Bourton on the Water railway station opened in March 1862 as the terminus of the first section of the Banbury & Cheltenham Railway from Kingham. When the line was completed westwards to Andoversford and onwards towards Cheltenham, Bourton on the Water became a through station. The Railway Hotel was located on the south-eastern side of Station Street, opposite the Great Western Railway station.
From 1896 the Railway Hotel was tied to Hitchman & Co., brewers of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. The railway line from Cheltenham and Banbury, via Kingham, connected Bourton on the Water and Chipping Norton. The railway enabled easy transportation of Hitchman’s beers eastwards to Bourton on the Water and the Railway Hotel could cater for the needs of passengers travelling on the line. A 1927 reference is to the Railway Commercial Hotel.
Bourton-on-the-Water Railway: Notice is hereby given that the sixteenth Ordinary General Meeting of the Bourton-on-the Water Railway Company will be hed at the Railway Hotel, Bourton-on-the-Water, on Monday the 30th day of March, 1868, at half-past one o’clock precisely, to receive a report from the Directors, and for the general business of the company.
Evesham Standard, Saturday 28th November 1896 – Sale of the Railway Hotel: On Friday the Railway Hotel was offered for sale by auction. After a keen competition the hotel was knocked down to Messrs. Hitchman & Co., of Chipping Norton, for £2,120. Two villas adjoining were sold to Messrs. Hartwell & Co., for £400.
In 1924 Hitchman & Co. amalgamated with Hunt Edmunds of Banbury but brewing at Chipping Norton continued until March 1932.
The last record I have of the Railway Hotel in Bourton is in 1927, when it was run by Mrs Evelyn Stokey. The Stokey family also operated a hauliers business from the premises. Did the Railway Hotel ever sell Hunt Edmunds Banbury ales and did it survive into the Second World War? Any help on determining when it actually closed would be appreciated.
It seems that the Railway Hotel had closed by the time the last passenger train ran into Bourton on the Water station on 15th October 1962.
The large three storey building is now in private occupation, subdivided into apartments. To the rear of the property is an annexe and above the side door in fading lettering can be seen the word ‘Tap’.
Map Reference: SP 168213
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Trustees of Charles Barton (leased Hitchman & Co., Chipping Norton)
Rateable value in 1891: £21.12s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Hitchman & Co., Chipping Norton
Rateable value in 1903: £32.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlords at the Railway Hotel include:
1865 Dowman
1885,1891 William Jessop
1903,1906 Alexander Austin Stokey
1919,1927 Mrs Evelyn Stokey
