48 OLD INNS OF WIMBORNE. 



house, etc., " in a streate commonly called ' Slugg Lane ' 

 known by the name of ' King's Arms.' " The road from 

 Eastbrook bridge into the town is now known as East Street. 

 Doubtless " Slugg Lane " was a not undeserved title to a narrow 

 street always wet by reason of its protection from sun and 

 wind and then lying some feet lower than it does now. There 

 is a good market-room on the first floor of this inn, and in the 

 smuggling days it was the head-quarters of the local excise 

 and preventive men. 



Perhaps I may add the particulars of a Visitation Dinner 

 held here on July 31st, 1829 the receipted bill for which is 

 among the records of the Churchwardens. 

 The items run as follows 



s. d. 

 For dinners for 25 at 5/- each ... 650 



Beer, Porter and Cider 90 



13 bottles of Port at 5/- 350 



10 bottles of Sherry at 5/- ... ... 2 10 



3 bottles of 6/- 18 



Dessert 330 



17 18 

 Servants dinner for 12 ... ... 140 



10 bowls of Punch at 5/ 2 10 



21 12 



As these dinners were paid for out of the Church Funds, we 

 can understand the pressure of public opinion, which, ten 

 years later, led to an action by the Attorney General against 

 some of the Governing Body, and the establishment of a more 

 rigid control over the finances of the Church; and it is, I hope, 

 needless to state that Visitation Dinners have long been dis- 

 continued. In conclusion I would make it clear that this paper 

 is by no means exhaustive of the " Inns of Wimborne," and 

 still less of the inns which might now be reckoned as in 

 Wimborne, but which one hundred years ago were wholly 

 outside the town. 



