The Ship And Punch Bowl

Extract from The Changing Face Of Warminster by Wilfred Middlebrook, published in 1971:

Across from the blind house stands the Ship And Punchbowl inn, at the beginning of Silver Street. The original inn was thatched, but was burnt down in 1880 and rebuilt. An old press cutting reports of the Ship And Punch Bowl: “There is no house in Warminster with such centuries of vileness justly attributed to it – horrible scenes of debauchery nightly occurred there – the discord of fiddle and tambourine and boisterous singing, followed by the indecency of drunken men and women reeling homewards, shouting curses and threats.”

Another queer press cutting, dated 15th March 1779, reads as follows: “To Gentlemen Ringers, Warminster Wilts; Notice is hereby given that six Hats, value 12/- each, with Silver Buttons and lappets, the gift of Mr. William Cutler of the Ship and Punch Bowl Inn of Warminster aforesaid will be rung for on Tuesday in Easter-week. Each set is to ring for half an hour, allowing five minutes to rise and four to fall, and to ring a full peal without intermission. The Hats to be given to that set which makes the least faults. The Umpires to be sworn if required. Whose dinners are to be paid for by that set who wins. N.B. – A good dinner will be on the table at 8.”