Crown Inn - John BRAIN 1805 or 1771 (General)

by messerschmitt , Thursday, May 09, 2013, 09:36 (4218 days ago) @ m p griffiths

Lydia Thompson owned our house and lived in Pales House directly opposite, according to the deeds. Interestingly, according to the 1914 Kelly's she is a shopkeeper and I think may have operated a shop from the front of the premises. This shop front in the small front room survived until the 1985-90 renovations of the property when it was swept away to make way for a 'not as nice' doorway and window.

We found it strange that she lived in a smaller property. In 1901 there was a blacksmith's on site, as noted on the OS Map of the village and (as far as I can tell) mentioned in the VCH too.

One of the last blacksmiths worked a smithy, built by the Lydbrook-Ross road in the mid 19th century (fn. 85) and occupied by a joiner and furniture maker in 1990. Glos. R.O., P 275/VE 2/1, min. 29 Apr. 1859; D 1251/A/1.