This is an owners own site, run by Richard and Mary Torrens.
The History of Baker's Arms
Around 1670 to 1680 a row of cottages was built in South Perrott. About 100 years later another dwelling was built to the east of the row, separated by a passage. The Baker's Arms today comprises two of the original row and the passage and the Georgian building. This page details what I have discovered to date. Nor is The Baker's Arms isolated so this page on its history also includes other dwellings in South Perrott.
Medieval period
The site was evidently a quarry. The north end of the garden is clearly an old quarry but the quarry limit at the south end is indeterminate. However there is good evidence of quarrying to the south of the road (A356), west of Hunter's Hatch in their entrance. There is also evidence of quarrying 50m to the east at the roadside in a lay-by which was once a bus stop and now is known as The Pound. It seems likely that this area was extensively quarried to build Mohun castle and other houses as it seems to be the nearest quarrying to that. In medieval times, if a suitable stone was found for instance in the banks of a river, it would be extracted and the stratum of rock taken back as far as convenient to quarry for building. This evidently happened on the banks of the Parrett in South Perrott.
Circa 1640
Mohun castle is said to have been demolished some time soon after 1644 and the material sold off. See PastScape. Several local houses have items which are likely to have come from the demolition. Including in The Baker's Arms:
The old door
The old oak door in the main living room. However this may be a later addition. See 1953 listing
West side of house with old fireplace
An external wooden, shaped lintel which surely was once the head for a fireplace. This is evidently the item "In the E end walls are the blocked remains of a smaller but similar fireplace, above which at 1st floor level is a blocked stone fireplace opening with stone jambs & four centred heads." mentioned in the 1938 record card below. It is clear evidence that this modern entrance way was once more cottages forming a terrace. See the entry for 1826
The old beam over the fireplace
A huge oak lintel above the main fireplace. However this is a later feature as there is evidence that the fireplace is not original. In 1938 it was not listed - see 1938 entry so must have been added after that date. At the rear of this fireplace are the remains of a rectangular opening. It is matter of speculation what this was but it is difficult to conceive that it ws in internal feature - which suggests that this wall was external. If so the room east of this was built after 1680,
A lintel above a door to one of the cottages. See next entry.
British History On Line has transcribed a 1952 book "An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 1, West". There is an entry (no 20) for the house to the west, now Marden Cottage (originally two cottages named Marden Cottage and Three Farthings) which states "has a doorway with a four-centred head, label and the initials and date R and M.C. 1672."
Inscription on the lintel
Above one of the holiday cottages in Bakers Arms (Jasmine Cottage) is a massive stone lintel with an inscription C R M 1672. This clearly is the stone four-centred head mentioned above as being part of Marden Cottage. We have photos before 1989 which do not show this stone so it seems clear that it was incorporated when these cottages were converted in 1989-1990. The inscription is dated 1672 but the lintel itself could quite possibly have come from the demolished Mohun Castle.
The undated map on British History On Line shows entry 20 separated from entry 21. However a map on Find My Past dated 1888 shows a block of building which must have been a row of cottages including Marden Cottage, Three Farthings, two where the current entrance to th eprprety unknown cottage and then the two which are part of the modern Bakers Arms. The row of cottages at the back are on the same map and must have been small cottages with access from the small lane east of Bakers Arms. The layout is little changed on the 1939 map on the same page, when the cottages were in ruins.
Circa 1680
The two cottages which now form the western end of The Baker's Arms are said to have been built in this period. However the current entrance to the property was also the site of two cottages forming a terrace with Marden Cottage and Three farthings. The entry above for 1672 indicates that building probably started around 1672.
However by 1938 much of the terrace was in ruins and the part which is now The Bakers Arms has since been rebuilt in the same style - though the internal layout of this part of the house seems to be quite random in certain places. There is evidence that much of the rebuilding was done in the 1950s to 60s as well as the 1980s and early 1990s
18th century window with Jack Arch
18th century
The 1938 record card states that the eastern section of the main house was built in the 1700s. Exact date unknown. Probably later part of the 18th century. One interesting feature of this part is a Jack Arch or Flat Arch (link is to Wikipedia) above a window. By 2021 this arch had deteriorated and was in need of repair, This was done in March 2022.
There was evidence that it has already been repaired: an area of cement pointing, iron and slate buried in the mortar and old newspaper dated September 1989 to stop mortar falling down to the window. Also cement rendering around the external reveal. The window is onto the road and heavy traffic passing within 2 feet is clearly not within the design intentions of such an arch. However a steel lintel is now buried invisibly in the rendering.
The property, then known as Little Burnland or Higher Orchard, was bequeathed in the will of Giles Draper to his sons, Giles and Benjamin, and his daughter, Elizabeth. Benjamin and Elizabeth subsequently conveyed the property for £32 to Giles, who conveyed to Elizabeth a dwelling house in South Perrott.
It is not clear what portion of the row of cottages was thus described. Were Little Burnland and and Higher Orchard separate cottages? What was the cottage that filled the present entrance way, that housed the fireplace shown above.
Giles Draper conveyed the land to George Moss of Crewkerne under a 1000 year lease, for £38.
