Home > Bedfordshire > Biggleswade > Royal Oak Royal Oak
Date of photo: c1960	Picture source: Lynn Watts
The Royal Oak was situated at 1 Sun Street. This pub has now been demolished and replaced by flats.
From Bedfordshire Heritage:
Biggleswade Chronicle, 06.05.1977; 'Battle over old coaching inn's future' (Newspaper Article). A day-long inquiry over a firm's proposal to demolish The Royal Oak, a former Biggleswade coaching inn, which is designated as a building of historical and architectural importance, heard on Wednesday that the property is structurally unsound and the front elevation is likely to collapse, due to vibrations from passing traffic. Mr Leo Lewis, a chartered surveyor, was giving evidence at the inquiry for the firm who want to demolish the property and redevelop the site. Orton-Major (Building) Ltd are appealing against Mid Beds Council's failure to decide on their application for demolition within the prescribed time limit. The inquiry was conducted by an inspector appointed by the Environment Minister and a decision will be announced later. Mr Lewis said the Royal Oak - at the corner of the Shortmead Street/Sun Street junction - was so defective that it could not be repaired without virtually demolishing the greater part of the building. "The defects are not capable of remedy without damage to the architectural character and quality, if any, of the building, and it would have to be dismembered to establish the extent of decay and structure damage and to carry out necessary repairs," he said. Structural movements in the front elevation were partly due to vibration and general disturbance to the framing and façade were due to the building's proximity to the road and the passing of heavy lorries, including juggernauts, said Mr Lewis. "The mere vibration which these lorries cause to the framing of the structure is sufficient to lead to collapse at any time, while the danger of the building being clipped by a lorry turning from Shortmead Street into Sun Street, is all too real." Mr Peter Ellis, an architect representing the firm, said it was misleading to suggest that the building was a rare and classic example of a courtyard inn. The buildings were not unique in the county or in Biggleswade. The council's suggestion that it could be renovated for residential use had been made without serious study of the building itself. Something like £150,000 would be needed to make a project viable. Mr Ellis said it had been suggested that the building was important to this part of Biggleswade, but he held the opposite view. It was completely overawed [sic] by the garages and car body repair shop and the signs and posts associated with these uses. The area was not condusive to residential development. Giving evidence for the council, Mr David Baker, principal conservation officer to Bedfordshire County Council, said the Royal Oak was upgraded to the statutory list of buildings of special historical and architectural importance in August, 1973. It had considerable architectural merit and the alterations made at various periods contributed to its character rather than detract [sic] from it. It was within the proposed conservation [sic] an important corner site, and formed part of a group with the adjacent Sun Hotel, also a listed building. Historical associations were largely local, serving as a hostelry and coaching inn for nearly three centuries. At one time it was tenanted by the Albone family who were noted for their contribution to the history of the bicycle. Mr Albert Giddings, research officer in the county architect's department, said the building consisted of a basic timber frame and although some "opening up" had been carried out, a full detailed inspection and assessment of the condition could not be copleted without further exposing the frame. His report on the general condition of the property was limited to what could be seen at the present time. In his view it was possible for the existing structure to be repaired, and with some modifications on space use, to be divided into flats or maisonettes which complied with the designated use of the area. To verify the question of actual return on the ultimate number of units, two feasibility studies of some depth would have to be made. It is not the purpose of this report to carry out this exercise but to indicate a possible resolution of the problem," said Mr Giddings. "To provide new construction would cost £135-£140 a square metre plus the cost of site clearance. Repair and conversion should be less than £135 a metre, particularly as one of the major costs of this type of work, roofing, will not require extensive repair and renewal." Mr Victor Farrar, an architect representing the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and the North Beds Preservation Society, said removal of the premises would completely change the character of the area that needed much to improve the modern muddle that had been allowed to grow up. Mr Lee Irvine, of Croydon, who is writing a book about Dan Albone, the inventor of the Ivel cycle and Ivel tractor and a famous racing cyclist, told of the family associations with the Royal Oak.
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Other Photos
Site of The Royal Oak	Picture source: Darkstar