Jovial Colliers Inn , Ruardean Woodside (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Thursday, August 16, 2012, 20:36 (4484 days ago) @ slowhands

From the aforementioned book "Pubs of the Royal Forest of Dean" by H.Hurley

"By 1841 a beerhouse had already been established at Ruardean Woodside, which became the "Jovial Colliers". It was kept by George Wilks after being acquired by Alfred Wintle's Brewery. John Gibbs was the tenant in 1923 paying a rent of £50 a year. Gibbes was still there in 1937 when the pub was acquired by the Cheltenham Original Brewery, but he had left by 1939. It survived the Second World War, but around 1960 was closed and converted into a dwelling - fortunately the name has been kept."

The book doesn't contain a photo but does have two notices advertising it's proposed sale in 1923:

"THE JOVIAL COLLIERS, Freehold Beer House, Ruardean Woodside, Glos.
Stonebuilt and Rough Cast, comprising
First Floor - Four Bedrooms, Club room, Box room.
Ground Floor - Bar, Tap room, Sitting room, Beer Store, Kitchen, Larder.
Basement - Cellarage.
Outbuildings - Consist of Two sets of Stabling, Granary, Loft, Pig Cots, Urinal & closet.
In Rear - Nice Garden, and Two Meadows, in all about Five arces.

The Property is of Freehold Tenure and let to Mr John Gibbs on Quarterley Tenancy at the Reduced Rental of Per £50 ann"

The everhelpful British History website mentions the pub in it's detailed history of Ruardean.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23261

The recent full address is
Forest of Dean Falconry
Old Jovial Colliers Cottages,
Ruardean Woodside,
Ruardean,
Gloucestershire,
GL17 9XJ
01594 541888

Personally I'm unsure as to whether it's still a Falcony Centre, I find no mention in the usual Tourism websites and there is a long-established world-famous centre only a few miles away at Newent.
The Cottages are also listed online under selfcatering holiday accomodation, so perhaps of use for future history research visits from Yorkshire etc ?. At least the postcode should help pinpoint it via satnav (or so I'm told!).
Using Streetmap and the postcode gives this area. Thatsaid the link appears irregular, if it only gives a nonspecific USA "hit", then just type "GL17 9XJ" into the search box and it will take you to Ruardean Hill.
https://maps.google.com/?t=h&layer=c&cbll=-3.137768,-60.493357&panoid=1ci-8...

The map's red icon highlights Springfield Cottage; I suspect the long L-shaped terrace opposite this is the old pub, on junction of Meend Lane and Baker's Piece Road (who was Baker ?). You can see evidence of a recently removed sign from one of the cottage's walls, perhaps the "old" Falconry Centre sign ?.

Clearly this is another part of Dean I must explore more closely, I've driven around the Hill hundreds of times but never been up it, judging from the beautifull views I must visit soon !