Photograph of the Mustoe family outside The Royal Oak, Badsey (now known as The Round of Gras), taken in the late 1890s shortly after they had moved to the Inn from Sand Lane, Badsey. The words, “ROYAL OAK INN, WILLIAM MUSTOE, LICENSED VICTUALLER, ALES, WINES, SPIRITS & TOBACCO” can be made out on the photo. The photo is thought to show William Mustoe (1841-1944) with his wife, Lucy (1847-1917), and four daughters, Sarah Louisa (1871-1959), Alice Lucy (1873-1967), Martha Catherine (1881-1960) and Ellen Hannah (1886-1976); the identity of the little girl is unknown. Someone has written on the back of the photo in pencil: “late 1890s, William Mustoe, died 1944, aged 102.”
The 1890s was the start of the association with the inn that was to last nearly 90 years. In 1911 William Mustoe had retired and The Royal Oak was run by his son-in-law, William Hayward (who had married William’s daughter, Ellen, in 1910). Later, William’s son, Ernest Edward Mustoe took over, followed by his son, Ernest Leslie Mustoe, known as “Buster”. This photograph came to light in the 21st century in a suitcase in Beaulieu, Hampshire (how it got there is unknown) but Tony Norris of Beaulieu History Society, who discovered the photo, sought to find out. There is a Royal Oak Inn in Beaulieu but the history of its licensees was known back to the late 19th century, so he turned to the web to find out more about William Mustoe in order to find the location of The Royal Oak Inn – this soon led him to Badsey. After WWI, William & Ellen Hayward moved to the New Forest; in 1939 William was Licensed Victualler at The Fleur de Lys. William died in 1966 and Ellen in 1976 in the New Forest.