The Admiral Vernon inn, in Warminster, existed in 1700 and was recorded by both Daniell and Halliday. It was situated at Silver Street, next to the present-day Farmers Hotel, on the south side of the street, opposite the entrance to Ash Walk.
Its name must have originated from Admiral Vernon (1684-1757), who commanded an expedition to the West Indies to attack and capture Spanish colonies. He was successful in taking Porto Bello. When news of this reached England it caused people to go mad with excitement and joy.
Innumerable medals were struck, all showing Vernon’s head, with the legend “He took Porto Bello with six ships.” Over a hundred of these medals survive at the British Museum.
Admiral Vernon was responsible for the daily issue of grog (rum and water) to Royal Navy sailors. This practice, which commenced in 1746, continued until a few years ago. In 1746 Vernon was court-martialled for publishing defamatory pamphlets against the Government. The King directed their Lordships in the House to strike his name from the list of flag officers.
Vernon died suddenly in 1757. Six years later his nephew, Francis Vernon, Lord Otwell (later Earl of Shipbrook), erected a monument to his memory in the north transcept of Westminster Abbey.
In different parts of England and Scotland, Vernon’s head was for many years a favourite subject for public house signs (Directory Of National Biography, volume XX, pp267-272). Warminster’s inn with this name was changed to the New Inn, presumably after Admiral Vernon fell from grace.