Category: Admiral Vernon, The (at Silver Street)

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.

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.

The pre-Victorian Warminster historian, John Halliday, writing circa 1810, mentions the existence of the Admiral Vernon inn at [Silver Street] Warminster during 1700.

(In different parts of England and Scotland, a depiction of Admiral Vernon’s head was for many years a favourite subject for public house signs – Dictionary of National Biography, volume XX, pp287-272.)

The Admiral Vernon inn at Silver Street, Warminster, was on the south side of the street, opposite the entrance to Ash Walk. At the time of publishing this post (1st February 2025) the location of the former Admiral Vernon inn has the address 2 Silver Street, Warminster, BA12 8PS, and is occupied on the ground floor by the designer wedding dresses boutique Bride By Design.

In the Indexed Summary of the Alehouses named in the enrolled recognizances of licensed victuallers, 1747 to 1757 (held at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham, reference number: WRO A1/325/8 to 15), Box 15/9; the Admiral Vernon at Warminster is listed, and the licensee for the period 1754 to 1757 is named Daniel Webb.

The Reverend John Jeremiah Daniell, in his History Of Warminster, first published in 1879, includes the Admiral Vernon in a list of 48 inns which he said existed in Warminster at the beginning of the 18th century. He also says the Admiral Vernon was one of 15 inns on the list which ceased to trade between 1740 and 1766. He adds that “the New Inn only took their place.” It was, indeed, the New Inn that took the place of the Admiral Vernon.

Reg Cundick, in the book The Inns And Taverns Of Warminster, published in November 1987, concluded his notes about the Admiral Vernon inn at Silver Street, by saying “Warminster’s inn with this name was changed to the New Inn, presumably after Admiral Vernon fell into disgrace.”

There once was an inn called The Admiral Vernon at Silver Street, Warminster.

Some notes about the fall from grace of Admiral Vernon, the person:

Admiral Vernon was court-martialled in 1746, for publishing defamatory pamphlets against the Government. The King directed their Lordships in the House of Lords to strike Vernon’s name from the list of flag officers.

In days gone by, the fall from popularity of public figures and the rising stardom of others was obviously good enough reason for changing the signs of inns named after real persons.

Horace Walpole, in a letter to a Mr Conway, dated 16th April 1747, said “I was yesterday out of town, and the very signs, as I passed through the villages, made me make very quaint reflections on the mortality of fame and popularity. I observed how the Duke’s head [Duke William] had succeeded almost universally to Admiral Vernon’s, as his had left but few traces of the Duke of Ormond’s. I pondered these things in my heart, and said unto myself, surely all glory is but a sign!”

Vernon died suddenly on 30th October 1757, aged 72. Six years later his nephew, Francis Vernon, who was Lord Otwell (later the Earl of Shipbrook), erected a monument to Admiral Vernon in the north transept of Westminster Abbey.

His name lives on though, not just for inn names. Admiral Vernon is the name of an antiques market and arcade at Portobello Road, London.