Great Bealings Boot
listed building grade II
last updated Feb 23rd, 2021.
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Great Bealings Boot
South East, 52.09277,1.24661
closed 30th September 1961
last owner/operator: Cobbold's
Boot St
grid reference TM 224 487
The pub is shown on this old OS map from about the end of the 19th century. interactive map
The former Boot is now residential and called "The Boot". It's a Grade II Listed building, built in the 17th century.
It appears on the 1958 OS map as the Boot inn, but by 1966 it was shown as Boot House. The Woodbridge licensing records show that the Boot closed in 1961.
The 1904 Woodbridge licensing records show that the Boot's license was issued in 1846. Whether this was when it was first licensed or when it got a full (ie not just beer) license isn't clear, though the latter seems more probable.
To make life confusing, there is also an "Old Boot Cottage" located a short distance to the west of the pub building.
Gallery
Dog 1.37 miles
Turk's Head 1.80 miles
Bell 1.92 miles
Red Lion 1.95 miles
Fountain 1.95 miles
Farmhouse 2.1 milesHistorical interest
A reference appears in the Ipswich Journal, September 25th 1756***, to the Sign of the Boot, Great Bealings.
Died on the 28 February 1895, William Nichols, many years landlord of the Boot Inn, Great Bealings, aged 78.Ipswich Journal, March 1895**
Landlords
Footnote
The sign was usually of a long military boot made famous by the Duke of Wellington. In 1830 he was Prime Minister when the the Beer Act was introduced to help create Beer Houses - a new lower tier of premises permitted to sell alcohol. Under the 1830 Act any householder who paid rates could apply, with a one-off payment of two guineas, to sell beer or cider in their home (usually the front parlour) and even brew on the premises. The permission did not extend to the sale of spirits or fortified wines.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
