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Taunton Courier Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 21 Jun 1905
Page 3 Column 4
TAUNTON & ITS TOWNSMEN.
INTERESTING RECORDS OF THE PAST.
SPECIALLY CONTRIBUTED.
DECADE 1784-1793.
The following is the third of the series of articles being contributed to our columns by Mr. G. H. BROCKLEHURST on “Taunton and its Townsmen”:-
THE FULL MOON, at the south end of High-street. When it and the three adjoining dwelling-houses were taken down, as arranged by the local Turnpike Act of 1817, its host, John WILCOX, removed the sign of a house about the middle of the opposite side of the street.
THE GEORGE AND DRAGON, in Norton, opposite Yarde House, was, when in the hands of Jane BESLEY, early in the new century, called The George.
THE GLOBE, which took its name from the arms of Alphonso, King of Portugal, was a celebrated inn in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Andrew GREGGORY, its host in 1655, entertained many a merchant coming from the Iberian Peninsula.
THE GOLDEN LION, afterwards the Race House, was at the west end of the south side of East Reach, having as Host, John GILL. His ancestor, William, a merchant, the last Mayor under the first Charter, was very popular. In 1672 he gave “Stringlands to the poor for ever.” His son, John, “gent.,” died in 1688, at the age of forty-two, whilst a grandson, James, lived in a horse, having large garden and outbuildings, on the north side of East-street, for which he paid a yearly rent of £1 3s 1d.
THE GREEN DRAGON, on the west side of High-street, south of the Bell, was in the hands of Joseph TAYLOR, whose ancestor, Christopher, was in the town in July, 1647. Before the close of the century W. PACKHOUSE was its landlord.
THE GREYHOUND, of which Robert HARDY was host. This was a very appropriate sign in a sporting country such as England had been for many centuries. King John received greyhounds, or gazehounds – the old name showing that they were intended to run by sight – in lieu of fines and forfeitures; but possibly because he could get nothing better at the time.
THE HALF MOON, on the east side of North-street, kept by John DAWMAN, who was followed by Robert GREEN.
THE HIT OR MISS – a sign indicating the uncertainty of success even in this branch of business – in the High-street, was in the hands of John WEBBER, and, on being re-built, R. GARLAND became its landlord, and its sign was changed to the New Angel.
THE HORSE AND JOCKEY was in the hands of Ann ODEREY.
THE KING AND QUEEN, in Paul-street, south of the Boot, was kept by John DUNN, followed by D. ROWDEN.
KING GEORGE, in East Reach, was in the hands of Robert NIGHTINGALE, and early in the new century in those of H. VILE.
THE LITTLE ANGEL was on the north side of the western extremity of East-street.
MOUNT PLEASANT – a common sign in England during Centuries XVII. And XVIII., and often when the house has disappeared, it lives still in the name of the locality – was kept by John PITTS, whose family came to grief by supporting the Duke of Monmouth – one member, William, a woolcomber, then aged twenty-eight, being transported.
THE RING OF BELLS, in St. James-street, next west of the church, was in the hands of the WOODMAN family for some years.
THE RED LION, an old house which had been an inn, and a particularly popular one when John POWEL was host in and about 1666.
THE RISING SUN, next the Seven Stars, in East Reach, was kept by one HUTCHINS, followed by “P. HUTCHINS, otherwise HUTCHINGS.”
THE SARACEN'S HEAD, at the top of the west side of High-street,was decidedly the leading tavern. Everything connected with it reminded one of the magnificence of a bygone day, affording the comfort which SHELDON so much admired. For many years it was the pleasant retreat of some well-known tradesmen, who had retired from business, where they quaffed their “nut-brown ale,” smoked their churchwarden pipes, and told tales of the “good old days.” In its grounds, when weather permitted, tables were dotted about for twos and threes – the third often playing “old gooseberry” - fours, and sixes, and often larger numbers. Some “country cousins” have left the following record of this tavern:- “After travelling for some five or six miles, over a bad road, we arrived at the Saracen's Head in time for the ordinary. It consisted of fish, chicken, ham, venison, game, and fruit. . . . . After two hours ' they went to the sports,' and then back 'to dress for the assembly,' where they enjoyed themselves, especially during 'the country dance, New Year's Day in the Morning.' At midnight cold chicken and negus was handed round, and at two in the morning the party broke up.”
THE SEVEN STARS, on the east side of East Reach, was the first tavern on entering the town from Bridgwater. Sam SHADICK, or SHADDICK, was its host during this period, and was succeeded by his son Samuel, who was in possession in 1822. This house had been an inn, and was so in 1650, when John GLYDE was host.
