The Royal Oak Public House, Barton-le-Clay
The Royal Oak, 2010 © Bedford Virtual Library
The Royal Oak Public House: Bedford Road, Barton-le-Clay
The Royal Oak is a large late 17th century two storey building located on Bedford Road in Barton-le-Clay. Its deeds are located at Hertfordshire County Record Office [ref: DE/Sb/T101] as the public house was owned by Simpsons Brewery of Baldock, a Hertfordshire brewery.
The Royal Oak was listed by the former Department of Environment in March 1975 as Grade II, of special interest. It dates from the 17th century and the property comprises of two storeys with attics. It has one ground floor and five first floor casements beneath a clay tiled roof. The structure is red and vitreous brick and has a modern rear extension.
The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. The valuer visiting the property, on 21st February 1927 [ref: DV1/C22/15] found it was owned by Simpson and Co and occupied by George Roberts.
The property is noted as having bad public accommodation. Downstairs comprised a bar and cellar, a fair tap room, two reception rooms, a kitchen and scullery combined. Upstairs there were four bedrooms. Outside was a barn, a bay open shed, a stable for two used as a store
Trade is listed as 1 ½ barrels, 3 dozen bottles and ½ gallon of spirits a week. The public house was fully licensed.
Licensees: note that this is not a complete list and that dates in italics are not necessarily beginning or end dates, merely the first/last date which can be confirmed from sources such as directories and deeds.
- 1856 – Samuel Brasier
- 1864 - 1882 – William Page
- 1882 - 1891 – Edward Cain
- 1891 - 1934 – George Roberts
- 1936 - 1940 – Frederick James Brazier
List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives:
- DV1/C22/15: Rating Valuation Book, 1927
- FSD/BI/Box 80: Building Inspection file, 1974.
- Z402/11/4: (2) Notes on Barton public houses from CRO source, 1981
- Z1169/8/5/1-2: Architects drawings of Royal Oak, 1953