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Page 3.

The front part is almost certainly of 17th century origins. The first record of it as The Kings Head is recorded in the transaction of 1791 when Humphrey Wolverton, a weaver sold it to John and Sarah Hill. Whether it served as a pub prior to that date is undetermined. John and Sarah were not the Inn keepers, that being reserved for Philip Pound who leased it until 1813 when he purchased it from John and Sarha. In 1834 there was a Malster on the premises with Philip Pound being the Malster. Philip Pound died in 1835 leaving the Inn to his wife, who continued as Landlord until 1839 when it passed to Edward Wise who held it until 1896. Edward Wise was only the owner and during his ownership he had 6 landlords. ( Cas Steward, Wm Jones, James Pound, Joseph Matthews, Fredric Eliit and Jame Boned ).

In 1896 the widow of Edward Wise sold the property to Emma Davies wife of John Davies, who had been tenant for at least 4 years before being purchased by his wife. Beer was made on the premises until about 1926. There is an agreement of 1912 in which Arthur Powis agrees to hold the licence of The Kings Head, Tenbury and reside on the premises and do the brewing and cellar work. His wages were 16/- a week with 1/6d available to have help with each brewing.

The Davies's held the property until 1946 when it was sold to Robert Allen Co Ltd, the Barbewn brewers of Worcester.

The site may have started as the Parsnage to the Anglo - Saxson Church which would take its history back to 1100. The first record mention of its use as an Inn is on a list of innkeepers of Tenbury and district, which was recorded by the Police in 1600, when Edmund Hill als Tailor was landlord.

Before then it had belonged to Sir Thomas Lucy who sold it to Rowland Corbett, Richard Millward and Richard Hayle. these sold it to Philip Hill als Tailor, then to Luke Hemynng of Worcester, and then ( 1645 ) to Walter Tomkins als Weaver of Worcester , Clothier and then to Thomas Dedicott (1650) of Tenbury, Glover and then to Valentine Rawlines of Oxford University, Gent who sold it to Thomas Sabery ( 1681 ) for £200.

In 1687 Thomas Sabery sold it to John Hall, Master of Pembroke Collage, Oxford for the benefit of fellows on the Tesdale and Wightwick Foundation of the Collage. This is where the present day name for the pub comes from. Thomas Sabery sealed the deal at The Boars Head, Tenbury in September 1687

Around 1750 it became involved in the new
Turnpikes. A toll house was built between the Pembroke and the main road and Turnpike gates erected on the road to the stepping stones ( which was a main road to Worcester ) and also gates were erected between the toll house and the
pub. There were also two gates at the junction of Bromyard Road and Leominster road. The Toll house was removed about 1860 so that the road could be widened. It was then in the hands of Pembroke College until 1899 when it was sold to Mr. Edward Wheeler of Kyrewood house for the sum of £353/13/0d.

A 17th century building but the first record we have is in 1855 when it was known as,
The Hippodrome and run as a beer and cider house by Mrs. Jane Clarke who was the landlady for about 25 years. We have details of the auction of The Fountain in 1879, presumably on the death of Mrs. Clarke.

The house is an old licensed house of high standing and is situated on a good main road half way between the flourishing market town of Tenbury and St Michael's Church and College, one mile from each. The surroundings are very beautiful and being on high ground it commands charming scenery.

It is said that it was one of the Inns used by drovers, leaving their animals on the nearby common overnight. One of the nearby bridleways is called 'Strakers Way' which indicates drovers used it. A good spot to stop before selling at the Tenbury Market.

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