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From the
https://shorehamkenthistory.weebly.com/the-royal-oak.html
accessed 6 March 2023.
Text by James Saynor.
This pub, on the corner of Church Street and the High Street, was
very popular with villagers until it closed and became a private
house in the late 1990s. The building dates from 1881 and is on the
site of the old village workhouse, which had shut half a century
earlier. The first landlord was Edward Webb and along with other
village pubs the "Royal Oak" ran a “slate club” – an informal benefit
society for working people. Contributions might be a shilling or
less per week and there was usually a payout celebration at
Christmas.
Postcard, postmarked 1965
In the mid-20th century, Mavis and John Skelton were very active in
support of the village and the pub was the venue for many meetings
and social gatherings. Not to be outdone by the numerous other small
shops in the vicinity, it made and sold its own ice-cream. It was a
mustering point for the village band, was the favoured bar of the
Shoreham Village Players and the place where the R.O.G.U.E.S.
golfing society was founded.
Standing by the junction with Church Street and looking north down
the High Street, the Royal Oak can be seen on the right. Postcard
c1915.
Before the Second World War, shopkeeper George Bell ran the Central
Mart across the road at No. 1 High Street. Bell was plagued by gout
and was often to be seen with his foot up on a chair outside the
shop. When he took to his bed, the "Royal Oak" supplied him with drink
which, it was said, he would haul up the side of his house in a
bucket. |
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