July, 2013
E: richard@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk
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Star closes as developer eyes housing Flats and houses on cards for latest pub closure THE Star pub in Frampton Cotterell has closed it’s doors for the last time and is to be developed for housing. The Pub, on Church Road, has been bought by local developers who want to turn the pub building into flats and build houses in the garden. Andy and Michelle Cake, who are based up the road at The Waterworks in Church Close, bought the property at auction after the company owning The Star went bankrupt. Mrs Cake told the Voice that the pub closure was inevitable: “it couldn’t stay as a pub, it wasn’t popular as a pub. In the last five to ten years it’s struggled. We’ve been approached by neighbours so many times to see if we could do something”. Not all locals agree though. Peter Jackson campaigned to keep the pub open. “The loss of the Star as a public house would be of significance to the communities of Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath. The pub was well used leading up to its closure and played a central role as a meeting place for people to enjoy social
time with members of their community. The pub was also a venue for the local darts team where the game was supported very enthusiastically” he said. “There are several thousand homes planned for South Gloucestershire, surely two or three more are not really needed at the expense of this valuable community amenity”.
The Cakes, whose companies include Acton Homes, say they can be trusted to develop the site sympathetically. Their website states they build properties in the traditional penant stone, and recent developments include properties in Woodend Road and The Causeway. The pub building is locally listed and developers says the
Pubs proud past: 172 years of history
style will be kept exactly the same if they get permission to convert the property into flats. It’s the latest in a long line of pubs to close in the village. Within the last ten years the Golden Lion on Beesmoor Road and the Western Coach House on Bristol Road have shut their doors and have been redeveloped for housing.
Pubs gone but not forgotten......... COALPIT HEATH • Fire Engine Inn • Horse Shoe Inn Converted into 3 houses. • Star Inn.
Landlord Albert Mitchell stands behind the bar counter of the Star Inn during the 1950’s. Albert was publican at the public house from 1926 till his death in 1964. He combined his duties as licensee with those of being a village postman.
RECORDS of the Star Inn go back to 1841. It has been at the heart of the community of what once was Watermore Lane and is now Church Road. Much of the pub’s history is linked to one family. Albert and Emily Mitchell took over the running of The Star in 1929 on the death of Emily’s father Frederick Adams. Fred became landlord of the pub in 1911 taking over from his mother Emma who died that year, aged 86 years. Emma and her husband Thomas were recorded in the 1851 census as living at the pub. The Star had an annual rateable of £14.10.0d. in 1891 and £14.0s.0d in 1903, when it closed at 11 p.m.
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ABOVE:The Star Inn about 1936, complete with gas porch light. Mrs Emily Mitchell, wife of landlord Albert, and Ronald Roslyn stand on the steps. BELOW:Guests enjoying a salmon supper evening held in the smoke room of the Star Inn. Ken Davis, who lived in Alexandra Road, cooked the 22lb fish in a large steamer for this one off occasion in 1954.
FRAMPTON COTTERELL • Bunch of Grapes now a private house on Woodend Road • Cottage of Content Harris Barton now a private residence. • Cross Hands Inn (Western Coach House) Bristol Road. Converted into 3 private residences. • Crown Inn, Brockridge - location unknown, possibly became Bunch of Grapes in Woodend Road • Golden Lion, Beesmore Road.Demolished • New Inn, Mill Lane - now a private residence • Stags Head Frampton Common (now Church Road)
Email: richard@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk