Set in the picturesque North Western corner of the Warwickshire countryside and nestling behind its tranquil duck pond and orchard, the Rose Inn offers a wonderful year round setting for customers to enjoy and relax in. With a roaring fire in winter, a warm and inviting atmosphere awaits, complimented by a friendly welcome, great food and a range of superb Cask Marque accredited real ales. Their Sunday carvery, like their homemade pub favourites and excellent steaks, is widely praised and offers locally sourced produce of the highest quality. The restaurant doubles as a function and meeting room for parties, weddings or conference events. Beer & skittles parties are great fun for groups of all ages. Located in a ramblers paradise with great walks and stunning scenery. Muddy boots are no problem in our traditional quarry tiled bar and dogs and children are also welcome.
Awards Won...
The Rose Inn can be found in the following Guides:
Good Beer Guide 2012, Cask Marque Guide, Northern Warwickshire Tourist Association Guide.
Food:
60 cover restaurant showcases our Sunday carvery and can be reserved for private fuctions by arrangement. Carvery from 12.00noon to 6.00pm Sunday.
Bar Meals:
From homemade pub favourites like lasagne, steak & ale pies and vegetarian options to the finest Scotch beef steaks, varied menu to suit all tastes. Bar meals 12.00 pm -2.00pm and 7.00pm -9.30pm Monday to Friday. 12.00pm - 9.30pm Saturday. 12.00pm - 8.00pm Sunday.
Games:
Darts, Dominoes, Cribbage.
Real Ales:
Wells Bombardier, Courage Directors, Draught Bass, St. Austell Tribute, and one regularly changing Guest Ale
Wines:
Wide selection of wines available from Australian, Chilean, South African, New World and Spanish wines
Other Facilities:
Disabled Access
Car Parking
Children Welcome
Waterside Location
Garden
Cask Marque
CAMRA
In addition to the excellent offerings today the pub has a rich history;
ONE hundred years ago, the village of Baxterley was rocked by shocking events that unfolded at the village pub – events which saw the landlord try to poison his wife; a mock 'trial' staged by the pub's customers; and 'sentence' carried out with the landlady being dragged out of the pub and hurled into a stinking pit. While in jail accused of attempted murder, the landlord went insane and died.
Although it is not mentioned in the Doomsday Book, the village has been around since Saxon times and, together with the neighbouring village of Baddesley, is perhaps best known for its long association with coal mining.
From its opening in 1850 to its closure in 1989, Baddesley and Baxterley Colliery was the major employer in the area and the local pub, the Rose Inn, was a major meeting place.
"The deceased was landlord of the Rose Inn, Baxterley, and on August 15 was arrested by the police on a charge of having attempted to administer poison to his wife."
The allegation was that Mr Watts, while under the influence of drink, went up to his wife as she was asleep in a chair, and forced a quantity of laudanum into her mouth from a bottle.
She struggled violently, and fortunately only swallowed very little of the drug, from which she soon recovered as the result of emetics.
Watts was taken before the magistrates, and was remanded in custody for a week. He became very ill while in Warwick Gaol, and was unable to answer to the charge before the Atherstone Bench, who twice adjourned the case in his absence.
"A severe attack of pleurisy supervened, and from this he never recovered."
What happened on August 18 was revealed at Atherstone Petty Sessions when five young Baxterley colliers – Jesse Marfleet, Harry Smith, John Smith, Fred Shakespeare, and John Cope – were charged with having assaulted Sarah Ann Watts, wife of Alfred Watts.
The hearing lasted from soon after 11am until about six in the evening, with only an interval of 20 minutes. All through the day the public space in the Court was fully occupied, while there were large numbers outside.
From the outset Mrs Watts strenuously denied that there was anything 'going on' between her and the pub's barman, William Shakespeare.
She said the defendants entered the pub about 8.30pm on Sunday evening, and that Jesse Marfleet started the bother.
She asked them to be quiet, as it was Sunday, and then he came into the centre of the room, and said if she spoke to him he would smash her face.
His hand was upraised, and there was a lot of booing in the taproom against her.
A mock trial was then started, and the verdict was that her husband was 'acquitted' and she was put in his place.
Cope was the 'judge', and the others took part.