1838
Tithe Apportionment list for the parish list Robert Curtis as landowner and the occupier as Jonathan Warren. The property is listed as two orchards and Little Burnland as arable.
Census records William Curtis an Inn Keeper in Lower St. This is clearly the same family recorded in 1861. Lower Street is not a modern name but can be no other than the lower end of the main road that is the modern A356 through South Perrott.
The earliest OS large scale (25 inch to 1 mile) map is dated 1873. This shows the row of cottages coloured pink (for brick and stone) and another stone building where Jasmine Cottage now is. The present property includes areas 81, 82, 83, 86, 87, 87, 88, 89 and presumably 80 though this is smudged. The Bakery and skittle alley do not appear though there are hatched areas not explained in the available map key.
By this date the Bakers Inn had been conveyed to The Crewkerne United Breweries Ltd.
1888
The 1888 map is available on-line from National Library of Scotland. This shows all the exiting buildings excepting the lean-to additions at the rear of the main building. Some of the buildings shown on this map no longer exist;
The census records the Wheeler family at Bakers Arms. Francis and Mary J. with children Hedley O., Elizabeth B., William P. and Walter B.
Also listed are residents in Coombe Lane, which must have been the lane to the east of Bakers Arms, to Coombe Cottage. However none of these occupants are listed as bakers.
An undated, framed photo in The Bakers Arms shows it before it was reported as being ruinous. This shows, on the left of the photo, that the area which is now the entrance was indeed once another cottage. We estimate the photo must have been around 1890-1900.
1903 25" map of South Perrott
1903
There is a 1903 OS map, 25 inch to the mile which shows the four 1670 cottages with the later Georgian part. The Old Bakery, Jasmine Cottage and the skittle alley are present, as is another building in the courtyard.
The April 2nd 1911 census records the Childs family living at Bakers Arms. Joseph and Mary Ann with their children Winifred, Victor Ivan and Henry James.
J Childs also listed in the Post Office Directory.
1915
J Childs listed as innkeeper
1927 to 1955
Brewery History Lists Baker's Arms an a pub belonging to Arnold and Hancock who were formed in 1927 and ceased trading in 1955 when the chain was sold to Usher's Wiltshire Brewery Ltd. There is no indication whether Baker's Arms belonged to this chain for the whole period. By 1957 the pub had closed it had been owned by Crewkerne United Brewery.
1938
A record card for the lesser secular monuments, dated 31 August 1938 states:
The inn consists of two fairly late 17th century cottages, a portion of one being ruinous and only half the other habitable, and a later 18th century addition. The W wing, originally one tenement, has the side wall standing up to about a height of 10ft, and is in ruins. In the W end are the remains of the old 17th century fireplace, with stone joints & four centred oak head. In the E end walls are the blocked remains of a smaller but similar fireplace, above which at 1st floor level is a blocked stone fireplace opening with stone jambs & four centred heads. Half of the adjoining cottage is used as the licensed premises, in which is a stop chamfered beam and an angle fireplace, dating from the 11th century, with moulded jambs, bead stop & four centred head, all in stone.
Here also are two original windows on the S elevation one three light with moulded jambs, mullion and hood mould and one similarly two light above it without hood mould.
In the unused portion of this building, abutting the ruins of the other cottage, is an original fireplace with stone jambs & chamfered oak head. A central passageway separates this tenement from the 18th century addition, in which is a small section stop chamfered beam. There are later lean-to additions to the N. elevation.
The "old 17th century fireplace" listed above would have been in the area which is now the main entrance to the property, having been demolished completely between 1938 and 1953.
1952
British History on-line has published An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 1, West which was originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1952. Pages 176-178 cover South Perrott. There is a map of the village. Item 21 refers to The Baker's Arms: "Bakers' Arms Inn, formerly two cottages, immediately E. of (20), retains three fireplaces with four-centred heads." This page also mentions the lintel dated 1672 as being present in the cottage now called Marden cottage.
The property was listed (Listing No: 1211886, NGR: ST 47182 06785). The original listing states: Former Inn, now private house. Cl7 and C18 at right hand. Ashlar stone and rubble walls. Thatch roof with a stone gable to road, coped. Brick stacks at left hand west gable, and right hand gable. 2 storeys. 3 windows, 2 and 3-light stone mullions with wooden casements. Sashes with glazing-bars at right hand. Dressed stone voussoirs over. Blocked front door on to road, now a window. Present front door on west gable wall, in C16 style, but of C20. Source: RCHM Dorset I, p178(21)
However listing prior to 1980 meant little or nothing as far as alterations to listed buildings were concerned, so the house contains much that is clearly done in the period 1957-1980. Tight control of listed buildings only started to occur in the 1990s.
Notice that the listing does not mention the old oak door (see 1940 entry). This implies that the door was not present at that time. So it may well have been fitted in the late 1950s by the new owner. Which would explain why the outside face is in fact inside.
July 1957
The 1957 song of The Baker's Arms
was closed as a public house, was turned into a private dwelling and sold. The proprietor had been Walter Gale and the pub had been owned by Crewkerne United Breweries.
