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The Swan was situated at 401 Washwood Heath Road. This pub has now been demolished to make way for new housing.
My great grandfather, James Dempster Short, was born on 22 January 1838 in Aston, Birmingham. His father, William, was a malleable iron caster, as was his grandfather, Thomas. It was inevitable that by the age of 12, James also was working in a foundry as a caster. Some time before 1855, father William Short had set up his own foundry at 44&45 Sheep Street, Aston, Birmingham and when he died in 1874, James and his brother John took over the family business renamed 'James & John Short, malleable iron founders'. James married at the age of 19 and fathered four children before his wife died at the age of only 35. Eight years later, in 1877, he married my great grandmother, Fanny Elizabeth Sutton, and they went on to have ten children, my grandfather being the youngest. The foundry operated successfully throughout the 1880s. By 1881, James & family had moved to Washwood Heath, Saltley, Birmingham and by 1884, as well as being the co-owner of the thriving foundry, he had become the resident licensee of 'The Swan' on Washwood Heath Road - a Mitchells & Butler owned pub. In reality, it was his wife, Fanny, who managed the pub as well as their large family! James and family remained at 'The Swan' until 1890/1.
Mike Short (October 2025)
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Other Photos
Charles Davies, publican with family and members of staff, 1922	Picture source: Rosalind Gurney
James Short, publican, 1880s	Picture source: Mike Short
Site of The Swan	Picture source: David Gray