1731: When Caerleon's Bull Inn had a Bowling Green

The Gloucester Journal is proving to be a bit of a goldmine when it comes to uncovering interesting articles from the 18th century. Published on Friday 12th October, 1731, this advertisement for the Bull Inn being up for sale or let, reveals information about the features of the pub.

In addition to the pub itself, there were also gardens, orchards, 'outletts', malting facilities, stabling and outhouses. There is also a mention of more adjoining 'outletts' and a 'good Bowling-Green' to be leased.

The current pub occupies a large area including a car park and an outbuilding. The map below shows a rough outline. Seeing the mention of the bowling green led me to wonder if this was located top of the current Roman Fortress Baths. With no maps from the time and only a tithe map from around 1840 available it’s pure speculation as to where it could have been.

The tithe map of around 1840 shows the pub (87) (actually listed as the Bell Inn, perhaps incorrectly), gardens (89, 90, 91, 92), a 'smithshop' (88) and a malthouse (93). These fit in with the description of what was on sale in the advertisement.

Judging by the appearance of building 93 it does look like it’s may have existed at the time of advertisement and if so, where could the bowling green have been? The garden at plot 92 looks a little too small for a bowling green so would the space occupied by plots 89, 90 and 91 (occupied by the Roman Baths today) been the location of the bowling green?

It’s fascinating seeing old adverts like the one above and often with only scant information to go on there’s going to be an element of speculation but it’s interesting think of a time when patrons of the Bull Inn could have had a game of bowls with an ale.