Today, on the wall inside The Baker's Arms, there is a framed song concerning the closure, dated July 1957 with the initials L.H.G. The text of the Song of the Baker's Arms is available.
The new owner (D T Harrison-Sleap) seems to have been done quite a a lot of rebuilding, alterations and additions: there are, still present in the grounds, a series of stones which clearly once formed an arch. The top stone of one column is dated 15 - 7 - 57 and the top of the second column has the initials D.T.H.S. There is an old photo showing this arch where the modern entrance driveway now is. He also had an oval window installed in the main building, with his initials carved into the sill.
Initially the Harrison-Sleaps lived in London during the week and only used The Baker's Arms at the week end. But later on, a few earsc before they sold the place, they lived here full time.
29 Nov 1957
Agreement between Charles Eli Symes Vendor of Bridge Cottage - now demlished) and Derek Touchet Harrison-Sleap (purchaser) for pipes and access to a septic tank. To this day there is a small isolated square of land in our neighbours garden, where the old septic tank one was, that belongs to the property. Nowadays the public sewer runs through the property to the bend in the river east of the bridge where it then does a dog-leg east into the field and runs parallel to the river. It seems likely that originally it must have simply discharged into the river at this point and was later diverted.
Apparently Bridge Cottage was one dwelling in those days, owned by a brother and sister who divided the property into two separate cottages and re-named them. It is said that the brother committed suicide.
Aerial photo of The Bakers Arms
1960
An undated aerial photograph shows the property. A similar photograph of, and displayed in, The White Horse pub in Haselbury Plucknett is dated 1960. It seems likely that these are the same date.
1971
The 1971 Town and County Planning Act for the first time tried to control what could be done to a listed building. However little notice was apparently taken of the rules until the mid 1990s. Many alterations to the property seem to have been done in the 1970s and 1980s.
1982
In June 1982 the River Parrett flooded badly. It had been a dry year before that and the groound was hard, so would not quickly absorb water. The ground floor of The Bakers Arms was filled with water to a depth, I guess, of about 2ft 6inches
1983 - 1988
Some unknown date in this period D T Harrison-Sleap sold the property to Mick Mazzeo
20 Aug 1988
Re-thatching of the whole house began. Including replacing the tiled part (west end). We have photos of the re-thatching in progress.
19 Sep 1988
Listed Buildings Consent to remove roof tiles and replace with thatch. This was applied for by Mr and Mrs Mazzeo. Before this, half the building was thatch, half tiles.
23 Feb 1989
Listed Buildings Consent to convert outbuildings to four holiday lets. The application was in the name of T Mazzeo, who was builder by trade. Tony Mazzeo was the son of Mick & Robbie Mazzeo and as well as the holiday cottage conversions he also built Riverside Orchard across the road from Baker's Arms, on land that used to belong to Hunter's Hatch. Mick Mazzeo also was a builder by trade.
This conversion to holiday lets has not yet been fully completed. Two cottages were converted. One (The Old Bakery) was fully converted to a holiday let and one (now Jasmine Cottage) was mostly converted then used as offices. In early 2021 we fitted a shower and a kitchenette in Jasmine to complete the conversion as well as doing maintenance work on The Old Bakery.
4 Jul 1990
Full consent for the holiday let conversion. This also involved constructing new vehicular access from the road thus demolishing the arch that was dated 1957. Previously vehicular access had been from the short lane (Coombe Lane) at the east side of the house.
03 Aug 1990
A tree preservation order was made.
28 November 1990
As part of the change or access a wall was built across the old entrance and a small lean-to log store was added to the back corner of the house. Inside this is an inscription
"T Mazzeo built this in November 1990.
Maggie Thatcher resigned today 27.11.1990 after 11 years as Prime Minister.
Mr John Major took over on this day.
Good riddance!"
5 Nov 1992
Listed Buildings Consent to replace the original chimney to the house.
11 Feb 1994
This is the postmark on an envelope of photos of Bakers Arms sent by the estate agents (Gibble, Booth & Taylor) to Mr & Mrs Mazzeo. The photos are undated but seem to be pre 1988 as the west end of the house is tiled.
30 Mar 1994
The property was registered to the Thackwells. There is a second small plot (now the orchard) which has possessory title.
21 Jul 1996
Listed Buildings Consent to alter height of existing wails and make good other walls. This work is for the old skittle alley which by this time was in ruins.
26 Nov 1996
Listed Buildings Consent to infill existing building. This seems to be to convert what had been a second garage (which may well once have been old stables) to what is now the games room.
2016
As far as we know The Old Bakery was not used as a holiday let after 2016 until re-opened in June 2021. In the intervening years water had been ingressing from five sources due to lack of the most basic maintenance.
8 Oct 2020
We (Richard and Mary Torrens) took possession. The house and outbuildings were all covered in ivy, wisteria, jasmine and virginia creeper which, like the garden, had not been maintained properly for years. Several soffits, gutters etc. were quite badly damaged. Downpipes blocked or absent, drains blocked. There is a lot of maintenance to do on house, outbuildings and garden.
Document URL: https://westdorset.org/about/history/house.php