The former Royal Oak public house
This picture is taken from the middle of the village looking up The Dale towards Eyam, with Lovers Leap in the distance and the Toll house immediately behind the photographer. The pub was open until the mid 1900’s when it closed following a fire.
The house on the right which stands proud of the others was knocked down to allow the road to be widened, and is now used for resident parking. The billboard on the left has the name Midland Railway on it, it seems to advertising some event or trip to Manchester and therefore must have been the stopping place for the coach service (presumably horse and carriage).
The sign on the wall of the cottage on the right verifies that it was a shop which was known to be there in the mid 1900’s as a general store.
The lady on the trap is presumably well off and perhaps out socialising.
Is there any way of finding out who the former landlord of the Royal Oak Pub was in Stoney Middleton in the mid 18th century? Was it called the Royal Oak? I have discovered the name Henry Allin, nee Stoney Middleton, 6 July 1728. My query is in connection with the Winnats Pass Murders and the young lovers who stayed the night in Stoney Middleton at the Royal Oak only 10 miles from Castleton. It seems odd that they had travelled all the way from Scotland to get to the Peak Forest and stopped there the night so close to their destination. I am wondering if they had a connection to the place.
I am sorry but we do not have that information