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The Victoria Hotel was located almost opposite the Forgehammer Inn at the lower end of, what became, Victoria Street. It was not a large hotel and later sale particulars describe it as having a bar, bar parlour, private sitting room, kitchen, three bedrooms, club room and cellar. It was built some time between 1834 and 1841 and James Cowmeadow was probably responsible for building it.
James died in 1844 and his wife Elizabeth, then later his daughter, Mary Ann, continued to run it until 1888 when it was sold and became part of the Wintle's Brewery chain. Business at the hotel was already in decline and the licence was relinquished in 1899 in favour of the Railway Hotel then being built in Station Street, both properties being owned by Wintle's Brewery.
What happened to the property after the licence was removed isn't clear but it's believed to have become the Victoria Temperance Hotel of which there is at least one mention in 1908. The last landlord appears to have been George Clements who is mentioned in the news report of the removal of the licence. He is listed in the 1901 census as still living in the area but the building is not identified. In the 1911 census, one building is identified as Victoria House. It has nine rooms which would tally with the earlier description of the hotel. In the 1921 census there are two properties next to each other with a total of nine rooms between them and with, what appears to be, members of the same family living in both. This could be when the property became split into two which is how it exists today.
GLOUCESTER JOURNAL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1899
"COUNTY LICENSING COMMITTEE
"NEW CINDERFORD LICENSE CONFIRMED
"The annual meeting of the County Licensing Committee, to consider applications for the confirmation of new licenses, was held at the Shire Hall, Gloucester, on Saturday. Mr. Russell J. Kerr presided, and the other members of the Committee present were Sir John E. Doringten, Bart., M. P., Messrs. F. A. Hyett, R. Erskine Pollock, Q.C., J. C. Griffith, W. Meath Baker, F. Tagart, and T. S. Shekell. The Clerk of the Peace (Mr. E. T. Gardom) and the Chief Constable (Admiral Christian) were also in attendance.
"The first application-which was marked in the list "opposed"-was that of George Clements, of the Victoria Inn, Cinderford, to remove the license to premises in course of erection at Cinderford, to be known as the Railway Hotel. Mr. M. F. Carter appeared in support of the application, and Mr. T. B. Fox represented the Good Templars. Henry Gardner, manager for Mr. F. Wintle, of the Mitcheldean Brewery (the owner of the existing and proposed new premises), stated that the new hotel in course of erection near the new railway station at Cinderford would cost £2,000. If the application were granted the Victoria Inn would be closed.-John Alfred Carter, traffic manager for the joint Midland and Great Western Railway Companies, said the proposed hotel would be a great convenience to the public, and, therefore, he recommended that the application should be granted. Superintendent Ford, who did not oppose the application, said that better accommodation for travellers would be provided at the new premises. Mr. Fox, whilst admitting that the proposed premises would be thoroughly efficient, said the Good Templars considered that Mr. Wintle ought to close another of his licensed houses in the district, in addition to the Victoria, if the application were granted. The Victoria Inn was near the old Cinder- ford Ironworks, which were closed, and the value of it was practically nil. He contended that there were already sufficient licensed houses in the Division-128, 55 of which were in East Dean. If Mr. Wintle was willing to close two licensed houses, the opposition of the Good Templars would cease.- In reply to the Chairman, Supt. Ford said that during the 15 years in which he had been in charge of the Forest of Dean, the number of licenses had been reduced by about 20. The Committee, after consulting in private, confirmed the removal of the license."
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