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The George Inn at Norton St Philip

Situated at the junction of the A366 with the B3110 close to the A36 road and approx. 7 miles from the Somerset city of Bath, the inn was built in the 14th or 15th century and and is now a Grade I listed building. The establishment claims that it is the oldest tavern in England but as yet they have not provided any photos of the era to verify this.
[At least 10 other establishments lay claim to being the oldest pub in the country!]

In the year 1226 the monks from Hinton Priory at nearby Hinton Charterhouse, petitioned the landowner, the Countess of Salisbury, for a new site to achieve greater solitude. She gave them her manors of Hinton Charterhouse and Norton St Philip and a new house was consecrated at Hinton Charterhouse in May 1232. A licence to sell alcohol here at what is now The George is claimed from 1397... which may have only been a local licence from the Prior of Hinton Priory as Governmental licences for providing alcohol were only introduced in 1552.

The timber-framed upper floors were added In the 15th century.

The inn became a regular part of the stage coach route between London and South West England. It was also used as the headquarters of Monmouth's army, during the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685, after his retreat from Bath. In the aftermath of the failed rebellion Judge Jefferies used the George Inn as a courtroom and conducted 12 executions on the village common, as part of the Bloody Assizes.

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17 comments

Jaap van 't Veen said:

Wonderful architecture; very well captured.
Thanks for the info.
8 years ago

Polyrus replied to Jaap van 't Veen:

Many thanks, Jaap. Much appreciated.
8 years ago ( translate )

Keith Burton said:

Very nice image Neil.............you've captured all the detail of the pub in great detail. An interesting narrative as well..........Judge Jeffferies really knew how to keep the people entertained didn't he? No namby-pamby pub quizzes for him..!!
8 years ago

Polyrus replied to Keith Burton:

Many thanks, Keith. I do like the colourful turn of phase in many of your comments ;-)
JJ had a colourful life, right up to the end...and beyond. He was incarcerated in the Tower of London for his own safety and died there....allegedly due to kidney failure. I think one of the beefeaters bayoneted him in the kidneys!
He was eventually interred in a vault under the St Mary Aldermanbury church in the City, but his remains were obliterated as a result of bombing during The Blitz, which prevented him from making a come-back.
8 years ago

William Sutherland said:

Superb capture!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
8 years ago ( translate )

Polyrus replied to William Sutherland:

Thank you, William.
8 years ago ( translate )

Pam J replied to Polyrus:

:)))
8 years ago ( translate )

Pam J said:

Been past but not in the Inn !!!
8 years ago

Polyrus replied to Pam J:

A pity as you were out there.
8 years ago

Ulrich John said:

Like these timbered houses very much ! Very nice presented !
8 years ago ( translate )

Polyrus replied to Ulrich John:

Many thanks, Ulrich
8 years ago

HappySnapper said:

Somewhat a chequered history this place, I wonder what the grog was like in 1397! probably had a headache for a month after drinking it.
8 years ago

Polyrus replied to HappySnapper:

Both the architecture and the history made it interesting for me. If I had been around in the 14th century I suspect I would have had a big headache prior to drinking any grog.
8 years ago

Gudrun said:

Old it does look indeed, but as long as the beer is fresh....lol
Very well presented and quite a feat to have no cars in the photo!
8 years ago

tiabunna said:

This looks like my image of a "traditional pub", Neil. I can't understand why you doubt their claim to be the oldest, I'm sure when they sort out their old digital images from the period the proof will be there.
8 years ago