Clutton History Archive

The Survey of Clutton in the County of Somerset as taken in Nov & Dec 1754
For The Earl of Warwick.

Thursday 19 March 1789, Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette

MANOR of CLUTTON, In the county of SOMERSET

To be SOLD by AUCTION, By Mr. BIRCHALL,

On Monday the 6th day of April next, at the Golden-Heart in the parish of Clutton, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, on the conditions then produced, (unless previously disposed of by Private Contract, of which notice will be given)

A Valuable LEASEHOLD ESTATE, part of the Manor of Clutton, in the following lots, viz.

LOT I

A Dwelling-House, with convenient out houses, situate in the said parish of Clutton, together with the following pieces of land, viz.

A piece of Meadow-Land, called the Mead, containing 9 0 0
Another piece pf Meadow-Land, called Barn-Close, containing 4 0 0
And two pieces of Meadow-Land, called Summer Leazts, containing 10 0 0
The above lot is at present in the occupation of Jonas Adam, but is under contract for a term of 7 years to an unexceptionable tenant, at the yearly rent of 24| subject to the discharge of taxes.

LOT II.

Three pieces of Pasture Land, called Difford's, cont. 7 0 0
And one of Arable Land, called Leafes Well, containing 2 0 0
This lot is in the occupation of Benjamin Tyley, as tenant at will, at the yearly rent of 10|. subject to the discharge of taxes.

LOT III.

Several pieces of Arable Land, called the Upper and Lower Hort Leys, containing about 24 0 0
A piece of Coppice, containing 3 0 0
A piece of Pasture Land called Forked-Afs, containing 4 0 0
Three pieces of Pasture Land, called the Blackberries, 18 0 0
And a piece of Arable Land, called Lime-Kiln Paddock, 2 0 0
Lots 3 and 4 (except the coppice in Lot 3) are in the occupation of William Adams, as tenant at will, at the yearly rent of 31|. 10s, subject to the payment of taxes.
The above premises are held by rent by different leases under the Earl of Warwick Lord of the said Manor, all completely stated with the lives of three healthy persons, and are at present at early rents and capable of being very materially improved – Immediate possession of the said premises will be given.

The respective tenants will on application shew the premises, and particulars may be known of Richard Langford, attorney, Hallatrow, Somerset.

Thursday 30 October 1800, Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

At the Golden-Heart, Clutton, Monday the 10th day of November, between the hours of Three and Six o'clock in the afternoon, an such conditions at will be then produced.

A LEASEHOLD ESTATE, in the parish of Clutton, in the county of SOMERSET.

In the following LOTS. viz.

1. A close of Pasture Ground, called Ridges 4 0 0
2. A ditto called GrayfieId-Hedge 5 0 0
3. A Close of Meadow called Woodhays 0 3 0
A Piece Ground, inclosed in the Ham
4. A Close of Pasture, called Townsend 2 0 0
5. A Dwelling House, Garden &c. 1 0 0
A Close of Meadow, called Home- Mead 3 0 0

The above premises are situate in the parish of Clutton about eight miles from the cities of Bristol and Bath, and are holden by Lease under the Earl of Warwick for three lives.—Lots 1, 2 and 3, are in the occupation of Nathan Sage; lot 4, of George Blacker; and lot 5 of Richard Moore., who will, on application, shew the premises in their respective occupations; and further particulars may be known Mr. Langford, attorney, Hallatrow, near Clutton.
THOs. JAMES, Chelwood Park, Auctioneer.

Saturday 9 April 1814, Bristol Mirror

GOLDEN HEART INN, CLUTTON, SOMERSET.

William Brodribb, Son-in-Law of the late Mr. Hillman, who, for nearly half a century kept the above Inn, with great reputation begs leave, respectfully to acquaint the Gentry, commercial Travellers, and the Public in general, that he has just entered on the said Inn, which is undergoing a thorough repair where, by no unremitted attention to promote the comfort and convenience of those who may honour him with their support, and by lying in a choice Selection of the best Wines, Spirits and Beer, with moderate charges, and obliging treatment, he humbly hopes he shall be enabled to give satisfaction, (if possible) retrieve the sinking credit of the House.

