The Plume of Feathers was open in 1654 and possibly even before that. The late Ray Allen wrote in the Forest Review newspaper (Sept.1998) about Coleford pubs and, of the Plume of Feathers Inn, he wrote: ‘It was sold in 1672 by Stirley Kedgwin Snr. to Richard and Mary Sladden, the latter being Kedgwin’s daughter. It was acquired by the Hall family of Highmeadow who rented it in 1769 out at 1s.6d. weekly. Henry Jenkins bought the inn from Lord Gage when he wound up the family’s local estate that century.’
The Feathers Inn was put up for auction on 23rd March 1827. The inn was owned by Henry Jenkins, an innkeeper and stonemason, who had been declared bankrupt in 1819 and had served time in a debtor’s prison. He had no option but to sell his real estate which included the Feathers Inn. The auction was held across the road in the Kings Head. The Feathers was described as ‘a freehold property being the real estate of Henry Jenkins, late of Coleford aforesaid, innkeeper and stone cutter, an insolvent debtor, who was discharged from the King’s Bench Prison, in or about the month of February 1820’. The sale particulars described ‘all that commodious inn and public house, called the Feathers Inn, situate in the centre of the said town of Coleford, together with two large yards, four large stables & other attached buildings, with the appurtenances thereto adjoining, late in the occupation of Mr George Wintle, and now of Mr Richard Smart, as tenant thereof.’
In 1830 it is documented that Thomas Plaisted carriers ran a service from the yard of the Plume of Feathers to Gloucester.
Monmouthshire Beacon, Saturday 4th January 1851 – To Be Let: With possession on the 2nd February 1851, that old-established and very thriving inn, known as THE PLUME OF FEATHERS, situate in the centre of the town of Coleford, and now in the occupation of the proprietor, Mr. Milson Harris.
The house possesses extensive stabling, coach-house, commodius back premises, and every convenience for a good market and general trade; with large club room, commercial, and smoking rooms, bedrooms etc, etc. Apply to Mr Milson Harris, on the premises.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 19th January 1856 – To be sold at Auction by Mr R. White: At the Plume of Feathers Inn, in the town of Coleford, on Friday the 25th January, 1856, at three o’clock in the afternoon, subject to conditions to be then produced, – All that established, extensive and commodious inn and premises, situate in the centre of the town of Coleford, called or known as “THE PLUME OF FEATHERS”, for many years in the occupation of Mr. Milson Harris, now of Mr. Benjamin Gwilliam, as tenant thereof, at an annual rate of £55.
The premises are freehold, and comprise a very spacious dwelling house, brewhouse, meat shop, slaughter house, large yard, stables, coach houses, piggery, and other conveniences, well adapted for combining the trades of butcher and licensed victualler, as heretofore, and have lately undergone very extensive repairs and improvements. The sum of 500/- part of the purchase money, may remain upon mortgage of the premises, at 5 per cent. The tenant, Mr. Gwilliam, will show the premises; and for further particulars, apply to the auctioneer, or to Mr William Roberts, Junior, Solicitor, both of Coleford.
The Plume of Feathers, an alehouse, had an annual rateable value of £21.12s.0d. in 1891 and 1903. Amos Smith is listed as the owner in 1891 when the inn was operating as a free house, with no restrictions on beer supplies. Yet just 12 years later the Feathers had been leased to the Ashton Gate Brewery in Bristol. It was owned in 1903 by the representatives of Mary Ann Smith.
Lydney Observer, Friday 27th May 1988: Runs galore as County pip Feathers at Coleford (edit): The weather was dry and sunny as the two captains walked out to the middle of the pitch at the King George V Memorial Cricket Ground, Coleford, for the toss at Saturday’s match between the Feathers C.C. and a Gloucestershire XI for Andy Brassington’s benefit season. It was the first time a County side had played at Coleford since 1936.
The County side won the toss and opted to bat first on a dry flat wicket. They finished on a score of 308-8 off 40 overs, 39 runs coming off the last four overs. Top scorer was A.J. Wright, 55. After tea Gloucestershire took the field and the Feathers openers, M. Camp and A. Morgan set about the task of scoring 309 to win. Twenty five runs were put on the board before A. Morgan fell l.b.w. to A. Wright for one. M. Camp followed soon, with the score on 26 but not before hittng Syd Lawrence for three boundaries in his 14. T. Kettering was joined at the wicket by Kevin Curran, the Gloucestershire all-rounder who was a “Feather” for the day. What was to follow, no one could have dreamt of. In his stay of just 101 balls in a little over two hours, Kevin scored 205 runs. Of these 172 came in boundaries, no fewer than 16 sixes and 19 fours. In one over, off the unfortunate P. August, Kevin scored 30 – three sixes and three fours; and during his stay at the wicket five balls were lost in the surrounding fields and hedges. The innings was chanceless until he was bowled by I. Hamilton and was surely one of the most entertaining knocks ever seen in the Forest.
Meanwhile the Feathers batsmen did their best to hold up the other end, but one by one they lost their wicket. A Price (12) and T. Ketteringham (11) being the only ones to reach double figures. At the end of their 40 overs, the Feathers had reached 294 with one wicket remaining, so lost the Courage Challenge by a mere 14 runs.
Given the good weather and the quality of the cricket played on that afternoon, it was disappointing to see a crowd on only 500 or so, but those who came enjoyed their day out and went home fully satisfied.
Man of the match was Kevin Curran.
Pubs of the Forest of Dean & Ross-on-Wye. A critical guide by Jon Hurley (booklet, 1991): Buzzing with locals, drifters (like us) and shop girls, the Feathers feels and looks like a pub. Great atmosphere under the landlords robust direction and his staff are efficient and not afraid to exercise their facial muscles. Low, smoky ceiling and horse brassy, the Feathers knows how to serve pleasant food at realistic prices and the Courage’s beer is a welcome invader in Whitbread territory. Upstairs folk music is heard on certain evenings and among the bantering clients was ‘varest’ poet Keith Morgan of “The ‘Azard O’ Chimmuck Szwippin” and “Alberts Dree Wi’ker” fame. Staring into his pint Keith was searching for his muse but hadn’t found it when we left. A little upright piano stood awaiting its Saturday night tickling in a corner.
The 1996 edition of ‘RAIG – Real Ale in Gloucestershire’ described the Feathers as a ‘friendly town centre pub. Home cooked food served at lunchtime (not Sunday). By arrangement parties can enjoy a Bierkeller atmosphere with steins of ale. Outdoor seating in the courtyard in summer.’
The owners of the Feathers in 2007 were Inns 2B Inn Ltd. It is now owned by the Bridlington Pub Company.
Landlords at the Plume of Feathers include:
1827 Henry Jenkins (Feathers Inn)
1830 John Edwards (Plume of Feathers)
1837 Milson Harris
1842 Nelson (sic) Harris (Plume of Feathers. Nelson Harris is Milson Harris)
1851,1852 Milson Harris (aged 48 in 1851 census, also listed as a butcher in 1852)
1856 G. Harris
1856 Benjamin Gwilliam
1870 Edmund Jones (Feathers Inn)
1876,1881 Abraham Lockey (aged 48 in 1881)
1885 John Wyatt
1891 Frank Smith
1902,1906 Thomas Burge
1919 E. A. Bound
1927 Ben Voyce
1939 Frederick John Fox
1997 Michael Adrian Daly
2009 Terry Smith
