Beech’s Court, Gaol Road, Stafford

Description:A view of the bottling and mineral water factory at Beech’s Court, viewed from the entrance at 13, Gaol Road. Today (2026), it is known as Gaol Mews.

Beech’s Court was named after William Beech who in 1787 purchased a plot of land between Foregate Street, Gaol Road and Snow Hill. On this land he built the Crown and Cushion public house at the Foregate Street end, where he was landlord and owner between 1794 and 1826. Behind it he built dwellings and workshops stretching to Gaol Road.

Hardman & Openshaw, ale bottlers and mineral water manufacturers, built the Eclipse Works here in 1886. The works were purchased by Wilmot Dudley Batkin (1848-1935) in 1902. W.D. Batkin Ltd. was also a bottling agent for Vimto and Guinness and the company occupied these buildings until 1966 when they ceased trading, and the site was taken over by Joules of Stone.

In 1970, the premises were purchased by Michael and Jennifer Owen, owners of F.T. Parkes & Son and converted into furniture and carpet showrooms having had to move out of the Old Grammar School on Gaol Square which was due for demolition. Parkes ceased trading in 1986 and shortly afterwards Beech’s Court was redeveloped as residential and business units and renamed Gaol Mews.