Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 9th December 1905: Monday, before Mr E Adlard (in the chair at Winchcombe Magistrates) and Col. Fairfax Rhodes. James Green, 40, a navvy, was brought up on remand charged with stealing two live fowls, value 5s., the property of Mrs Sarah Cull, Crown Inn, Gretton on November 30th.
George Harris, carpenter, lodging at the Crown Inn deposed that at 3.30 on Thursday afternon he was at work in a shop at the back of the Crown Inn and saw prisoner come up the garden path and go to the fowls’ house. Witness went to him and Green said he had mistaken the outbuilding. At 4.30 pm witness heard the fowls screaming, and going back to them saw no one there, but missed two of the fowls.
The magistrates considered the offence proved, but as nothing was known against prisoner they were willing to let him off on payment of £1 and 11s expenses. Green said he had no money, and was sent to Gloucester for a month.
Gloucestershire Echo, Saturday 1st March, 1924 -Winchcombe Licensing Sessions: The case of the Crown Inn, Gretton, was taken first, and Mr Wylie, of Birmingham (instructed by Messrs. Haddock and Pruen (Cheltenham), appeared on behalf of the owner-tenant, Mr Jones. Describing the inn as an ideal village public house, Mr Wylie pointed out that Mr Jones had spent a life’s savings on the premises, having purchased the property for £400, since when he had expended a sum of £600 in extensive alterations, the plans for which were passed by the Winchcombe Bench in June last year. Letters is support of the continuance of the licence were read from Sir T. Davis, M.P., the Vicar of Winchcombe (Rev. F.M. Wickham) , and others, and a petition signed by 168 residents of the neighbourhood was handed to the Bench.
Mr Frederick Jones bore out counsel’s statements, and said that trade had been increasing all the time he had been at the house. He provided meals in the shape of anything asked for. The house was formerly not much known, but since it had been renovated it showed up from the railway, and they were getting many visitors in consequence. He had been offered £1,500 for the premises by a brewer, but he did not sell as he wanted the house as a home, he being a retired member of the Birmingham Police Force and latterly of the American Detective Service.
The Bench here stopped the proceedings, saying the license would be renewed. At the same time the Chairman congratulated Mr Wylie on the excellent way he had put the case before them.
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 27th February 1926 – Winchcombe Licensing Sessions: On the question of the Crown Inn, Gretton, Dr Earengay (instructed by Mr H.W. Stephens) appeared for the owner, Mr. Arthur Brettell, a brewer, of Birmingham, and also for the licensee, Clarence Alexander Nickells; and Mr. M. Holdsworth (instructed by Messrs Pepper, Tangye and Winterton, Birmingham) for another interested party, and after a lenghty investigation the Bench decided to refer this house for compensation. On the grounds of redundancy and it was not required for the needs of the neighbourhood.
Gloucestershire Echo, Thursday 24th June 1926 – Licenses to be extinguished: In regard to the Crown Inn, Gretton, owned by Arthur Bretwell, Proof House Brewery, Birmingham, Superintendent W.J. Lane stated that the population of Gretton was 267, and there were four licensed houses in the village, three of them being close together. The house was well kept but was an old structure. The New Inn did the same class of trade as he Crown, and was much moere suited to the needs of the public. He considered the Crown could be done without.
Answering Dr. Earengey, instructed by Mr H.W. Stephens, who represented the brewer, Mr Lane said he did not think many visitors came to Gretton which was a typical Cotswold stone village. The justices had previously refused to extinguish the licence, and there were no new circumstances. the licensee told him he was making a better living. The licensee (Mr C.A. Nicholls) stated that he purchased the remainder of the lease of the premises for £500 including ingoing. He often had visitors, staying at the house. Gretton was one of the prettiest spots in the Cotswolds. A petition for the retention of the license had been signed by 80 or 90 persons.
The Court decided to extinguish the licence, and also that of the Dog and Gun in Winchcombe.
Proof House Brewery, New Canal Street, Birmingham.
Gloucestershire Echo, Monday 28th June 1926 – The Crown Inn, Gretton: In reference to the extinction of the licence of the Crown Inn, Gretton, which came before the Licensing Justices at Gloucester on Thursday, the chimney sweep who signed the petition against closing the house requests us to say that he did not add after his signature and description, “always drunk”, but “always dry”, which he contends is very different. He only wrote it for a bit of fun.
Gloucestershire Echo, Friday 25th October 1929 – Sale by Cornelius & Boulter at the Plough Hotel on Thursday afternoon. ‘Dwelling house formerly the Crown Inn at Gretton near Winchcombe.’
Licensing details:
Owner in 1891: Mrs Hadley
Licensed as a beerhouse in 1891
Free of brewery tie in 1891
Rateable value £10.15s.0d. in 1891
Owner in 1903: Mrs Hadley
Licensed as a beerhouse in 1903
Free of brewery tie in 1903
Rateable value £10.15s.0d. in 1903
Closing time 10pm in 1903
Landlords at the Crown Inn include:
1891 John Hunt (listed as “No Name”
1903,1905 Sarah Cull
1924 Frederick Jones
1926 Clarence Alexander Nichols
