Strensham is known today for the motorway service station on the M5. Before the motorway was built Strensham village was a quiet backwater just outside the Gloucestershire County boundary in Worcestershire. The Pelican, in later years The Cavalier, is included on the website just to include the excellent colour photographs taken by Michael Wilkes back in the mid1960’s when the pub was branded with West Country Ales signage. The earliest reference I have found to The Cavalier in Strensham is in December 1974, and the last in June 1990. The pub is now a private house called The Old Cavalier.
Tewkesbury Register, Saturday, 14th April 1945 – Death: John Henry Bishop, aged 37 years, at his home, The Pelican Inn, Strensham
Tewkesbury Register, Friday 16th December 1966 – Stole towel ‘in revenge’: An 18 year-old girl who stole a hand towel from a public house, and her 18-year-old companion who received it knowing it to be stolen, were fined £1 eack by Upton-on-Severn magistrates on Thursday of last week. Maureen Griffiths, of Phipps Farm, Defford, stated that she took the towel from the ladies’ toilet at the Pelican Inn, Strensham “in revenge” when her companion, Lionel Donald Mackay Eden, of Farleigh Road, Pershore, was made to pay 3s.6d. for a glass he broke when doing some tricks at the inn. Eden said he had used the towel to wipe blood from his mouth, which he cut when doing a trick, and then threw it away.
Stratford-upon- Avon Herald, Friday 17th August 1973 – Edwards, Bigwood and Bewlay Auctioneers and Estate Agents: For sale by auction on Tuesday 25th September 1973 at 6.30 pm at the Three Tuns Royal Hotel, Pershore: The Pelican Inn, Strensham. Comprising entrance hall, three bars, cellar, storeroom, kitchen, three bedrooms, bathroom and attics; outbuildings, large garden; in all nearly one acre. With the benefit of outline planning permission for the erection of three detached dwellings.
Business for Sale – October 1988- Cavalier Inn, Strensham, Tewkesbury, Glos. Georgian style freehouse in totally unopposed position. Refurbished property offers spacious bar, two dining rooms, five/six bedrooms. Barn suit conversion. Parking and grounds of 1 acre. Planning permission for Functions Room. Price guide £175,000. Auction 10th November 1998. Sidney Phillips, Eaton Bishop, Hereford.
Advertisement, January 1989 – Cavalier, Strensham. Open 12-11pm. Meals served all day. £2.95 Three-Course Roast. A la Carte also available.
Above images courtesy Michael Wilkes
Email. August 2026:
Geoff,
I arrived at The Pelican aged about four in the year 1942. The photo is just how I remembered the place. There are two small windows to the side the top one providing light to the toilet, you had to descend a couple of stairs to gain access, and the bottom one served the kitchen. As you went through the entrance door there was a straight, stone tiled floor that went the width of the building. On the right was the saloon or private bar where, years later, food was served from a very limited menu. On the left was the public bar. This was far larger than the saloon as it took up the width of the building whereas the kitchen took up half the right hand side. The public bar had a long wooden bench seat that was partitioned off with several wooden projections about two foot in length so little groups of men, say four, had some form of privacy if required. This only applied to the wall backing on to the windows. As you went out of the back door there was a concrete patch about eight foot square and then a long row of pig sties all occupied.
When I was there the landlady was Triss Reece and her partner was Charlie Perry. Like all pubs in those days a pub could not produce a living on its own and the Pelican came with quite a few acres of land which Charlie ran as a small holding with pigs. When the pigs allotted span was reached I used to accompany Charlie to Upton on Severn market for them to be auctioned. A youngish girl, who lived in Twyning green, called Alma used to assist in the pub.
I was lucky and enjoyed a super time there hence I can recall so much. I went to both Triss and Charlies funerals.
Once again thank you for reminding me of happy days.
With very best wishes,
David Harper