Monday 11th May 1998
Re: There was once an inn at Silver Street, Warminster, called The Admiral Vernon:
The Admiral Vernon inn was obviously named after a naval officer. The Dictionary Of National Biography, Volume XX, pages 267 to 272, records the life of Admiral Vernon. He was born in 1684.
He commanded an expedition to the West Indies to attack and capture Spanish colonies. He was successful in taking Porto Bello.
Monamy, the famous Marine-painter, was responsible for the portrait of Admiral Vernon’s ship for a famous public house of its day, which was well-known by the sign of the Porto Bello, which remained until recently, with a few doors north of the church in St Martin’s Lane.
When news of Vernon’s capture of Porto Bello reached England it prompted people “to go mad with excitement and joy.” Many medals were struck, all showing Vernon’s head, with the inscription “He took Porto Bello with six ships.” Over a hundred of these medals still survive in the British Museum.
The daily issue of grog (rum and water) to Royal Navy sailors was introduced by Admiral Vernon. The practice, which commenced in 1746, continued until recently.
In various parts of England and Scotland, a picture of Vernon’s head was for many years a favourite subject for a public house sign.
The name is still in use today for public houses, including those at:
141 Broad Street, Dagenham, London;
31 High Street, Over, Cambridge.