Shoulder of Mutton

The Shoulder of Mutton was one of a number of Inns in the village and local surrounds and stands on the corner of Old Main Rd and Manor Road.  The Should of Mutton was an Inn between 1664 and September 1883.  1664 has been identified through a newspaper article from 1883, announcing it would become the Shoulder of Mutton Temperance House in 1883, the article notes it had been a pub for 240 years prior to this date.

According to (https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol6/pp267-268) it was known as the Shoulder of Mutton by 1779  this suggests the building was probably built c.1658.   Although the deeds and older maps suggest construction around the 1640s.

There are records to show that the Pawlett Friendly Society, established in 1794 and reorganised in 1838, was holding regular meetings at the Shoulder of Mutton in 1844.

There are several newspaper articles regarding the Shoulder of Mutton Inn, advertising events as well as the court records for drunken behaviour!  

Research is underway to compile a list of landlords to record here.

The Inn closed in September 1883 and the landlord (Wilkins) moved on to run a pub in Bridgwater, shortly after in the same year it became known as the Shoulder of Mutton Temperance Hotel and served non-alcoholic drinks. Newspaper article third column middle of page

Several map references after this time show the property as Shoulder of Mutton House, as it became a farmhouse.

At a later date it became known as Monmouth Farm, when occupied by the Fry family until around 1959. 

1919-1959 owned by Harry Fry, followed by his two sons Cecil and Harry Fry from 1959 - When did they sell?

1979 - 1986 it was named Nevys House and for a period during this time was operating as a B&B.  Does anyone have any information about this time period?

The house was then renamed Manor House (which it never was, probably after the actual Pawlett Manor House  which closed in 1998.   The site of the Pawlett Manor House, (which became a hotel c.1950 and later a nightclub), is now a collection of houses on Manor House Close, off the A38.  

During the early 2000's the name remained although locals still referred to it as the Old Pub, hence it was renamed by the current owners to  'The Old Pub' in 2020, as a nod to the building's history within the village, and to help future local historians find its location with ease!