The Royal Oak Public House

The Royal Oak Public House is a building dating from around 1900, situated on Dorchester Road in Weymouth. Constructed of Portland stone squared blocks or rendering, it features a tile roof.

The building is two storeys with an attic and basement. The steep hipped roof has three small-pane casement dormers. The front elevation has a tripartite 8:12:8 window and three 12-pane sashes in face boxes, all with flush, plain stone lintels. The ground floor is richly detailed with green faience tiles and modelling, featuring a modillion cornice and pulvinated frieze over 2-, 3- and 2-light windows with transom lights, set on deep, moulded sills. A pair of panelled doors, set within a moulded architrave with a segmental head detailed with a scrolled key and flat hood supported by heavy scroll brackets, are located between bays 1 and 2, and again between bays 3 and 4. The eaves show exposed rafter ends. Large brick stacks are positioned at each end, connected to the hip slope by gabled tiled links, along with a further stack to the left of the main entrance. A large rectangular panel of green faience tiles, bearing the name "THE ROYAL OAK" in raised lettering, is situated above the main entrance on the first-floor wall. The right gable is rendered and contains a large 2-light casement within a faience surround. The rear elevation incorporates a lower hipped parallel range with a large, canted hipped bay. The main range has two dormers above three 12-pane sashes in Portland stone walling with brick dressings; a 2-light casement stair window is positioned to the right.

The ground floor interior retains much of its original joinery and fittings, including a hardwood bar with bold scroll brackets and polished brasswork. Dark stained timber beams, joists, and posts are visible, along with a polished oak hardwood dogleg staircase located to the rear left, featuring turned balusters. Three fireplaces with moulded mantels and tile inserts remain. The bar extends into the rear bay, which is likely a later addition. The building is a well-maintained and characteristic example of early 20th-century public house design, notable for the preservation of its original interior. The domestic details of the upper levels are also well-executed. It is likely that the building was designed by GR Crickmay and Sons, who frequently worked for the Devenish Brewery.