George Hotel
A Storied Past Hides Behind Clarks
Step into Clarks shoe shop today, and you might miss the incredible amount of history this spot holds. What you see now as a modern shop was once The George Hotel, and its roots run far deeper than you’d imagine. A tavern has stood here since 1349—that’s nearly 700 years! By 1467, people were calling the inn “The George,” though it might have had that name even earlier.
The main part of the current building dates back to the late 16th century. We can tell the front of the building was refronted, if not completely rebuilt, in the late 18th century. It stands three stories tall and, like many grand houses in Trowbridge, it was built with Bath stone. Inside, the building originally featured an open court at its center, but it’s since been built over and altered the space significantly.
The George Hotel’s Murky Past: A Tale of Murder and Mayhem
The George Hotel, as we know, has a long history, but an early, very detailed account throws it right into the thick of a murder case from 1548. The story goes that Dorothy Bradford was running the inn at the time. Her former husband, Anthony Bonham, had been murdered, supposedly by his ex-wife, with a man named Egyon Wilson pulling the strings.
Somehow, Dorothy and her current husband sold the inn to a group of trustees, known as feoffees. Then, almost out of nowhere and without much explanation, the property ended up with Alexander Langford, a well-known Trowbridge clothier. In 1551, Dorothy actually married her murder accomplice, Egyon Wilson, while still married to her current husband!
Fast forward to 1562. Wilson, along with a rowdy bunch of his supporters, stormed into The George. They declared that Wilson and his new wife were the rightful owners. Wilson even brought the Undersheriff of Wiltshire with him—a young, inexperienced fellow he practically forced to issue a writ to give him and Dorothy possession of the inn.
Langford wasn’t there for the initial commotion, but he arrived just as they presented the writ. He demanded they read it aloud, then asked for a private chat with the undersheriff. Over a few glasses of wine, Langford calmly advised the undersheriff to rethink the “high words.” Clearly, Wilson’s grand plan didn’t work out. By 1580, Dorothy was living in Steeple Ashton as a widow, and it seems Thomas Stevens was trying to kick her out.
Later years
In subsequent years the inn was the common meeting-place for public business. In fact, the paving commissioners were required by statute to meet there, and in 1830 it was said to be the venue of the Court of Requests. Evidently the hotel also functioned as a posting and livery stable in the early part of the 1900’s as evident from the bill pictured below.
It remained one of the most popular and longstanding hotels in Trowbridge until it closed in 1981. It is now home to Clarks shoe shop.
