The whitewashed Cotswold stone pub is at least 400 years old and was reputedly used to billet Roundhead soldiers during the English Civil War. The pub commands spectacular views towards Stroud.
A pig roast and gerbil racing were just two of the attractions that helped regulars at the Carpenters Arms raise around £900 at a charity raising family fun day on the August Bank Holiday in 1985.
The Citizen, Tuesday 11th August 1987 – Charity fun hits a smashing note: A piano-wrecking competition was an added attraction for crowds who earlier watched a pub-to-pub wheelbarrow race near Stroud. Three old pianos were smashed in minutes by three teams at the charity fund-raising event at the Carpenters Arms in Westrip on Saturday. A side from the nearby Woodcutters Inn at Whiteshill emerged the victors.
“All the pieces had to pass through a nine inch hole. The winners took 10 minutes,” said Carpenters landlady Jo Smith. Each time was given a hefty sledgehammer but none came near the world record time she said.
Earlier thirteen threesomes, in fancy dress, from both pubs raced from the Woodcutters along the lanes to the Carpenters. That challenge was won by two groups from the Westrip pub who completed more than two miles in just fifteen minutes.
Sponsorship from the events, arranged by the Carpenters Pig Roasters charity committee raised about £450 towards £1,000 needed for a guide dog for a blind person.
The owners in October 1997, Pubmaster, applied for planning permission to de-licence the Carpenters Arms and convert it into residential use with the option of building further houses on the car park. Local resident, Alec Hill (then aged 77), who lived just 100 yards from the pub and had drunk there for 36 years, organised a petition and collected more than 400 signatures. He told the ‘Stroud News and Journal’: “I am shattered at the way they (Pubmaster) are trying to treat us and the pub. The Carpenters Arms is popular and a lot of sport goes on there. As well as dart and crib teams, footballers are entertained there after matches on Saturday. I want it to stay.” Alec was supported by Randwick Parish Council and Stroud District Council. After a protracted battle, which culminated in Pubmaster losing an appeal, the Carpenters Arms was saved from closure in November 1998.
Alec Hill made the news again in June 2004 during the 60th anniversary of D-Day. He was a petty officer in the Royal Navy and spent D-Day and the following days supplying the Americans with troops and equipment. His drinking pal at the Carpenters Arms, Percy Franklin of Painswick (then aged 79) served with the Glosters and South Wales Borderers. Percy landed in Normandy on June 7th 1944, was wounded near Bayeux and was sent home. The landlord at the time, Paul Platt, honoured the two D-Day heroes (who had been drinking at the Carpenters Arms since the early 1970’s) by proudly hanging a photograph of them in the bar.
https://www.thecarpentersarmswestrip.co.uk
Map reference: SO 826060
Owner in 1891: Holmes & Co.
Rateable value in 1891: £11.10s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse
Owner in 1903: Nailsworth Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £17.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Owners in 1997: Pubmaster
Owners in 2005: Punch Taverns
Landlords at the Carpenters Arms include:
1891 Elizabeth Lord
1902, 1906 William Hawkins
1927,1939 Mrs Eva Pearce
1983 Brian Webb
1983-1986 Brian and Margaret Webb (moved from the Kings Head at Kingscourt; retired in September 1986)
1987 Jo Smith
1997 Michael and Lynn Mayell
1998 Alan and Marion Thompson
2001,2004 Paul and Jackie Pratt
2005,2008 Steve and Jane Poulter
