IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Church Street, WELSHPOOL, SY21 7LH

Grade II Listed building that has a date stone in the chimney for 1692 by Gilbert and Ann Jones. It was extensively remodelled around 1830 but had been the Coach and Horses Inn from 1765 reportedly until 1906 but I can't find it in 1895 and 1901 directories. In 1906 it became an estate agents' office and was later used by the Royal Oak Hotel. Recently Halls Estate Agents, it is currently (2022) up for sale or rent described as Old Coach Chambers, a total of 1,572 sq ft of office space. However the second floor is an occupied 2 bedroom flat. It looks like Church Street was previously Bull Street. A search of my directories for the Coach & Horses produced; 1835 Jane Griffiths, Bull Street; 1844 Edward Jones, Bull Street; 1859-1868 George Adolphus Waidson.

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.

The building now combines a station with tourist shops. This works very well.

Two streets at crossroads in the centre of Welshpool. Broad Street is on the left. Viewed from the corner of Berriw Street and Severn Street.

The new one-way system is still under construction and is causing long delays.

The continuation of the road, beyond the traffic lights, is Broad Street. This is the main shopping street in the centre of the town.

The Royal Oak Hotel was one of the nation’s most celebrated coaching inns during the early 1800s, being at the meeting point of important roads from Chester, Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Aberystwyth.

Hotel, eatery and coffeehouse viewed across Severn Street. A notice https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7266637 states that this building was formerly the manor house of the Earl of Powis and a coaching stop, and that it did not become Royal until the 19th century when Queen Victoria visited Powis Castle.

Newsagents and tobacconists at 33 Severn Street, Welshpool.