Royal Oak Hotel, The Cross, Welshpool

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 20 Jul 2022

Grade II Listed, substantially 18th century inn with early 19th century extensions. The Royal Oak is mentioned in 1724 within the diary of local gentleman John Kelsall. However, in 1741-2 there is reference to the rebuilding of the Royal Oak by Humphrey Parry and it is to this period that the main building most likely dates. Some evidence of timber framed Tudor construction was found in the building and it may have been an inn long before the 18th century. The name Royal Oak became popular after the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the earliest inn by this name recorded is by Pepys in 1663. The building was owned by successive members of the Herbert family of Powis Castle. Church Stretton Hotel Company leased the inn in 1901 but went bust in 1909. The 4th Earl of Powis, George Charles Herbert, sold The Royal Oak sometime during the 1920s. A few years later in 1930 it was bought by Harry Price, a family association with the hotel that was to last 74 years. Improvements and refurbishment was carried out in 1980 and 1998 and then in 2004 it was sold to local couple, Emma and Malcolm Bebb. In April 2015 The Royal Oak was acquired by the Coaching Inn Group, which immediately carried out a major refurbishment of the public areas and bedrooms. From various sources and directories landlords include; 1801 John Keate; 1802 Thomas Colley; 1802-1821 Mary Colley; 1821-1828 John Whitehall; 1828-1851 Sarah Whitehall; 1859-1883 William Rowland; 1883-1895 David Richards; 1912-1918 Mrs N B McClelland.

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