The Royal Oak was in the Square and was de-licensed in the 1930’s. In 1928 the property was included in an inventory of Stroud Brewery property with ‘2 condemned cottages adjoining.’ The Royal Oak was probably somewhere near to (or on the site of) the present day Stonehouse Post Office.
Stroud Journal, Saturday 1st December 1860 – Stonehouse Accident: On Thursday week, as Mr Mac Vitie, painter, was proceeding in a trap with his men towards Coldthorpe, when near the Royal Oak, Stonehouse, the horse ran from the road up the bank on to the footpath, when the trap was upset, precipitating its contents and occupants into the road with great force. One of the workmen, Henry Hairs, had his arm broken above and below the elbow, but he is progressing favourably.
Stroud News & Gloucestershire Advertiser, Friday 20th February 1874 – TO LET – ROYAL OAK INN, STONEHOUSE: with possession at Lady-Day. Smith & Son, Brimscombe Brewery.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 9th August 1884 – We regret that an accident, which terminated fatally, took place at the Stroud showground of the Gloucestershire Agricultural Society on Thursday. A lad, Edwards, aged 17 years of age, son of Christopher Edwards, landlord of the Royal Oak, Stonehouse, was riding a horse when the halter broke, and fearing some mishap would be the result, he jumped off and caught the animal by the head. The horse fell and crushed Edwards, who died last night in the Stonehouse Cottage Hospital.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 3rd January 1885 – Whitminster Court: Henry Clark, a ticket-of-leave man, of Walls Quarry, was sent for trail to the quarter sessions, on the charge of stealing, on the 26th December, from the Royal Oak, Stonehouse, a gold watch and chain and seven threepenny pieces, together of the value of £10.2s.3d., the property of Christopher Walter Edwards, the landlord.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 10th October 1885: Frederick Wallace was summoned for refusing to quit the Royal Oak, Stonehouse on the 5th Oct, with assaulting Christopher Edwards, and with being drunk. He was making a disturbance and refused the repeated requests of the landlady to leave until a policeman was sent for. As he was going away he met the landlord coming home and violently attacked him. He was fined 4s. and 14s. costs for refusing, £1. 4s. 6d and 15s.6d for the assault, and 5s. and 7s. for being drunk.
Gloucester Citizen, Thursday 2nd February 1905 – Stonehouse Licensing Sessions: The sessions were held on Thursday. The chairman announced that they had decided to adjourn the renewal of the Royal Oak at Stonehouse which will be dealt with at a Special Sessions on March 2nd.
Gloucester Citizen, Thursday 10th September 1925 – For Sale: 1924 three and a half h.p. B.S.A., Terry saddle and pillion, speedometer, heavy T. and H. lamps, splendid condition. £42.10s. – White, Royal Oak, Stonehouse.
Gloucestershire Licensing Committee, June 1930: The licenses of 15 public houses were refused by the County Licensing Committee yesterday (Tuesday 24th June) including the Royal Oak in Stonehouse.
Licensing Details:
Rateable Value in 1891: £12.10s.0d.
Owner in 1891: Godsell & Sons, Salmon Springs Brewery, Stroud
Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse
Rateable Value in 1903: £18.0s.0d.
Owner in 1903: Godsell & Sons, Salmon Springs Brewery, Stroud
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse
Closing time in 1903: 11pm
Landlords at the Royal Oak include:
1877 (January) ‘Bankruptcy – A. Bailey, Royal Oak Inn, Stonehouse -inn keeper and dealer’
1884 Christopher Edwards
1887 (November) BIRTHS: ‘On November 3rd, at the Royal Oak, Stonehouse, the wife of C.W. Edwards, of a daughter.’
1891 Joshua Merrett (died 1912)
1899 Charles W. Merrett
1903 Frederick White