The Hereford & Gloucester canal had reached Newent in 1795, but was not completed as a through route to Hereford by 1845 – fifty years later. The canal had reached Ledbury in 1798 but the economies of constructing the canal, especially through the Oxenhall tunnel, was financially disastrous and the anticipated traffic on the canal was never enough for viability. A wharf to serve Newent town was established on the canal near Ell Bridge. The Anchor Inn was opposite Newent Wharf and, for a short time at least, served the needs of bargees working the canal.
The management of the Gloucester to Hereford canal was taken on by the Great Western Railway in 1870, and work began on converting some sections of the canal for the formation of the Gloucester – Ledbury -Hereford line. Through much of its course through Newent the railway made use of the canal bed. The line was completed in 1885.
John Allen owned the Anchor Inn in 1891 and he ran it as a free house. The Anchor Inn was classified as a beer house and had an annual rateable value of £15.0s.0d.
Lane, Bros & Bastow, brewers at the Vine Brewery in Ledbury had acquired the Anchor Inn by 1903. Even at the beginning of the Edwardian era the canal had long disappeared from Newent, so the nautical reference to the Anchor was already causing confusion. Perhaps the acquisition of the Anchor Inn by the Vine Brewery could have been motivated by the rail connection from Ledbury to Newent. By 1903 the annual rateable value of the Anchor Inn had increased substantially by £6 to £21.0s.0d, suggesting that the premises had been much improved by the Vine Brewery and possibly enlarged. Closing time was at 11 pm. Lane, Bros & Bastow were taken over by the Cheltenham Original Brewery in 1919, but by this time the Anchor Inn might have already closed.
Opposite the Fire Station in Station Road there is a property called Anchor House. I had assumed that this was once the Anchor Inn, but a glance at an old photograph (not reproduced here) shows the sign of the Anchor to be on the gable end of a building with an aspect at right angles to the road. The property is located below Anchor House and is on the corner of the old approach to the station. Believed to now be Alicias Cotage, the property has been significantly extended and altered, with the roofline now parallel with the line of the road.
Ross Gazette, Thursday 20th February 1873 – Assault: Charles Butler, a boatman, of Newent, was charged with assaulting John Fencott, of Dymock, on the 21st January last.
Complainant deposed: I was at the Anchor Inn, Newent, on the day in question, about 8 o’clock in the evening; the defendant came in directly afterwards and we had some conversation about hauling; the defendant accused me of taking away a customer of his at Kempley; he got up from his chair and came round to where I was; he said he would smash my face, and struck me as hard as he was able, just under my eye; it bled very much, and was black for some time.
Cross examined: It might have been 10 o’clock when you came across the room and struck me.
John Baron deposed: I keep the Anchor Inn, Newent. On the 21st of January last I saw the complainant and defendant in my house, it was about 9 o’clock. The complainant was there first, and defendant came in after, when they began to talk about something; complainant called defendant a liar, and the defendant struck him in the face.
Fined 2s.6d. and 8s. costs.
February 1893 – The Anchor Inn, Newent – close to the Railway Station; Possession on Lady Day. Apply Lane Bros., Brewers, Ledbury.
Gloucester Citizen, 15th December 1893: John Dobbins, William Vaughan, and Thomas Buckle were summonded for refusing to quit the Anchor Inn, Newent, on the 26th November. Mr Collins, the landlord, proved the case. Vaughan, against whom there were 14 previous convictions, was fined 20 shillings, and costs, or two months; the other two 10 shillings and costs, or one month each. The Chairman said he was glad Mr Collins had brought the case before the Bench, as landlords must be protected against such customers as the defendants.
Ross Gazette, Thursday 3rd January 1901 – Invitation Supper: On Thursday night, about 40 friends and customers accepted the invitation of Mr Andrew Price, the popular landlord of the Anchor Inn, Newent, for supper. Mr Price has held the licence of the Anchor for three years, and is about removing to the Vine Tree Inn, Ross. During his three year stay in Newent, he has won golden honours through the interest he has taken in sports. He has been captain of the Quoit Club for the past season, and suceeded in winning the silver competition cup. The toast list comprised the usual loyal, patriotic, and complimentary toasts. Several songs were sung, and a most enjoyable evening was spent.
Ross Gazette, Thursday 9th May 1901 – Horse unattended: A fine of one shilling, with three shillings costs, was imposed upon Hubert Higgins, Newent, for allowing his horse and cart to remain outside the Anchor Inn, Newent, unattended on the 23rd April 1901. The case was proved by P.S. Williams.
Landlords at the Anchor Inn include:
1859 Mr Lewis
1873 John Baron
1891 Henry Owen
1893 (July) ‘Transfer of the licence of the Anchor Inn, Newent, from Mr Owen to Mr Collins.’
1901 Andrew Price
1903 Rhoda Wintle (she married James Goodway on 25th December, 1903)
1906 James Goodway (beer retailer, Station Road) (Kelly’s 1906 Directory)
1911 James Goodway (Inn keeper, Anchor Inn, Newent) (The 1911 census give detail that the Anchor Inn had eight dwelling rooms).