When she went in a second time and remonstrated with them, Cope said she ought to be where her husband was, and that she deserved hanging.
They then held a mock auction, Marfleet acting as 'auctioneer'.
Cope and Marfleet smashed a quart jug each; there were about nine quart jugs broken altogether, and several other things.
At closing time all the people went out, but when Mrs Watts went to shut the door it was pushed open from outside by Fred Shakespeare, who was followed by the others.
She alleged that Harry Smith said "muzzle her, Fred", who caught hold of her left arm and struck her on the head with his hand, and pulled down her hair.
She called for help, and William Shakespeare (the barman and brother of one of her assailants) came to her assistance. When Cope was in the act of striking her again he stopped the force of the blow.
Jack Smith took hold of her arm, and Marfleet said "let us have her in the pit."
She asked if they intended murdering her, and Jack Cope said she "wanted murdering".
They dragged her out, and when outside she slipped over the step and fell on her back.
They then took her through the gate and rolled her into the pit, which was full of water.
William Shakespeare got her out in a fainting condition, and took her into the house, locking the door after them.
The defendants then gathered round the pub and started booing and throwing stones through the windows.
Next morning she found the gate floating in the pit.
Mrs Watts said she had known the defendants as respectable men for seven years, and they were the last ones from whom she would expect bad treatment.
She believed the feeling in Baxterley was very bitter against her. All the people present in the taproom were enjoying the mock trial.
Pub barman William Shakespeare said he had been employed by Mr Watts for about two years. During that time Mr Watts had never complained of his conduct, and there was not an item of truth in the suggestions which had been made.
He knew there had been certain rumours about his conduct which were entirely unfounded.
He said that when the defendants came in to the pub they started singing "We shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair".
In the mock trial Cope was the 'judge' and Marfleet the 'chairman'. Both also acted as auctioneers afterwards.
The pony was put up, and knocked down to one of the company. William Shakespeare was told by Marfleet: "I would not give 2d for your life, you're a rotter."
George Hastilow, Hurley, said he saw some men drag Mrs Watts outside the house, and heard her shout "oh God, help me."
He did not see her thrown into the pit, because it was dark, but he estimated there were about 50 or 60 people round the house.
He did not know that all were taking part in the nonsense which went on in the taproom, "but they were enjoying the fun".
Pc Gardner said he received a complaint from Mrs Watts, who accused five local men of assaulting her.
He saw her arms were awfully bruised up to the shoulder. Her clothing was greatly torn, wet, and dirty.
He found three panes of glass smashed, and the gate had gone.
The first witness for the defence, Jesse Marfleet, said he was a blacksmith. He admitted having taken part in the mock trial and the auction but denied that he raised his hand and threatened Mrs Watts.
After hearing similar evidence from the other defendants the magistrates retired for 15 minutes. Upon their return, the chairman said the Court were of opinion that the case had been made out against all five defendants, who would be fined £2 each, including costs.
There was considerable excitement within the precincts of the Court at the conclusion of the hearing.
"The crowd, however, did not disperse until Mrs Watts, who was subjected to much hostile feeling, proceeded from the Court house in a conveyance to Ansley, where she is staying with some relations."
The following week Dr Tibbetts, the prison's medical officer, said he examined Watts upon his admission to Warwick Gaol.
He was somewhat wandering in his mental condition, and seeing he was likely to have delirium tremens, he gave orders that he was to be put in a padded cell, if necessary.
Dr Tibbetts said Watts did not know what he was talking about, and did not know where he was. The next day he was put into the padded cell.
On August 24 Watts was put into the hospital suffering from pleurisy and pneumonia, from which he died on Thursday morning.
Dr Tibbetts added: "His condition was practically shattered from the first."
Commenting on the Baxterley assault case, Herald editor William Moreton wrote: "A number of young miners had worked themselves up into such a state of excitement that they forgot the rights of others, and committed acts which they would be the first to condemn if they were the unhappy objects of them.
"Most disgraceful of all, their acts were committed against a defenceless woman, who is now unhappily a widow.
"Such tyranny may be euphemistically described by some as an expression of public indignation, but mob-law is no law, and Baxterley ought to hide its head in shame that such an occurrence should have happened in its midst."
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