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 The All Nations is one of the oldest brewpubs in the country, having brewed since 1832. It stopped brewing in early 2001 as the long time owners looked to sell the pub which was sold towards the end of 2002 to the present owners, Jim & Linda Birtwhistle. It used to be frequented by the miners coming off shift from Blists Hill Colliery in the late 18th Century when the area was still one of the largest coal fields in the UK.
In Britain during the 20th century most of the traditional pubs which brewed their own beer in the brewhouse round the back of the pub, were bought out by larger breweries and ceased brewing on the premises. By the mid-1970s only four remained, The All Nations, The Old Swan, The Three Tuns and The Blue Anchor.
The All Nations was a basic single roomed beerhouse that opened c1831 by Christopher Baguley who chose the unusual sign of the All Nations which refers to pieces of tobacco that were placed in a jar, and sold as an ‘All Nations’ mixture. The popular Madeley drink was a form of malty mild; heavy, dark sweet, and strong that varied considerably from brew to brew. However, the redeeming feature was the average gravity of 1060, the second highest in England. Of necessity a homebrew house, the nearest common brewer (wholesaler) was outside a days carting distance, generations of Baguley’s would have experienced serious quality problems, due to indifferent brewing equipment, poor quality malt, hops, and water.
The Madeley Parish Register of 1871 shows that another Christopher Baguley, 48 years old and presumably the son of the original owner, was resident at the pub and lists his occupation as a bricklayer. Just a few years before, in the early 1860s, Christopher had been the main building contractor for the Coalport to Wellington branch railway and responsible for all the stations except Malinslee. The register also identifies his wife Hannah, five sons and two daughters plus a 13 year old servant girl, Emily Knight. At least two of these offspring held the brewhouse license in the subsequent years until the Great War. When Madeley magistrates paid an official visit in 1901, the All Nations Inn was owned, occupied, and managed by Walter Baguley, there were four rooms upstairs, and three down, stabling for two horses and the rates were £15 15s 0d per annum. The Baguley family were consecutive licensees for 103 years and a full framed history of their succession can be seen in the pub itself but the text is available as a downloadable history. More Info...
The pub has a long sporting history - Quoits was a local favourite and international games between England and Wales were held at the pub. The Baguley family were particularly active sportsmen. Walter Baguley, was captain of Madeley Town Football Club when it was formed at the pub in 1885. He also played for Ironbridge and captained Madeley Wanderers, as well as playing for Madeley Hockey Team. In 1904 Madeley Airgun Club was formed and based at the All Nations with the then landlord, George Baguley, as a team member.
William Harry Lewis bought the premises in 1934 and continued as licensee for over 40 years handing over to Eliza Lewis in 1975 who continued until 1988 when Keith Hardman bought the freehold and eventually closed the pub in 2001 which was reopened just before Christmas 2002 and has been thriving ever since. In 2010 The All Nations Inn won the Telford & East Shropshire CAMRA Pub of the Year Award and made it “two in a row” when they were awarded it the following year. More Info...
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