Some history of the Coventry Arms at Pershore in the County of Worcestershire

In recent times the former Coventry Arms housed a children's nursery. The doors of the hostelry closed early in the new millennium. The building stands on Station Road, close to the lane leading to the railway station.

Pershore : Advertisement for the Coventry Arms by Solomon Workman [1857]

With an inn sign doffing its cap to the local landowner, the Earl of Coventry of Croome Court, the Coventry Arms would have been erected not long after the railway station was opened in May 1852 on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway. Moving from the Crown Inn at Defford, Solomon Workman was licensee of the new hotel by 1856. When opened, the Coventry Arms only had a beer house licence but this was upgraded on August 26th, 1856, when a spirits licence was granted at the Petty Sessions. Solomon Workman added this to his advertisments that also promoted his homebrewed ales.

More information to follow ....

Licensees of the Coventry Arms

1856 - Solomon Workman
1873 - William Foster
1895 - Henry Jones
1906 - Valentine Ernest Bosley
1908 - Louise Bosley
Note : this is not a complete list of licensees for this pub. The dates of early licensees are sourced from trade directories, census data, electoral rolls, rate books and newspaper articles. Names taken from trade directories may be slightly inaccurate as there is some slippage from publication dates and the actual movement of people.

Related Newspaper Articles

"Mr. J. Martin held an inquest at the Coventry Arms, Pershore, on Wednesday, touching the death of Thomas Weston, who died suddenly at Walcot Farm on Monday afternoon. Mary H. Weston said deceased was her late husband's brother, and resided with her. He had been formerly in business as a woollen draper, and was 56 years of age. His general health had been good, and he had not had a doctor for three years. He made no complaint about his health on Monday, and had his meals as usual. He was in the orchard on Monday afternoon, and had chopped some sticks. Witness heard a noise outside, and her servant told her deceased had fallen down. She found him on the ground flat on his back. With John Edwards's assistance she got him to the house, and after administering brandy sent for Mr. Rusher. Deceased died soon after they got him in the house. Fanny Clifford, servant, and John Edwards, carter, gave corroborative evidence. Mr. J. B. Rusher, surgeon, said that death was probably due to apoplexy. The Jury returned a verdict accordingly."
"Sudden Death at Pershore"
Worcestershire Chronicle : January 5th 1895 Page 8