August 2024:
P0862/24/FUL | Conversion of existing public house (Sui Generis) to provide three terraced dwellings (Use Class C3) utilising the existing access from Oldcroft Road, including associated parking and landscaping. | Nags Head Inn Oldcroft Road Yorkley Slade Lydney Gloucestershire GL15 4RX
The Nags Head is a pleasant rendered traditional looking building which dates from 1788.
Stroud Brewery owned both the George and the Nags Head in Yorkley in 1891. The annual rateable value of the Nags Head was £14.8s.0d. and it was a fully licensed ale house. In 1906 the closing time of the Nags Head was 10 pm. Stroud Ales could be enjoyed at the Nags Head for a further 67 years until the amalgamation with the Cheltenham Brewery in 1958 to form West Country Breweries Holdings. The Nags Head then became a Whitbread pub. In 2013 it was owned by Admiral Taverns. A reminder of its past brewing heritage is a ‘West Country Ales – 1760 – Best in the West’ ceramic plaque that is inlaid into the wall by the front entrance. (sadly chipped).
A dark chapter in the history of the Forest of Dean occurred on the night of the 29th July in 1851 at the Nags Head. A 26-year old man named Hiram Archer was drinking with his friends at the pub. They were all local lads who worked together down the mine at Parkend. Fuelled by too much alcohol an argument ensued and a scuffle broke out. Hiram Archer was apparently always getting into trouble and was well known by the local constabulary. The landlord, William Charles, sent for the police but the young men dispersed. What happened next was described by the local newspapers as ‘The Brutal Outrage in the Forest’. A middle-aged woman called Mary McCarthy was apparently warming herself by a brazier outside the Nags Head. With Hiram Archer acting as the callous ringleader she was set upon and systematically raped in turn by nine men. Archer and his accomplices were sentenced to transportation for life. Hiram Archer died in October 1853, aged 28, having contracted yellow fever.
Chepstow Weekly Advertiser, Saturday 24th September 1864: Nag’s Head, Yorkley – Mr John Beddis, who in consequence of ill-health is relinquishing the Butchering department of his business, has instructed Mr John Davis, to sell by auction on the premises on Monday, the 26th September 1864, commencing punctually at 2 o’clock, the following useful stock. [including 53 young cross-bred fresh ewes, 14 wether lambs, etc..]
Monmouthshire Beacon, Saturday 28th October 1871: On Monday upwards of 200 of the colliers on strike assembled at the Nags Head Inn, Yorkley, to further consider their position on the weighing point grievance, this being the principal “bone of contention” between themselves and the masters.
Forest of Dean Examiner, Friday 25th December 1874 – Yorkley Relief Fund: To the editor – Sir, We have established in this neighbourhood a relief fund for the colliers now on strike in the Forest of Dean. We have received £5 from the Federated Enginemen at Bream Liddye, in the Forest of Dean, the receipt of which sum we beg to acknowledge with thanks. Yours truly, The Committee, Nags Head, Yorkley.
South West Daily News, Tuesday 27th February 1877 – Fatal Accident: On Thursday, as Albert Powell was attending to the wagon at the top of the Nag’s Head pit, Yorkley, he was thrown down by the force of the wagon, and fell into the pit, where he died almost instantaneously.
Hereford Times, Saturday 21st June 1902 – Friendly Society Anniversary at Yorkley: The members of the ‘Good Samaritan’ Lodge of Oddfellows commemorated their anniversary on Tuesday. They assembled early at the Nags Head, Yorkley, the club’s headquarters, and headed by the Yorkley Excelsior Brass Band (conducted by Mr P. Phipps), they marched to Viney Hill Church, where an appropriate sermon was preached ny the Rev.E. Roberts, the vicar. Mr William Everitt was organist. The members, having reformed, they paraded the district, making various calls, returning to the Nags Head, where a capital dinner awaited them. The Rev. E. Roberts presided, and about 70 members and friends sat down. During the evening the band discoursed some good music, and songs were sung by several of the members.
South Wales Weekly Argus and Monmouthshire Advertiser, Saturday 2nd June 1906: Albert Jones, coal haulier, of Whitecroft, was summonded for stealing a glass half-pint, value six and a half pennies, the property of the landlady of the Nags Head, Yorkley. Mr Gilmour prosecuted. A fine of £1 was imposed.
Myra Byett became the landlady of the Nags Head in January 1983. At the time of her 30 years’ service behind the bar in 2013 Myra was the longest-serving licensee in the Forest of Dean. Her daughter Sara Byett organised a surprise party for Myra and her regular customers at the Nags Head. For one night only a couple of barrels of beer, donated by the brewery (Admiral Taverns), were sold at early 1980’s prices – just 50 pence a pint. A 1980’s fancy dress disco was the highlight of the evening. Myra said, “The Nags Head is the first and only pub I have run, and I don’t know where the last 30 years have gone. It’s a beautiful building and, apart from the windows, it is exactly the same pub today as it was in 1983.” She added, “The Nags Head is a real homely place and we are always hosting annual events for the community such as a bonfire for Guy Fawkes Night and a Santa’s Grotto at Christmas. I’ve seen generations of the same family come and drink in the pub and I’ve made plenty of lifetime friendships during my time here.” Admiral Taverns also sent Myra some complimentary T-Shirts to mark the anniversary – but spelt her name wrong.
In 2010 Myra started to serve food at the Nags Head. An ‘eating out’ review in the ‘Forester’ newspaper in November of 2010 noted that ‘the pub offers a cheap and cheerful service with no frills. The menu consists of the usual pub food suspects, including scampi, cod, curry and lamb shanks in mint gravy sauce.’
The Forester, January 25th 2023 – Cheers Myra! It was party time at the Nags Head pub in Yorkley on Saturday as landlady Myra Byett celebrated 40 years behind the bar. There was a large turnout to celebrate with Myra, who is a hugely popular figure in the community. There was live music all day and a pizza van arrived later to provide food.
Myra said: “It’s a proper Forest pub and I enjoy it here.”
Landlords of the Nags Head include:
1822 John Davis
1851 William Charles
1864 John Beddis (died November 10th, 1864 – aged 49)
1876 Mrs Louisa Kear
1885,1891,1897 William Morse
1902 Amanda Morris
1903 Mary Amanda Morris
1924 Ernest Morris
1906,1927 Amanda Morris (listed as Aminda Morris in 1919 and 1927)
1939 William Hall
1944-1969 Mr and Mrs Leach
1969 Daphne Beale
1983 Graham Byett
1983,2024 Myra Byett
