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Bull inn

Hendford

 

There are only a few references for this mid 17th century early to 18th century alehouse.

The first reference is in the 1667 will of parchment maker Mathew Wills, in which he wrote "I give and bequeath unto my said wife my house called the Bull in Yeovell aforesaid".

It was later run by Robert Cary in Hendford, as shown by the final two references in 'Licensees'.

This reference comes from St John's parish register with the entry "25 February 1702 - Anne a strang[e] Child born at ye Bull".

The 28 September 1753 edition of the Derby Mercury, reported as follows; "Last Thursday Evening two young Highwaymen, who had committed several Robberies about Epsom, were dogged to the Bull Inn at Yeovil… Upon finding they were beset, one of them pulled out a Pistol, and shot himself through the Head; the other was taken." The 5 October 1753 edition of the Derby Mercury carried the following brief reference; "On Saturday last the Jury sat on the Body of the Highwayman that shot himself at Yeovil and brought in their verdict, Felo de se, and the same Night he was buried in a Cross Road near that Place."

The crossroad in question, where the un-named felon was buried, was at the southern end of a field called Corner Close, where the Dorchester Road was crossed by Lovers’ Lane to the east and East Coker Road to the west. Corner Close was the site of burials of felons and suicides, at least until the early nineteenth century. The term ‘felo de se’, Latin for ‘felon of himself’, is an archaic legal term that denoted an illegal act of suicide.

The exact location of the Bull Inn within Hendford is unknown.

 

licensees / Owners

 

1667 – Mathew Wills, owner (will of Mathew Wills)
1668 – Mary Wills, owner (will of Mathew Wills)
1694 – Mr Robert Cary for the Bull 1s.10d. (Poor Rate Book) listed as in Henford (sic)
1695 – R. Cary (Notes of LC Hayward)