The Crown Inn was an idyllic Cotswold stone country pub, tucked away in an isolated hamlet. The pub called ‘last orders’ for the last time in 1969 upon the retirement of the landlady Mrs Howkins. Lack of car parking also hastened the pubs demise. Mrs Howkins is fondly remembered as a woman who would stand no nonsense and gained somewhat of a reputation of allegedly taking a dislike to some of her loyal customers. It seems that people would come to the Crown Inn for miles around just to be humiliated with her wit and caustic sarcasm. At the time of closure the beers on offer at the pub came from the West Country Brewery in Cheltenham – note the ‘castle’ emblem in the metal pub sign bracket.
The Crown Inn was tied to the Brimscombe Brewery (Charles Smith) in 1891 and was owned by Nailsworth Brewery in 1903. It sold beers from Cheltenham Original Brewery from 1908. It had an annual rateable value of just £8 in 1891 and 1903, yet was classified as an Ale House – which is generally higher status than a Beer House.
The Crown at Waterlane is now a private residence.
Map reference: SO 924046
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Charles Smith (probably of the Brimscombe Brewery)
Rateable value in 1891: £8.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Nailsworth Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £8.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Landlords at the Crown Inn include:
1856 T. Osborn
1885 Richard Edwards
1891 Seth Gardiner (aged 45). Married to Annie Gardiner (aged 39) with five children.
1902, 1919 Thomas Hill
1927 Leonard Parslow
1939 Charles W. Hewer
1969 Mrs Howkins
