Blackbird Inn
Overview
The Blackbird Inn was a pub in Paulton which closed in 1961. The earliest reference to the name I can find is from when the license transferred from John Smith to his son-in-law George Banfield in 1879. However the premises was definitely a beerhouse from at least 1861 since we find John Smith there in the census as a beerhouse keeper. It is likely it was serving beer since at least 1854 when John married Elizabeth Carter. When their first son, John William Smith, was baptised on the 3rd of January 1855, John Smith's occupation was already "Beer Seller"
The pub was always a family affair. The license (and property) passed from John Smith to George Banfield (who had married Mary Elizabeth Smith on 11 Feb 1879). George was the son of Joseph Banfield, licensee of the Somerset Inn. When George died suddenly on the 15th of January 1891, Mary became the licensee. Finally, the license passed to their son Joseph on the death of Mary. Joseph then ran the pub until his death on the 4th of February 1961.
Photos
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This photo was taken inside the Blackbird, with licensee Joseph Banfield on the far left.
Location
The Blackbird Inn is marked as a Beer House (BH) on this OS map from 1884
Licensees
- ????-1855-1879 John Smith - 1879-1891 George Banfield - 1891-1921 Mary Eliza Banfield - 1921-1961 Joseph Banfield
Timeline
| Date | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 03/01/1855 | Baptism of John William, son of John and Elizabeth Smith. John Smith is a Beer House Keeper. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 16/03/1856 | Baptism of Mary Eliza, daughter of John and Elizabeth Smith. John Smith is a Beer House Keeper. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 02/11/1857 | Baptism of Julia, daughter of John and Elizabeth Smith. John Smith is a Beer House Keeper. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 01/05/1859 | Baptism of Anna Maria, daughter of of John and Elizabeth Smith. John Smith is a Beer House Keeper. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 07/04/1861 | John Smith (age 36) is living with his wife, Elizabeth (age 31), and two daughters Mary (age 5) and Ann (age 2) in Winterfield. He is a Beer Seller. | 1861 Census |
| 06/05/1861 | Baptism of Epsibah, daughter of of John and Elizabeth Smith. John Smith is a Beer House Keeper. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 13/03/1864 | Baptism of John Reuben, son of John and Elizabeth Smith. John Smith is a Beer House Keeper. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 02/04/1871 | John Smith, a widower (age 46) is living in "Beer House" in Winterfield, with three daughters Mary Eliza (age 15), Anna Maria (age 12) and Hepzibah Julia (age 9). He is a Beer Retailer. | 1871 Census |
| 26/10/1879 | John Smith Died. Probate is to George Banfield, beerseller and George Carter, Yeoman. | Probate |
| 04/11/1879 | Temporary license to sell beer at Blackbird beer house, until next license day, given to George Banfield of Paulton, coal miner | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 13/01/1880 | License of Blackbird beerhouse, Paulton transferred to George Banfield | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 04/04/1880 | Baptism of Elizabeth Maria, daughter of George and Mary Eliza Banfield. George Banfield is a Beer House Keeper at Winterfield. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 03/04/1881 | George Banfield, age 25, is listed as a Beer Seller at Winterfield. Mary is living with him | 1881 Census |
| 10/06/1881 | Baptism of George Henry (b. 04/05/1881), son of George and Mary Eliza Banfield. George Banfield is a Beer Retailer at Winterfield. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 05/11/1882 | Baptism of Joseph (b. 14/07/1882), son of George and Mary Eliza Banfield. George Banfield is a Beer House Keeper at Winterfield. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 06/01/1884 | Baptism of John (b. 24/11/1883), son of George and Mary Eliza Banfield. George Banfield is a Beer House Keeper at Winterfield. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 10/02/1885 | The Blackbird is mentioned (in passing) in an assault case. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 02/02/1890 | Baptism of Laurance (b. 11/11/1889), son of George and Mary Eliza Banfield. George Banfield is a Publican at Winterfield | Paulton Parish Records |
| 20/01/1891 | Funeral of George Banfield, who died suddenly a few days before | Bristol Mercury - 22 January 1891 Western Daily Press - 22 January 1891 |
| 05/04/1891 | Mary E Banfield (widow, age 35) is listed as a Beer Seller at the Blackbird Inn | 1891 Census |
| 04/1894 | The Blackbird is the first of several pubs on a pub crawl that ending in tragedy. The others were The Dolphin, The Stone's Cross and The Greyhound. | Shepton Mallet Journal - 27 April 1894 |
| 02/01/1900 | Blackbird Inn mentioned in passing in a case about stealing suet | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 31/03/1901 | Mary E Banfield (widow, age 45) is a Beer Retailer at the Blackbird Inn | 1901 Census |
| 05/07/1909 | Wedding of George Henry Banfield, son of (late) George Banfield and Mary Eliza - "of the Blackbird Hotel" | Shepton Mallet Journal - 09 July 1909 |
| 02/04/1911 | Mary Eliza Banfield (age 55) is a Beer Retailer at Winterfield | 1911 Census |
| 26/01/1921 | Death of Mary Eliza Banfield. | Probate |
| 04/02/1921 | Death of Mary Eliza Banfield mentioned. "Football News... L Banfield, the Bristol City back, has suffered a bereavement by the death of his mother, who was the licensee of The Blackbird, Paulton" | Wells Journal - 04 Feb 1921 |
| 1935 | Joseph Banfield is a Beer Retailer in Paulton | Kelly's Directory of Somerset 1935 |
| 29/09/1939 | Joseph Banfield is a Beer Retailer at the Blackbird Inn | 1939 Register |
| 04/02/1961 | Death of Joseph Banfield, who was listed in Probate as "of the Blackbird Inn" | Probate |
Sources
Probate
29/11/1879 SMITH John <£100 The Will of John Smith of Winterfield in the Parish of Paulton in the County of Somerset Beerseller who died 26 October 1879 at Winterfield was proved at Wells by George Carter Yeoman and George Banfield Beerseller both of Paulton the Executors.
10/02/1891 BANFIELD George £32 15s Administration of the Personal Estate of George Banfield late of Paulton in the County of Somerset Beerhouse Keeper who died 15 January 1891 at Paulton was granted at Wells to Mary Eliza Banfield of Paulton Widow the Relict.
12/02/1921 BANFIELD Mary Elizabeth £171 8s BANFIELD Mary Elizabeth of Paulton Somersetshire widow died 26 Jan 1921 Adminstration Wells 12 February to Joseph Banfield shoemaker. Effects £171 8s
28/04/1961 BANFIELD Joseph £1,444 BANFIELD Joseph of The Blackbird Inn Paulton Somersetshire died 4 February 1961 Probate Bristol 28 April to George Henry Banfield monotype operator.