The Royal Oak - Penkhull

The Royal Oak - Penkhull

operated as a beer house from c1866 to 1912

photo c.1960
View down Manor Court Street with Newcastle Lane running off to the right.
The church to the left of the picture is St. Thomas's and the shop sign reads....

The Village Stores
F & H BRUNT
high class
Groceries &
Provisions

On the corner of Manor Court Street (which was called Church Street until the early 1950's) and Newcastle Lane (which was Newcastle Street), stands this small building.

Part of a small row of cottages with this shop on the end. In 1866 the cottages were purchased by a John Royal, they are described as eight houses but with two of them "lately converted into one and used as a beer house occupied by William Benbow"

The beer house was still occupied by William Benbow in 1870 but by 1884 was in the hands of the Shenton family - there is a gravestone in St.Thomas's church yard which reads:-

In Loving Memory of
MARY ANN,
The beloved wife of
DAVID SHENTON
of the Royal Oak Inn, Penkhull
who died MAY 14th 1884
AGED 44 YEARS

We shall miss thee sadly Mother
more than ever we can tell
we shall never find another
that will love us half so well

also DAVID SHENTON,
husband of the above
who died MARCH 15th 1900
aged 72 years
his end was peace.

In 1889 Parker's Brewery of Burslem purchased the property and continued with the name "The Royal Oak" until 1912.
A Mr. Albert Sweetenham then purchased the building and started a grocery business which he continued for 43 years. A Mr. Brunt purchased the business in 1955 and ran the grocery for many years.

After Brunts "Village Stores" closed the building was converted back into two small cottages. 
Around 1998 the part of the building facing Newcastle Lane was converted into a hairdressing salon.