The POSTING Concern will be conducted in a superior manner; and will engage Mr. Broadribb’s particular attention, so to ensure (he trusts) the public confidence of the neighbourhood.

One of the late tenants of this House, having obtained leave of the Proprietor to get the SIGN newly painted, had the unparalleled effrontery, without his
privity, to alter what had been, almost time immemorial, a representation of the Human Heart, richly gilt, into a paltry looking Roe-Buck. The present occupier has
determined on restoring it to its original intention.

Extract from - History of Clutton Somerset by Charles Challenger

The Warwick Arms Inn has more than local interest on account of its long association with the Stage Coaches which preceded the Railways, as the means of transporting passengers.

The Warwick Arms Inn is situated on the main turnpike road. It is the only licensed house in this large village holding a wine and spirit license. In the writer’s young days spirits were seldom drunk in the villages by the people.. Beer brewed by Lewis at Clutton, and the cheaper ale, also porter, and cider in its natural “unrefined” state, easily met all ordinary requirements of the workers. Thomas Goffe was the landlord in mid 19th century. He died October 24, 1867, aged 80. The landlord now (1921) is Chas. Riggs.

Importance was attached to the Warwick Arms Inn, in the good old days of Stage Coaching, because of the fact that it was situated just one stage from Bristol. The mile stone in the wall says 9 miles to Bristol Iron Bridge which is the Bath Bridge, and it is another mile to the then White Lion Inn, Broad Street, now the Grand Hotel. That was the City Stage Coach Station for coaches going in the various directions.

Four horses were attached to each coach.These were well bred, blood horses, capable of maintaining a speed of ten miles an hour, going at a fast trot and sometimes at a canter. The Clutton and Bristol stage, on account of the large percentage of severe grades, put the coachman and the horses to a severe test to accomplish the journey in one hour. This ten mile sum was one way only constituted the horses’ day’s work.

Paul Challenger, the writer’s father, recollected the Stage Coaches, and related how one, in descending Red Hill, got out of hand, and failing to navigate the sharp bend in the road turned over into the field.

There is every indication that the Warwick Arms Inn was built to accommodate travellers by the “one ‘oss shays,” as Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes calls the private carriage of those days, and those travelling by Stage Coach, and on horseback, as well as pedestrians. The number and arrangement of the bedrooms convey this impression. Then again the large, square Livery Yard and stables and coach houses are clear evidence, if such be needed. Beside the coaches there were the goods wagons, drawn by heavier horses, carrying tingling bells on the harness. These went long journeys and required road side stable and yard accommodation. Robert Challenger, brother to Paul, and ten years his senior, born A.D. 1806, told the writer that he drove when a young man one of the wagons, and on some journeys reached as far as Reading.

Thursday 16 October 1856, Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette

MORE THAN SUSPICIOUS. —Late on Wednesday night, the 8th inst.," when Mr. and Mrs. Goffe and rest of the inmates of the Warwick Arms, Clutton, had retired to rest, they were aroused by a violent knocking at the door. Mrs. Goffe desired the ostler to look out of window to see what the knocking meant, and a stranger presented himself, who said that he had been sent to the inn for a night's entertainment, by Mr. Wallis, keeper and bailiff to Lord Warwick , and who was well known to Mr. and Mrs. Goffe. The ostler was therefore desired to go down and admit the stranger, who was subsequently conducted to bedroom. Fortunately, the host and hostess had their suspicions respecting their guest, and they had not only locked up everything of value but also his bedroom door. On Thursday morning bedroom door was unlocked, and the stranger, who represented himself to be Mr. Barnes, from Trowbridge, came downstairs saw Mr. Goffe, and, asking if there was a barber in the village, went out and did not return. Fortunately Mr. Goffe is a loser to no great amount than the price of the visitor's night's lodging; but on enquiry it appeared that on Wednesday evening he had been at a beer-house in the village, and had there exhibited a quantity of old silver marked R.J. B., and which had, no doubt, been stolen. The object of his visit to the Warwick Arms was evidently plunder, and it is very lucky that the precautions of the landlord and his wife frustrated it. The " illustrious stranger" was a man of middle stature shabbily attired in dark clothes.

The Warwick Arms closed, as a Public House, in 2019 and is now the headquarters of The Somerset Toiletry Company.