Ryeford is a hamlet one mile to the east of Stonehouse. The Anchor Inn was located near the Stroudwater canal.

The Anchor Inn had a long association with the Lewis / Brunsdon family. In one of Arthur Brunsdon’s many obituaries it says: “he had been the licensee of the Anchor Inn for 41 years.” He must have taken on the pub before 1903, possibly when he married Annie Mastin in 1898. The obituary goes on to say “When there was a considerable amount of traffic along the Stroudwater Canal the Anchor Inn was often crowded with canal workers, and the inn has witnessed many exciting times.”

The Gloucester Citizen reported on Wednesday 23rd 1926 that the Anchor Inn at Ryeford had been let to Godsell & Sons – ‘it has been in the occupation of the Brundson family for three generations and is subject to a tithe charge of 13s.6d.’ The continuation of the license of the Anchor Inn was objected to by local magistrates in February 1930. A report said that it was “situated in a ditch, was difficult of access and was so structualy unsuitable for licensed premises that (in the opinion of Superintendant Wayman) the only way to effect an improvement would be to pull down the house and erect new premises.

The Anchor Inn was said to be 508 yards from the Haywardsfield Inn.” The Anchor Inn finally closed in 1966.

The old pub is now a private residence called Tankard House. It is close to Wycliffe College.

Licensing Details:

Rateable Value in 1891: £23.0s.0d.

Owner in 1891: Miss Lewis of  Standcombe, Devon  (leased to Godsell & Sons, Stroud)

Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse

Rateable Value in 1903: £27.0s.0d.

Owner in 1903: Miss Lewis (leased to Godsell & Sons, Salmon Springs Brewery, Stroud)

Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse

Closing time in 1903: 10 pm

Owner in 1928: Stroud Brewery

Landlords at the Anchor Inn include:

c.1855 Henry Lewis

c.1886 Miss Elizabeth Lewis (upon the death of her father, Henry Lewis. She had died by 1888)

c1888,1891 Thomas W. and Annie Mastin (Annie was another daughter of Henry Lewis)

1892 Mrs Annie Mastin (widow)

1903 Arthur William Brunsdon (Annie’s second husband)

1939 Miss Gwendolyn Mastin (she took over the pub upon the death of her stepfather and left about 1944/46 due to illness)

1950’s Mr and Mrs Bennett

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