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The Royal Oak in Church End, now The Brew House |
Notes on the Brewhouse
The building was originally L-shaped: consisting of two houses (one a public alehouse), a cooper's and carpenter's shop, brewery and stables. The two houses were converted into one and the shop was demolished, but the old brewery cellar, under where it stood, still remains with the wall. The rear wall of the Brewhouse has been dated between 1650 and 1670.
The alehouse called 'The Royal Oak' closed in 1923. A beerhouse was recorded in the mid-1800's, whilst trades of brewing and barrel-making are noted in lease and mortgage documents going back to 1812.
1796 Enclosure Map
Although not actually named as such, the 'Royal Oak' is shown on the 1796 Enclosure map as plot 185, a 'Cottage and Garden' owned by Thomas Platt.
The neighbouring plot 186, owned by William Field is described as 'House and Malthouse'.
1830 - 1939
Unlike the other village pubs, the Royal Oak is not mentioned by name in any of the trade directories published between 1830 and 1939. It is only mentioned explicitly in the 1861 and 1891 censuses, although there are references to a 'beer retailer' in Church End, which is presumed to be the Royal Oak, as the White Hart is listed separately. These sources enable the following list of the Royal Oak's publicans and their families over this period to be constructed.
| Publican | Date (Data source) | Notes |
| George Cripps | 1830 (Pigot) to 1854 (Post Office) including 1851 (Census) | 1830 (Pigot): cooper, 1839 (Robson): beer retailer, 1844 (Pigot): cooper, 1847 (Kelly): beer retailer & shopkeeper 1851 (Census): George Cripps, cooper/beerhouse keeper, age 66, born Newport Pagnell Wife: Hannah Cripps, age 51, born Wellingborough, Northants Son: George Cripps, scholar, age 6, born Sherington Mother in law: Hannah Glover, age73, wife of shoemaker, born Bozeat, Northants Visitor: Richard Humphreys, age 45, Painter/Glazier, born Sherington Visitor: Charles Hall, age 3, born Sherington 1853 (Musson): beer retailer and shopkeeper,1854 (Post Office): beer retailer & brewer |
| Richard Humphrey | 1861 (Census) 1864 (Post Office) | 1861 (Census): (Royal Oak), Richard Humphrey, Painter, glazier and licensed, age 55, born Sherington Hannah Cripps, boarder, widow, housekeeper, age 51, born Wellingborough, Northants George Cripps, boarder, painter and glazier, age 16, born Sherington 1864 (Post Office): described as beer retailer |
| George Simco | 1869 (Kelly) | Described as beer retailer. Appears to be the son of John Simco who was publican at the White Hart in the 1844 to 1854 period |
| Henry Hill | 1871 (Census) 1876 (Harrod) | Henry Hill, Publican and shoemaker, age 39, born Wotton, Beds Wife: Eliza, Machinist, age 38, born Sherington Niece: Annie Lack, scholar, age 8, born Kempston, Beds William Clarke, age 19, apprentice shoemaker, born Emberton William Mills, age 14, apprentice shoemaker, born Wotton, Beds 1876 (Harrod): described as beer retailer Henry Hill later becomes the owner of the White Hart. He died in 1902 (St. Laud's headstone) |
| Samuel Putt | 1877 (Kelly) | Described as beer retailer |
| Albert Umney | 1881 (Census) | Albert Umney, publican, age 25, born Horwood, Bucks Wife: Annie, age 23, born Newport Pagnell Daughter: Edith, age 2, born Newport Pagnell Elizabeth Norman, age 13, general servant (domestic), born Sherington |
| James Hine | 1883 (Kelly) to 1891 (Kelly) | 1881 Census: In Church End, James, age 44, Farm labourer, wife Sarah, age 39 (lacemaker), Sons George James, 10 and Thomas Walter, 7, both scholars, all born Sherington In 1883 and 1887 (Kelly), he is described as a beer retailer, and in 1891 as a beer retailer and farmer 1891 census: now recorded in Church Lane, James, age 53, farmer, wife Sarah, 49, Daughter Edith E., 24 (dressmaker), sons George J., 20 (coachmaker's apprentice) and Thomas W., 17 (carpenter's apprentice), all born Sherington In 1895 and 1899 (Kelly) he is described as a farmer. In the 1901 census he is a retired farmer, age 64, living in the High St, with wife Sarah, age 59, and daughter Kate Emily, age 36 (dressmaker) Son, George James, is a wheelwright near the Knoll James died 1909, Sarah died 1921, Kate Emily died 1928 (all headstones in St Laud's) |
| George Sharman | 1891 (Census) 1895 (Kelly) | 1891 Census (Royal Oak): George Sharman, publican, age 37, born in Turvey, Beds Wife: Alice, publican, age 26, born Newton Abbot, Jersey Daughter: Alice, scholar, age 4, born Kempston, Beds Son: George, age 2, born Turvey, Beds 1895 (Kelly): beer retailer In the 1899 Kelly directory they have moved to the Swan Inn |
| Frederick Line | 1899 (Kelly) to 1915 (Kelly) including 1901 (Census) | In the Kelly directories he is listed as a beer retailer, but in the 1901 census the only Frederick Line is a bricklayer in Church End Frederick Line, bricklayer, age 36, born Sherington Wife: Emily, age 33, born Law (?), Oxon Daughters: Florence Emily L., age 10, and Norah Provis (?), age 3, both born Sherington Sons: Frederick Herbert, age 9, and Richard Henry, age 1 month, both born Sherington |
| - | 1920 (Kelly) to 1939 (Kelly) | No reference |
Note: there are some inconsistencies in the census data. At present, it is not known if some of these may just be transcription errors, due to difficulties in reading the handwriting, or if they were in the original.
Deeds
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