THE SPREAD EAGLE – the original seal of the town was an eagle on an Imperial crown, with wings outspread – on the east side of North-street, between the Half Moon to the north and the Bear to the south, was, early in the new century, in the possession of J. BARBER.
THE SUGAR LOAF, near and to the west of the Crescent, on the western border of the town, was kept by William CAN (CANN?) during the last two decades of Century XVIII., and the first of the following one; when it passed into the hands of J. CANN, probably a son. Attached to this tavern was a “tea garden, where polite company” assembled on Sunday evenings, during the summer, to “regale themselves with tea-cakes and fine home-brewed ale,” and not unfrequently concerts were held too. It must be remembered that Evening Prayer, which was chiefly for the wage-earning class and those who could not attend the morning service, was at three p.m. at this time. This house had been removed, with eleven others – the Antelope, Ball, Bull, Butcher's Arms, Norwich Arms, Plough, Rose and Crown, Salutation, Three Swains, Wheat Sheaf, and Unicorn – from the Parade when carrying out the Market House Act of 1768.
THE THREE HARTS, of which Joseph TURLE was master.
THE THREE MARINERS, between the Green Dragon and the Full Moon, on the west side of High-street, was in the hands of William AUSTIN, who re-built it. His ancestor, Thomas, a mercer in the town, was twenty-seven years of age when it was transported on board the “Jamaica Merchant” to the West Indies, on 9th December, 1685, to be sold for ten years' servitude, for espousing, as a strong Protestant, the cause of Monmouth. Toward the end of the second decade of Century XVIII. this house was called the Mariner's Arms.
THE THREE TUNS, on the east side of Tancred-street, of which William SHEWBROOK was host, who passed the business on to W. BATTLE.
THREE WIDOWS was in the hands of Matthew TAYLOR. This had been an inn, of which two records of Century XVII. Remain – a token, dated 1665, and the testimony of a traveller, fourteen years later, that “I was well entertained with good cheere and worshipful company at the Three Widows Inn at Taunton.” As the whereabouts of this house, and one called Ye Three Nuns, in the reign of Henry VIII., are not known, it is impossible to say whether they were one and the same – which is most probable; and, if so, there is another interesting point to be solved, viz., Was the change due to Protestant or Cromwellian influence? Preference may be given to the former, as Peter TREVERIS, a printer from Treves, in Germany – where the Reformation began in 1517 – set up a press at the sign of The Wodows in Southwark in 1521, where he was working till 1533. The number three has always been associated with the idea of perfection. Pythagoras took it as the symbol of Deity – the beginning, middle, and end of all. The world was supposed to be ruled by three gods, viz., Jupiter (Heaven), Neptune (Sea), and Pluto (Hades, or Death). The Fates were three; the Furies, three; the Graces, three; the Harpes, three; the Sibyline Books, three;' so also the enemies of man are three - “the world, the flesh, and the devil;'” the Christian graces three -Faith, Hope, and Charity; and the Kingdoms of Nature three – the animal, vegetable, and mineral.
THE TRUMPET was kept by Thomas HURFORD, whose ancestor, of the same name, was another of the Monmouth martyrs – being executed at Yeovil.
THE TURK'S HEAD, in St. James'-street, was in the hands of J. SMITH, who passed it on to T. PAINE.
John CONDON was host of the WATER WHEEL, and John JENNINGS of the WHITE HORSE.
THE WINCHESTER ARMS, on Castle Green, was for many years in the hands of the Halse family, who had resided in the town since Tudor days; James being its host as Century XVIII. passed into the XIXth.
The following also head licenses as victuallers in the town during this decade:- Mrs. BURN, John GADSOME, P. GODFREY, Thomas LLOYD, Richard LONDON, Thomas TAYLOR, Sarah TURRELL, William WALLIS, and William WILLIAMS, who, doubtless, carried on their business at one or other of the above taverns, where the name of the host or hostess has not been known.
THE COFFEE HOUSE, which was frequented by the newspaper readers of the town, on the north side of St. James's-street, was in the hands of Hugh UPHAM. In 1710 it was called The Lamb Coffee House, where, on the 10th of April of that year, “a number of English Books, both antient and modern,” were sold “by auction, or who bids most,” which was one of the first sale of books by auction in this country. There was also a COFFEE ROOM, carried on on the same lines, in connection with a public building which will be referred to later.
(To be continued.)