40 OLD INNS OF WIMBORNE. 



situated on the south side of the little Corn Market, which 

 was once the square and centre of the town. It may not 

 be out of place here to remind those who only know 

 modern Wimborne, that the present square was fully occupied 

 up till about 1800 by the King's Chapel of St. Peter, 

 and the burial ground surrounding it, also that the streets, 

 narrow as they are now, have been widened in various places 

 from time to time, so that the only place that could accommodate 

 a crowd was the Corn Market, even the Church-yard close by 

 having a row of cottages standing on the north and east sides. 

 Opposite the Inn, in the sixteenth century, stood the Guildhall, 

 on the site now occupied by the Friendly Societies' Hall, and 

 the Guild of Clothworkers had their Chapel in the North Choir 

 Aisle of the Minster dedicated to their patron Saint St. George. 

 There are many entries in the Churchwardens' accounts referring 

 to the Guild and Guildhall. Rent was paid to the Church- 

 wardens not only for the Hall itself, but for the use of weights 

 kept there for weighing wool and yarn. There can be little 

 doubt that the " George Inn " derives its name from the patron 

 Saint of the Guild. 



The earliest item we can find refers to 

 " Rent of a garden behind the ' George ' 12d in 1524;" 

 and in the same year the entry 



" Received of an hermyt that died at the ' George ' for a 

 grave. vis. viiid." 

 gives a delightful stimulus to the imagination. 



In 1585 the " Comyssenors " of Edward VI. came to Wim- 

 borne to take inventories of the Church goods ; and the 

 following entries from the Churchwardens' accounts bear 

 reference to their entertainment. 



It pd. " to Master Phyllypes to desyre hym for to hellpe us 

 make ye invytory for ye cherche goods " 20/-. 

 "fore ye comyssenors dener at Duyes" (Deweys) 15/-. 

 " for alle ther dener yt dyde hellpe them to make ye ynvytory " 

 2s. lid. 



"for 5 quarts of \vvne and sawg (sugar perhaps) at Mr. 

 Lovell's for ye comyssernes." 



