Joyford is a small hamlet to the immediate north-east of Berry Hill. The Albert Inn was situated near the road junction at bottom of the steep hill on the unclassified road towards English Bicknor.
The Harrison family were owners of the Albert Inn at the end of the 19th Century and beginning of the 20th Century. The premises had beer house status with an annual rateable value of £12.0s.0d. Charlotte Harrison was the owner and occupier in 1891 when the Albert Inn was trading free of brewery tie. Twelve years later the lease had been acquired by John Arnold & Sons of the High Street, Wickwar, with John Harrison listed as owner. In 1903 closing time was at 10 pm.
In 1905 the local newspaper, the Forest of Dean Guardian, reported the death of a Mrs Smith, who had died at the Albert Inn. She had lived there for some time, being a relative of the licensee.
Grantley Kear was replaced by Martin Howell, who was affected by conscription in the First World War. His wife, as were all publican’s wives, was given a protection order until their husbands returned. So Emily Howell ran the pub until Martin returned in 1922. He took up the licence and retained it until 1936, when his widow took up the licence once more.
The Albert Inn closed c.1952.
The whitewashed property is now residential and is called Albertin. The property was up for sale in May 1985 with an asking price of £82,500. The sales particulars described it as a character house standing in 7 ¼ acres of land with a stream running into a large pond. ‘Once an inn (though not for 40 years now), Albertin is the result of the merger of three cottages dating back to the 18th century. Accordingly there is a wealth of character and period features. The gardens are an absolute delight and there is an orchard. The old character houses centre around a 14 feet hall.’
The building was put up for sale in June 2001 for a guide price of £325,000. The particulars of sale mentioned that the old pub still retained many attractive features such as exposed beams and a spiral stone staircase. ‘It stands in its own formal gardens and grounds of approximately six acres together with a range of useful outbuildings which include a double garage, stone barn, three stables and a feed store. The property itself comprises a large reception hall, dining room, living room, study, kitchen, laundry room, cloakroom, breakfast room, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.’
Gloucestershire Chronicle, Saturday 21st April 1906 – Coleford Police Court: Thomas Howells, landlord of the Albert Inn, Joyford, was summoned by Supt. Griffin for keeping his house open during prohibited hours on the 7th April. Mr H. Williams appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed.
A sequel to this case was provided in that Sidney Howells, William Howells, William Cooper, Milsom Short, Arthur Evans and Marcus Gwilliam, colliers of Joyford, were charged by Supt. Ford with being on the above named premises during prohibited hours. The case was adjourned for a month.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 30th May 1908 – Coleford Petty Sessions: Grantley G. Kear, landlord of the Albert Inn, Joyford, was summoned by P.C. Peacey under the Child Messenger Act for supplying a boy named Tom Howell, nine years of age, with two bottles of beer without the corks having been sealed. Defendant’s wife conducted the business and when the constable came to make inquiries she admitted being out of sealing wax and said that her boys had gone to Coleford for a supply. A fine of 5s. and 8d. costs, was imposed.
Gloucestershire Chronicle, Saturday 22nd April 1916 – An Infant’s Death, A Sordid Story: On Monday afternoon Mr M. F. Carter (Coroner for the Forest of Dean Division) held an inquiry at the Albert Inn, Joyford. West Dean, touching the death of of Rosie Alma May Blower, the 10-month old illegitimate daughter of a single woman named Annie Blower.
The evidence revealed a shocking state of affairs, and called forth some very strong remarks. It appeared that the woman, who stated that she was about 27 or 28 years of age. had for years past been living at Bicknor Street, Joyford, having been adopted by a Mrs. Mary Tyler who, although her maiden name was Blower, denies that there was any relationship “so far she was aware” between her and deceased’s mother. The latter had had six illegitimate children, and the father in each instance was Charles Tyler, the husband of Mary Tyler, and a collier employed at Cannop Colliery. He admitted the correctness of this statement, and that his wife, and the witness Blower all resided in the same house together.
The Coroner said it was horrible to think that in the present century people should be living in such a state of depravity. Having regard to the dreadful circumstances, he warned Tyler and the two women to their future conduct, and said they ought to be very thankful that they were getting away from that inquiry- without any criminal proceedings being taken against them.
The medical testimony showed that the cause of death was inflammation of the stomach and bowels and rieketts, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. Dr. MacQuaide stated that undoubtedly the deceased had been improperly fed.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 14th July 1917 – Coleford Petty Sessions: ‘Temporary transfer of the license of the Albert Inn, Joyford, was granted from Martin William Howell (now in the Army), to his wife, Emily Howell’
Western Mail, Monday 15th November 1926 – Coroner’s Tribute, Man Ready To Work at 91: “This man was greatly to be admired. It is wonderful to hear these days of people like him who have a desire to work.” said Mr. Carter (coroner for the Forest of Dean at an inquest held on Saturday concerning the death of Charles Hall, an old-aged pensioner, in his 91st year, of Joyford, near Coleford, who died after a fall downstairs. Hall resided at the Albert Inn, Joyford, with his niece. On November 9th his great niece found him sitting on the mat at the bottom of the stairs apparently asleep. He was partly dressed. Dr. Battle, Coleford, stated that when he saw Hall he was suffering from concussion of the brain. Hall’s niece stated that her uncle had worked for 50 years at the Crawshaw Steelworks at Ebbw Vale and begged to be allowed to work there the morning be died. The Coroner returned a verdict that “Hall died as a result of an accidental fall downstairs.”
Gloucester Citizen, Wednesday 14th February 1951 – Magistrates warn licensees that premises need to be improved: A threat that the licences of eleven public houses in the Coleford Division would not be renewed unless plans for improving their cleanliness and general sanitary conditions were put forward, was made by the Chairman (Major D.J. Percival) at the Coleford Petty Sessional annual licensing meeting yesterday.
Albert Inn, Joyford – ‘water supply and poor sanitary accommodation’.
Landlords of the Albert Inn include:
1891 Charlotte Harrison
1894 (March) ‘The license of the Albert Inn, Joyford, transferred from Mrs Charlotte Harrison to Mr Thomas Howells’
1903 Thomas Howell
1908 Grantley Kear
1909 Martin William Howell
1917 Emily Howell
1922 Martin Howell
1936 Emily Howell