The Kings Head was located at the top of Church Lane on the junction with the main road (A46). Mrs Sophie Fry was the last licensee and at that time the Kings Head was predominately a cider pub. It had a back room that was used, amongst other things, as a meeting place for the Parish Council. Mrs Fry had a parrot that the locals taught to swear. Adjacent to the Kings Head was a row of terraced houses known as Kingshead Cottages.
Gloucester Citizen, Thursday 9th July 1891: To be let. The Kings Head Inn, Shurdington, Cheltenham. Apply Stroud Brewery Co., Stroud.
Cheltenham Examiner, Wednesday 25th August 1897 – Assault Case: Daniel Cook, of Shurdington, was charged with assaulting Sophia Fry at the Kings Head Inn, Shurdington. Complainant, who is the daughter of the landlord of the inn, requested defendant to leave the house, when he turned round and slapped her in the face. Defendant pleaded guilty and was fined ten shillings and costs.
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 6th March 1920 – Too many licensed houses in Cheltenham. Fourteen to be closed: In reference to the King’s Head, Shurdington, the owners did not object, but the tenant (Frederick Fry) opposed its going to the compensation authority, stating that the business formed a part of his living, and that he had held the license for 26 years without complaint. He presented a memorial containing 110 signatures petitioning for the renewal of the license, and stating that the house was the headquarters of the Conservative Benefit Society, and was the only house in the village having accommodation for the same. Supt. Griffin challenged this, urging that such accommodation could be found either at the Bell or the New Inn. The license of the King’s Head was renewed.
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 14th July 1928: A young man named John Henry Parsons, a farm labourer, of Up Hatherley, pleaded guilty at the Cheltenham Police-court, on Thursday to a charge of stealing from the King’s Head Inn, Shurdington, a tin containing 16s.9d. in cash belonging to the licensee, Mrs Sophia Fry. Parsons, whose age was given as 20, admitted the theft, but declared that he did not know what the tin contained when he took it. Supt. Lane said the accused had been previously convicted of day poaching and theft of kidney beans. Accused was fined 20 shillings.
Gloucestershire Echo, Thursday 13th February 1941: The Kings Head, Shurdington, (beerhouse) was closed on September last.
Gloucestershire Echo, Saturday 2nd August 1941. Deaths: On 31st July 1941, Sophia, widow of the late Frederick Fry, King’s Head Inn, Shurdington.
From ‘Shurdington – Past and Present’ (edited by R.A. Maltby in January 1965) Some remniscences of Mr W. Bevan in an interview on 9th February 1965:
R. Maltby – question – “I believe there used to be another Public House in Shurdington besides the New Inn [Cheese Rollers] and the Bell Inn?”
Mr Bevan: “That is so. There was the Kings Head where the King’s Head cottages are now, at the corner of Church Lane. It was a cider house, and at the back there was a club room which was used amongst other things as a meeting place for the Parish Council. Mrs Sophie Fry was the last licensee, and she used to have a parrot that was taught to swear.”
Kings Head Cottages were demolished in 1966 and semi-detached houses occupy the site today.
Map Reference: S0 923186
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Job Pick (free from brewery tie)
Rateable value in 1891: £15.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse
Owner in 1903: Job Pick (free from brewery tie)
Rateable value in 1903: £15.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlords at the Kings Head include:
1889 (July) ‘The license of the Kings Head, Shurdington transferred from Joseph Hending to George Taylor’.
1890 ‘The Kings Head, Shurdington, was transferred from Susan Cook to Alfred Knight’ (Gloucester Citizen, Friday 8th August 1890)
1891 Albert Knight
1891 Francis Habgood (license of the New Inn transferred to Francis Habgood in April)
1902,1919 Frederick Fry
1927,1939 Mrs Sophia Fry