History of The New Inn, Coln St Aldwyns
It is thought that there has been an Inn at Coln St. Aldwyns since the time of Elizabeth I's reign, during which she issued a decree that there should be a coaching inn within a day's travel of every major centre of population for the comfort and security of her subjects.
Certainly "A History of Gloucestershire" from "Victorian County History" mentions that an Inn in Coln St. Aldwyns belonged to the Hatherop Manor Estate in 1653 and 1676. In 1755, two Inn Holders were licensed in the village, one of whom possibly occupied the Swann Inn mentioned in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
In 1851 the New Inn site was occupied by a malthouse and garden, and the census showed that a maltster and brewer occupied the premises.
The New Inn itself has existed since at least 1870, when that year’s Kelly’s Directory lists Mrs Pearcy Smith as the Beer Retailer in Coln St. Aldwyns and it is known that from that year the parish had one beer retailer who occupied premises east of the village street.
In 1903 James Wilkins was recorded as the Beer Retailer in Morris and Company’s Directory and Gazetteer, and by reference to the entry, it was recognised that the property from which he operated is that which is now known as The New Inn.
His family were recorded as the owners till 1917 when the New Inn was sold to the Trustees of Viscount Quenington, whose family sold it in 1959.
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