Plough Inn, Great Boulsdon GL18 1JJ
It is likely that the license of the Plough Inn was transferred from an inn near the present-day National Birds of Prey Centre just outside Newent to a property nearer the town centre in Culver Street. An old map clearly shows the Plough Inn at Great Boulsdon on the unclassified road towards Cliffords Mesne, about a mile and a half to the South of Newent. In the 1939 Kelly’s Directory the Plough is listed as being in Culver Street. A doubling of the rateable values from 1891 to 1903 also suggest that the Plough Inn had been significantly altered or re-sited.
The Northgate Brewery in Gloucester, trading as Hatton & Co, owned the Plough Inn in 1891, although just five years later Hatton & Co was acquired by Ind Coope Ltd.
The Burton on Trent based brewery were obviously keen to secure outlets for their beer in Newent as they had just purchased the Nags Head in Broad Street and invested in the property and added impressive Ind Coope signage on the façade. Yet, for some reason Ind Coope did not take on the ownership of the Plough Inn. In 1903 the pub was owned by Flowers & Sons of Stratford on Avon.
When the Northgate Brewery in Gloucester owned the Plough in 1891 the annual rateable value was £12.0s.0d., but this had increased by £13 to £25.0s.0d. when Flowers & Sons were owners in 1903. The Plough was licensed as a beer house and in 1903 closed at 11 pm. The extra hour drinking time also strongly suggests that the Plough was sited in the town of Newent rather than in the countryside. (rural pubs usually closed at 10 pm).
‘Mike’ contacted me about his early memories of Newent growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s. He wrote, “The Plough was certainly located in Culver Street (then called Culvert Street) and was 100 yards or so up from the Nags Head. I know this because I lived in the house opposite for almost twenty years before 1965. It was one of my entertainments to watch the barrels being heaved off the delivery lorry and rolled down into the cellar. It was certainly a Flowers pub and, to the best of my memory the publicans were Dick (presumably Richard) Morgan and his wife, Doris. In those days it never seemed to me to be particularly well-frequented and I guess a dwindling clientele led to its demise not long afterwards. It was converted into living accommodation.”
Landlords at the Plough Inn include:
1891 W.T. Edwards
1903 William Howells
1939 William S. Williams
