Corpus Christi College of Oxford were the owners of the Cooperage Inn in 1891 and 1903 which they leased out to the Cheltenham Original Brewery. The premises had a beer house licence and an annual rateable value of £22.15s.0d.
The Cooperage Inn closed in 1907. It was in the same terrace as the Somerset Arms, which was located just a few doors away near the junction with Kings Street. The Cooperage Inn and the Somerset Arms were both owned by Corpus Christi College and beer was supplied by the local Cheltenham Brewery. The two pubs seem to have been contemporary with each other during the 1891 and 1903 licensing returns, but duplication was more than likely the reason why the Cooperage Arms had closed before the first world war. When it closed the premises was converted to George Knowles, a boot maker.
The pub was situated at the present day 371 High Street (203 in 1900). The premises are now occupied by A.J. Green, printers. There is nothing to indicate that it was once a pub.
Somerset Arms and Cooperage Inn – 200 and 203 Lower High Street, Cheltenham and the Birmingham House 204 High Street.
Geoff,
I thought I would cover the Somerset Arms and the Cooperage Inn together, as they were located only a few doors apart and both owned by Corpus Christi College Oxford at one time.
I am not sure when the Cooperage Inn at 203 High Street opened, but it wasn’t marked on the 1855-7 Old Town Survey map as a licensed premises of any kind. Neither were either of its neighbours.
I mention this because to the west of it on the 1855-7 Old Town Survey map was numbered 202 1/2 rather than 201 (meaning the Somerset Arms was 4 buildings away, not 3), but for another reason I will get to in a moment also.
The first listing I came across of 203 High Street as a pub was in the 1890-1 Post Office Directory, when it is actually listed as the Gloucester House. William Compton was the landlord, which ties in with your listings. However, he had been listed as a cooper at 203 High Street certainly since the 182-3 Royal Directory, so may have also been operating a beer house for his customers (and others who wanted a drink) at his Cooperage since pre-1878, which is the first listing you have for him as a landlord. (202 1/2 was home to J. Bassett, butcher, and 204 to H. Hands, grocer in 1872-3; Cyrtis & Bess Drapers in 1876 & 1878; nothing listed 1880-1; but in 1883-4 the Birmingham House, landlord J.A. Marslin. Though by the 1890-1 Post Office Directory, it was back to being a butchers – Eastman’s Ltd – so a short-lived pub, it would seem, but another for a while none the less).
The Somerset Arms had existed at no. 200 all this time – as I said 4 doors along, rather than 3 because of the no. 202 1/2. This is marked on the 1855-7 Old Town Survey map as BH for Beer House, and indeed it existed even before this, as it is listed in the 1851 Edward’s Directory as a Beer House, landlord S. Hayward and in the 1852 Edwards Directory “200 High Street, T. Lewis, beerhouse”
Regards,
Alan Jones
Landlords at the Cooperage Inn include:
1878,1891 William Compton
1903 Henry Peck