W.maiden & Son

About

Traditional family Butcher for over a Century. Licensed Game Dealer, Catering Supplies. Specialists in Locally-Reared Meat, Award-Winning Sausages etc.

Story

W. Maiden & Son, butchers based in Stafford Street first began trading in 1946. The family business was founded when Bill Maiden Snr. acquired the building from Ernie Holt and his family. Bill was fresh out of the army after 7 years service and Mr. Holt was keen to sell to an ex-serviceman.

Bill’s father, Tom Maiden, an established family butcher in Dudley, put down the deposit on the business for his son. Bill moved in originally as a single man but married Mary Griffin from Leamington Spa later in 1946.

Trading was difficult to begin with as meat rationing was still in place and there were already three other well established butchers in the village. The normal working week began with Bill visiting market on a Monday to purchase livestock on the hoof. It was then brought back to the shop where it was slaughtered and butchered ahead of the week’s trade. In the roof space directly above the back of the shop was a large wooden pulley wheel, resting on two huge beams which was used to lift felled livestock up off the floor to be cleaned and skinned.

Bill’s son, also Bill, gradually took over the running of the shop as time passed on. The shop now sells as much locally produced meat as possible, including Lamb and Longhorn Beef from the nearby Chillington Estate.

Special orders and cuts are always available, along with a large selection of game, cooked meats, award winning home cured dry bacon, pies and sausages.

Indeed, as recently as February this year in a recommendation to Tom Parker-Bowles in the Mail on Sunday, the following was noted ‘Zinia Leedham raved about the pork pies from W Maiden & Son butchers in Brewood, Staffordshire (01902 850346). And she’s spot on. They’re baked on the premises with good quality meat, excellent pastry and made using a generous hand with the jelly. A classic pork pie. Their bacon’s pretty fine, too.’

It’s well known locally that the shop is renowned for its pies which customers may see being made most days. There’s also a large selection of cheeses, fruit, veg, jams and preserves.

Maiden’s today represents a family business steeped in generations of experience within the trade and a commitment to providing quality local products to their customers. They’ve come a long way since the days of Bill & Mary hunting rats in the outbuildings with a torch and pitchfork!