Wilday's Royal Hotel, New Street
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Not to be confused with The Royal Hotel, built in Temple Row in 1772, Wilday's New Royal Hotel was located in New Street next door to the Theatre Royal and close to present-day Ethel Street.
Originally this building was known as 'Portugal House' and was a private residence built by Joseph Green around 1774. Green had married into money and also made a fortune in Portugal wine. He went bankrupt at the end of the eighteenth century and the house passed through several hands, being divided into two smaller residences in the process. During this period the house was occupied by the owners of a distillery that had been built next door.
In 1830, the building was extended and turned into the New Royal Hotel by Mr Wilday, a proprietor of the original Royal Hotel in Temple Row.
Mr Wilday can be connected to the site as far back as 1792 when he owned the Shakespeare Tavern (later known as Bragg's Vaults). This was situated beneath the 'New Theatre' next door to Portugal House. The New Theatre became the Theatre Royal after being granted a Royal Patent in 1807.
Location: Birmingham Trade Card Collection: Box 08 No. 512
