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167 Bath Road Sir Edward Pellew by Thomas Lawrence
The Exmouth Arms is named after British naval hero, Edward Pellew (1757-1833), who was created 1st Viscount Exmouth in 1816 and came to Cheltenham that autumn to recuperate from his expedition to Algiers to suppress the notorious barbary pirates. He had fought for Britain in the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
This is believed to be one of the earliest surviving properties in the upper Bath Road, dating from before July 1819. In that month it was the location of an auction of barley and oats growing in a 20 acre field adjacent to the road, which did not completely open until 1823. The area would have still had a semi-rural appearance, though the urban development was advancing fast. The Exmouth Arms would, for a few years, have represented the gateway into Cheltenham from the south. The first recorded landlord was John Ritchens, who died in the role in June 1838, at the age of 51. His widow Ann remained at the pub until at least 1845. In 1820 a public swimming pool, known as Parker's Swimming and Bathing Place, was created at the west end of the Exmouth Arms garden. Fed by the Westal Brook, which now flows in a culvert under the site, it was owned by a local builder named Arthur Parker, who married in Cheltenham in 1811 and was extensively involved in the building of South Town. The pool survived his bankruptcy in 1820 and existed until about 1831 but is not shown on Merrett's map of 1834.
As is to be expected, over the last two hundred years there have been many landlords. From 1852-61 the landlord was Mr Henry Leach, who died of an epileptic convulsion aged just 36.
In 1870 Joseph Wood took over the licence of the Exmouth Arms. Although he was married, he had no children of his own but had nine nephews and nieces. By 1887 Joseph's health had deteriorated and his doctor suggested he retire to Malvern, where he died on 11th May 1890 from ‘softening of the brain’. He was succeeded that year as landlord by his nephew, James Kitching, who had already taken over the running of the pub with the assistance of barmaid Emily Parry, one of Joseph Wood’s nieces.  James Kitching
In 1891 James Kitching contested his uncle Joseph Wood's will on the grounds that in an earlier will, written in 1886, the Exmouth Arms had been left to him entirely, whilst in 1887 a further will divided the estate between all of the nephews and nieces. James was able to prove that Joseph's state of mind was unsound at the time of writing the second will and so the Exmouth Arms, valued at £1,300, came to him. Later in 1891 James Kitching married his cousin Emily Parry and they had a son the following year.
James was a popular landlord, well known throughout Gloucestershire for his enthusiasm and love for bowling. He was instrumental in forming the Exmouth Bowling Club, of which he was a keen player and Treasurer. The bowling green at the rear of the pub had already existed from before 1855 and was considered one of the best in the county. James re-fronted the pub in the style of 1898, concealing its earlier origins, and brewed beer on the premises until just before the start of the First World War. The Exmouth’s licence was actually for an Alehouse.  William Woodhouse
In February 1922 James fell ill with peritonitis and died a few days later in hospital. After his death the licence was transferred to Emily and their son James.
Emily decided to retire a year or so later and the licence was transferred to Mr William John Woodhouse, who was born in Cheltenham and spent some of his early years living near to the Bath Road. He was a Cheltenham Town Crier and died in 1948 at the age of 78.  1923
In the early 1920s the Original Brewing Company became involved with the pub and in 1923 the 'Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucester Graphic' carried pictures of the re-opening of the Exmouth Bowling Club by Mr Hopcraft, General Manager of the Cheltenham Original Brewery. The green had been enlarged and ditches and banks made. Later editions of the newspapers carried articles about the green re-opening each season, until during the Second World War it was 'dug for Victory' to grow vegetables. After the War part of the green space was turned into a pub garden and used for fetes and other public events. Today the old bowling green is used as allotments to grow food and the front garden often hosts musical performances.
Some of the other landlords over the last 60 years have included Messrs Robins, England, Godwin, Smith, Ratcliffe and Lerwill. Today the landlord is Mike Huysinga.
Researcher: Marilyn West
Updated: Stuart Manton (Jan 2020) |
For more information click here.
 The map below shows the Exmouth Arms bowling green in the mid 1850s. This is now an allotment for growing fruit and vegetables. The adjacent garden remains very popular with customers. Sadly the skittle alley no longer exists.
Detail from the Old Town Survey 1855-57
Bath Road, about 1905, with the Exmouth Arms on the left.
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