THE WILL of one of Worcester’s great publicans and licensees has been snapped-up by the author of two best-selling books on the history of some of the City’s pubs.
The 201-year old last will and testament of Benjamin Fieldhouse is dated August 1814 and was unearthed among a job lot of documents at a recent auction by former city journalist and historian Bob Blandford.
His two top-selling books ‘Bob Backenforth’s Worcester Pubs Then and Now’ carry extensive histories of as many as 656 former city inns, pubs and taverns, and often colourful tales of their licensees.
The 1,500-word Fieldhouse will, dated August 2, 1814, and prepared by Worcester solicitors Bedford and Pidcock shows his ‘dear wife Mary’ to be the major beneficiary and he also left considerable sums to his sister Mary Martin and his two godsons.
Another document from the same job-lot is his sister’s will dated 1834, and a third from six years later, is an indenture relating to the disposal of other properties by ‘the Devisees of Mr Benj’n Fieldhouse dec’d and others’.
All three are beautifully executed and in perfect condition, despite their age and were prepared by the same Worcester solicitors, personally sealed and signed by senior partner Henry Bedford and hand-written – apparently by clerks Henry Addenbrooke and John Knapp.
“Benjamin Fieldhouse was a major figure in the Worcester of his day,” Mr Blandford said.
“Ben Fieldhouse must have been particularly well-heeled. Not only was he the licensee of the Star and Garter in the 1790s but he was also its owner.
“He also had interest in the Hop Pole Hotel next door and had a major share in the Crown Hotel in Broad Street.
“I don’t doubt he’d also be delighted to know that all three very impressive properties are still standing – two still operating as hotels – the Star and Garter, later the Star Hotel, is now the Whitehouse, and the Crown has recently re-invented itself as a hotel, Lloyds No1, under the Wetherspoon banner.
“The Hop-Pole Hotel, standing next door to the Star and Garter, is now the home of three estate agents although it was once Worcester’s premier inn and played host to Lord Nelson and Princess Victoria before she became Queen.
“It’s chequered history has also seen it as the home of outfitters Scott and Oram (‘By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen Adelaide’) and within living memory, to grocers Fearis.
“As for Ben Fieldhouse’s other major property, Nunnery Farm, I’m not sure quite what he would make of present-day Ronkswood,” he added.
Bob is currently working on a third volume covering Worcester’s enduring love affair with its pubs, as well as several more planned for the future.
Members of the ‘Worcester Pubs Then and Now’ Facebook group have enjoyed the discovery, a photograph of the will’s first page can be found on the site.
Visit www.facebook.com and search for ‘Worcester Pubs Then and Now’ for more information.
