Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, Saturday 13th October: Robert Crawford, William Archer, George Busson, and John Harris, all of Stow, were charged with being drunk at the Fleece Inn. Crawford and Harris were fined 10 shillings each, and Crawford was committed for seven days in default of payment. Archer and Busson were fined 7s.6d. each, and Busson was allowed till Saturday week to pay.
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 23rd August 1902 – Stow-on-the-Wold Court, Thursday: George Pugh and Jane Pugh, husband and wife, of Stow-on-the-Wold, were charged with being drunk on the licensed premises of Charles C. Sell, of the Fleece beerhouse, Stow, on the 11th inst. Defendants pleaded not guilty.
P.S. Simpson, Stow-on-the-Wold, stated that 8 p.m. on the 11th inst. he directed P.C. Baker to visit the Fleece Inn, Stow, and from what the constable reported to him he went round at once and watched the house. There was a lot of shouting, and he heard Jane Pugh trying sing. Two hours later he saw the male defendant come staggering out of the house into the back, and then return. At 10.30 p.m., with P.C. Baker, witness visited the house, and found the defendant George Pugh sitting near the door, with his arms on the table, drunk. The defendant Jane Pugh was standing up holding to the settle. She was also drunk. There were several women and children in the house. He called the landlord’s attention to the state of the two defendants, and left. A few moments afterwards Jane Pugh came out staggering drunk and went towards her home, about 100 yards from the Fleece. She then came back and entered the Fleece again, but the landlord on this occasion turned her out, George Pugh had to be carried home.
P.C. Frederick Baker coroborated, and added that at 9 o’clock he got over the wall opposite the Fleece when it was dark and went close to the window of the taproom. He heard a woman’s voice say, ” I am nearly drunk, but could do with some more beer.” A man replied, ” That’s right, Jeannie, you have a good fill.”
George Pugh was fined £1, to include costs, and Jane Pugh 10s., to include costs.
Jane Pugh, the defendant in the last case, and John James, a County Council roadman, of Stow-on-the-Wold, were charged together with committing act of indecency at the same time and place. Both defendants pleaded not guilty. The same police proved the case, but Ellen Pulham, a single woman, stated she lived with John James, and could account for his whereabouts at the time stated.
The Bench retired, and on their return the Chairman stated they considered the case proved. It was a very disgraceful thing. Both defendants would be fined £1 and costs each.—Both applied for and were allowed time to pay.
Stow-on-the-Wold Brewster Sessions, February 1903 – There had been three convictions against the licence of the Fleece beerhouse since September 1894, and on the last occasion the holder of the licence was fined £5, including costs, and the licence was endorsed.
The court had received an objection to the renewal of the licence of the Fleece Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold.
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 23rd September 1933 – Tragedy of Stow Man’s Death: A verdict of suicide with insufficent evidence to show the state of mind was returned on Arthur William Acocks, aged 54. He was found suffering from gas poisoning at his Birmingham home on Saturday last.
The widow stated that her husband was an ex-Army officer, and had been employed as a Turf commision agent for about five years. Acocks was a native of Stow-on-the-Wold and for many years prior to the War was in the employ of Mrs A.J. Hanks, late proprietress of the Talbot Hotel. At different periods he was “mine host” at the Brewery Tavern and also the Fleece Inn.
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Henry Lowther Barker, Stow Brewery
Rateable value in 1891: £12.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse
Owner in 1903: Edward Augustus Green, Stow Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £12.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse
Closing time in 1903: 11pm
Landlords at the Fleece Inn include:
1891 Henry Hookham
1902 Charles C. Sell
1902 (Oct) George Mansell
1903 Alfred Townsend
1914 William Arthur Acock (see above)
1915 (Oct) ‘The license of the Fleece Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold, was temporarily transferred from Mrs Letitia Acocks to Mr Harry Woodward.’
1936 (May) ‘The funeral took place at St Edward’s Church, Stow-on-the-Wold, of Mr Harold Woodward, of the Fleece Inn, Stow, who died at his home at the age of 74.’
1939 Cecil Thomas Hardiman