Commemorative plaque 10213

This blue commemorative plaque records: Town Inns in 1830 In the Rev. J.T. Becher's day there would have been at least eighteen inns with five in King St. alone. To the left of the Admiral Rodney was The Black Bull whose name survives in Bull Yard. To the right was The Portland Arms where the Portland Arcade is today and further right was The Wheatsheaf and White Swan. The Admiral Rodney takes its name from the famous sailor who masterminded the defeat of the Spanish navy in 1780 at Cape St. Vincent. Towns Inns would have been used for a variety of activities. Many people would have been drawn to the premises for meetings of private clubs, public auctions, wrestling and cock fighting.

The plaque commemorates the historical significance of inns in the town during the 1830s, highlighting their role not just as lodging places but also as centers for social activities, commerce, and entertainment. The Admiral Rodney, named after Vice-Admiral Lord Rodney who defeated the Spanish navy at Cape St. Vincent in 1780, is one of these historically notable establishments.