The Goat Inn Woburn

Former Goat Inn - March 2007

Goat Inn: 14-15 Bedford Street, Woburn

The Goat Inn closed in 1841 but the building still exists, being one, two or all of the modern Nos.14-15 Bedford Street. The buildingst are Grade II Listed and the Department of Environment considered that 14 dates from the early and 15 the late eighteenth century. The report only identifies no.15 as being the Goat.  

The Goat is known to have existed in the seventeenth century. It is noted as bordering a copyhold property in a Manorial Court Roll of 1641 and named in the Woburn Burial register where a Welshman is recorded as being buried in Woburn on 27 April 1650 after dying at the inn. Further, the inn is described in Sir Jonas Moore's Survey of the Duke of Bedford's estate in Woburn of 1661. In the survey it is described thus:

 "THE GOAT a tenement or Inn beinge a goode howse of fower bayes a brew house a Stable and barne cont six bayes with a garden orchard and way to the closes below" the tenant was Edward Dicks.

Evidence suggests that the 1661 Goat is in the position occupied by the later public house as it is two doors south of another public house (then called the Woolsack, suggesting this is the previous name for the Magpies) on Bedford Street. Woburn suffered a disastrous fire in 1724 and it is possible that the old Goat was so damaged by this that it necessitated rebuilding, hence the early eighteenth century date ascribed to the building by the Department of Environment. At the time of writing [2006]15 is Souster & Hicks, men's tailors.

In 1927 14 Bedford Street were valued for rates under the 1925 Valuation Act. The valuer noted that both had previously formed part of the Goat, though now leased from the Duke of Bedford by Mrs.King, baker (13) and Francis J.Negus, butcher (14); the rent was £20 and £27 per annum respectively.

No.14 consisted of a large front room used as the shop, a lounge and kitchen downstairs; there were three bedrooms on the first floor, which extended over the gateway; on the second floor were two attics. Outside were a barn, two piggeries, a stable for two horses and a pony, a fasting pen, a slaughterhouse, trap house and range of buildings comprising three sheds a coachhouse and cow standings and a cart shed.

List of Sources Held at Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service:

- RBox 237: manorial Court Roll: 1641;
- BPR III: burial of a Welshman who died at inn: 27 Apr 1650;
- X1/33/2: mentioned in Sir Jonas Moore's Survey of Woburn Estate: 1661;
- BPR III: burial of a stranger who died at inn: 25 May 1663;
- BPR III: burial of a strange woman who died at inn: 25 Feb 1687;
- R5/79/5: accounts for building stable: 1693-1694;
- BPR III: burial of a man who died at inn: 3 Nov 1727;
- L12/36-37: Henry Clarke witness to deed at inn: 1744;
- L5/517: Henry Clarke witness to deed at inn: 1748;
- Beds Mag iv.280: sketch: C18/19;
- P118/28/2: parochial assessment book: 1802-1833;
- RBox351a: stables built: 1803;
- PBR III: burial of William Goodman, late of inn: 26 Oct 1812;
- Northamptonshire Mercury: John Gilbert had taken over inn: 23 Dec 1815;
- R1/78: Thomas Evans' map accompanying R2/69: 1821;
- R2/69: Detailed survey of Woburn made by Thomas Evans for the Duke of Bedford: 1822;
- R3/3723: "Gilbert talked of giving it up, never cared for it except as accommodation for coaches": 1832;
- R3/4098: closure suggested: 1839;
- R3/4106: Duke of Bedford agreed to closure: 1839;
- R3/4204: tenant wished to rent George "if he had more to do…less time to imbibe strong waters": 1840

List of Licensees: note that this is not a complete list. Italics indicate licensees whose beginning and/or end dates are not known:

1661: Edward Dicks;
1709-1713: Clark;
1714-1723: Mrs.Clark;
1724-1748: Henry Clarke;
1757: Mrs.Clark;
1785-1792: Henry Clark:
1794: John Goodman;
1802: William Goodman;
1806-1809: not listed;
1810: Daniel Skinner;
1811-1814: George Baker;
1815-1839: John Gilbert;
1839-1841: George Attwood
closed 1841