002 (Stuart Williams)
 
•    This pub was originally called the Sandbank Tavern and was first licensed in 1900 by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries.
•    In March 1957 it was renamed The Romping Cat to comply with the local tradition that there should always be a Bloxwich pub of that name, in memory of Sir Gilbert Wakeringe, Sheriff of the County of Stafford, knighted by James 1 in 1605, a colourful figure who owned lands in Great Bloxwich and Little Bloxwich. His coat of arms was a blue shield with three golden lions, upright, hence the name.
•    An earlier Sandbank Tavern is supposed to be a nearby chip shop now.  If this was the former Romping Cat it must have been a pretty rough, cramped alehouse in its time.
•    We have no old photographs of The Romping Cat – if anyone knows of any, I’d be pleased to hear about them!

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