The Ram Inn is an ancient hostelry with a history that can be traced back to late in the 17th century. Records show that before 1750 the premises was known as the Pen in Hand. In the Victorian era it was a tied house of George Playne & Sons, Forwood Brewery but had passed to Stroud Brewery ownership when the local brewery was taken over in 1897.

The Minchinhampton Womens Institute recalled an amusing story about the Ram Inn in their 1957 book ‘The Story of Minchinhampton’ : “A hundred years ago or so the wife of the landlord put up a performing bear and its owner at the pub whilst he was away. When the landlord returned late at night he walked straight into the bear which hugged him. He shouted to his wife ‘Sally, Sally, the devils got me!”….. “Nao, nao”, she replied.. “its only a bur!”

Courtesy Nailsworth Town Archives

I was contacted by John Rogers in January 2008 who told me that the Ram  ceased trading as a pub in the late 1960’s and became the social club for the recently formed Minchinhampton Rugby Football Club. John said that “it still effectively operated as a pub with limited opening hours – they didn’t have much of a membership policy!”

It was converted into a restaurant in the 1990’s.  recently offering Bed and Breakfast but the old Ram Inn is now residential. It is included on the ‘Inns of the Cotswolds Map’ published by John Bartholomew & Sons in the mid 1970’s and compiled by K.C. Jordan. 

Image Courtesy Dave Kirby

Map Reference: SO 873007

Licensing Details:

Owner in 1891: George Playne, Forwood Brewery, Minchinhampton

Rateable value in 1891: £7.10s.0d.

Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse

Owner in 1903: Stroud Brewery

Rateable value in 1903: £7.10s.0d.

Type of licence in 1903: Full

Closing time in 1903: 10pm

Landlords at the Ram Inn include:

1842 Thomas Hill

1863 Soloman Hill

1874,1885 Isaac Hill

1891 Charles Hillier

1902 Mrs Mary Hillier

1903,1906 Charles Keen

1919 Henry Ralph Browning

1927 Edwin Jones

1939 Arthur L. Woolford

1969 Edwin Holford (Margaret Rose Holford died suddenly in Jan 1971, aged 54)

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