the history of yeovil's pubs
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black cock
South Street
Before
it became an
inn, the
building
occupied by the
Black Cock was
owned by the
Woborn Almshouse
and is mentioned
in the Woborn
Muniments as
early as 1610.
It fronted onto
South Street,
near the
junction with
Bond Street
(which wasn't,
of course, laid
out as a road
until 1830 but
it helps to
locate the
building).
Indeed the site
is today
occupied in part
by the former
Holy Trinity
church, now
Foyer Court.
It is not really known when the Black Cock started life as an alehouse, probably around 1680 by Edward Heyward the elder. By 1773 it was recorded as "burgage in South Street formerly known as the Black Cock, formerly held by Edwd Hayward, apothecary, and his son Edwd" and by 1774 was noted as being 'very ruinous'. In 1773 it was still a property belonging to the Custos and Wardens of the Almshouse of Yeovil.
The map above, based on Watts survey of 1806, shows the probable site of the Black Cock in yellow. South Street was called as such as early as 1335 but became known as Back Street by 1542, reverting to South Street in the mid-19th century. Frogg Street later became Park Street and Grope Lane became Wine Street, which went all the way to the Borough before Union Street was built and absorbed the lower half of Wine Street.
Gallery
Looking down South Street in the 1950s. Just beyond the two larger houses at centre are two smaller houses, just before the junction of Bond Street. The site of the Black Cock is believed to be where the nearer (white) small house is - with the car nearly outside.
licensees
1687 – Edward
Heyward (senior)
(Lease)
to 1733 – Edward
Heyward (junior)
(surrender of
Lease)
1773 – Henry
Donn (Lease)
documentation
Documentation as a Dwelling
|
1610 |
Lease for 21 years at an annual rent of 5s. John Helyar, custos, John Hardinge, John Dyer jun., wardens, to Lawrence Brooke of Yevell, woollen weaver - Tenement in South Street between land of Walter Phelpes on the east and Sir John Sydenham, knt, and of Portreeve and Burgesses on the west - Fine £6. - 6 May 1610 - Witnesses, Henry ??reen. Endorsed: Lawrence Brooke South Street in Yeovil 6 May for 21 years. (Woborn Muniments No. 6) |
|
1631 |
Lease
for 3
lives at
an
annual
rent of
13s 4d.
Samuel
Hardinge,
custos,
Robert
Prowse,
gent.,
Christopher
Allambridge,
wardens
to John
Sharpe
of
Yeovil,
shoemaker
-
Burgage
in South
Street,
between
land of
Thomas Grobham
(occupant
John
Petney)
on east
and of
late Sir
John
Sydenham,
knt, and
of
Portreeve
on
west (formerly
occupied
by
Lawrence
Brooke)
- 21
June
1631 -
Witnesses,
John Jacobb,
John
Torr,
John
Withell.
Endorsed:
|
|
1636 |
Lease for 99 years at annual rent of 13s 4d. John Weadon, custos, John Jacobb, Thomas Marshe, wardens to John Hacker, silkweaver, of Yeovil - Burgage in South Street between land of Thomas Grobham, now in possession of John Pitt, esq. on east and of John Sydenham esq. and the Portreeve on the west (surrender by John Sharpe, shoemaker, of Yeovil) - Fine 20s. - 8 September 1636 - Signed: John Wheadon, John Jacobb, Thomas Marshe - Witnesses: Thomas Lane, John Withell, Christopher Allambridge, John Torr. (Woborn Muniments No. 24) |
|
1666 |
Counterpart Lease for 99 years & 3 lives for annual rent of 13s 4d. Nathaniell Cary, custos, William Winsor, Giles Hayne, wardens to Lawrence Wills 'gardner' of Yeovil (surrender of existing lease for 99 years, term of 2 lives). - Burgage and garden and orchard in South Street, between land of late John Grubham deceased now held by Tremer Rowe on east and land of late Sir John Siddenham, Knt, and of Portreeve and Burgesses on the west, (now held by Thomas Whiteby). - lives of Lawrence Wills, and Elizabeth Anne daughter of L.W. - Fine £4 - 30 May 1666 - Signed: Lawrence Wills, Witnesses, John Cary, Mathew Wills, William Winsor, Giles Hayne. (Woborn Muniments No. 61) |
|
1687 |
Lease for 3 lives at an annual rent of 13s 4d. George Drew, custos, John Cary, Nathaniell Cary, wardens, to Edward Heyward, apothecary of Yeovill, - Burgage, garden and orchard in South Street between land of Thomas Grobham on the east and Sir John Sydenham, knt, and of the Portreeve and Burgesses of Yeovill on the west, now in the occupation of Thomas Whittby - Lives of Edward Heyward, Anne his wife, and Jeane their daughter. - Fine £21-3.j.ii. 12 May 1687 - Signed John Cary, Nathaniel Cary: Witnesses - Wm. Harbin, Amb. Seward, Geo. Prowse, John Old, John Knight, Geo. Moore, Christopher Isaacs. Endorsed: The Custos lease of my house in Back Street - 1687 (Woborn Muniments No. 74) |
|
1733 |
Surrender of Lease - by Edward Heyward (son of original lessee) and Joan Glisson, widow (daughter of original lessee) to Wyndham Harbin, Esq., custos, Richard Cok, & Ambrose Seward, mercer, wardens - Burgage in South Street between land formerly Thos. Grobham) now of Thomas Beale, gent, on the east, and land (formerly of Sir J Sydenham) now of Portreeve and Burgesses on the west - Payment made to Edward Heyward £43 - Witnesses John Rooke, Thomas Swaffield: signed Edward Heyward (Woborn Muniments No. 89) |
Documentation as the Black Cock
|
1773 |
Lease 16 June 1773. John Newman of Barwick, gent, and Henry Donn, glover, Burgage (Tenement, Gardens and Orchard) in South Street, formerly known as 'The Black Cock' formerly held by Edward Heyward, apothecary, and afterwards by his son Edward. (Donn Papers - Deeds 395 - SRO DD/PR W51/8.10) |
|
1774 |
House 'very ruinous' - H Donn formerly J Marsh (Donn Papers) |
