AN ICONIC landmark outside an Arkell’s pub has been replaced after the original version became badly damaged.

A black and yellow carriage has been outside The Highwayman pub in Elkstone, near Cirencester, since the 1950s, when the hospitality venue was renamed from The Masons Arms.

Pub locals believe the original carriage was found by a landlord in a barn attached to the building.

Legend has it that the woman who owned the carriage was held up by a highwayman more than 300 years ago and deemed the vehicle unlucky because of her traumatic experience.

So, it was locked away for years before being discovered and restored to sit in the pub’s car park looking out onto the A417 in the Cotswolds.

But it was then damaged beyond repair for reasons which have been lost to history. The most popular rumour is that it was reportedly hit by a lorry travelling late at night down the carriageway.

So, Arkell's Brewery chairman James Arkell had the historic carriage rebuilt from scratch more than 30 years ago by appointing building apprentices from Edmont Ltd with the tricky task.

This identical replacement took pride of place on the plinth until Storm Eunice blew the carriage off its wheels and flipped it over in the strong winds which hit Wiltshire and Gloucestershire earlier this year.

Tina and Ian Blake took over the roadside pub in 2018 and inherited the visually-striking landmark as part of their tenancy.

Tina's brother-in-law Nick Bickley built a third version of the carriage after it was blown over.

George Arkell said: "It really is wonderful to see it back in place.

"Ian and Tina have done a wonderful job as custodians of The Highwayman Pub.

"Ian’s sister’s husband, Nick, rebuilding the famous carriage is fantastic.

"There is so much history behind all of our pubs. However, at The Highwayman, you can feel the history just walking through the door."

Swindon Advertiser: The Highwayman carriage.The Highwayman carriage. (Image: Arkells)