New Inn

The first reference to the New Inn was in 1771 when it was run by John Dudden. An article in a newspaper dated 16th September was about the a fraudster who left a saddle to be collected in the New Inn of Chewton Mendip.

The  churchwarden accounts and the poor law records show that the Duddens were mainly carpenters,  builders and blacksmiths in the early 18th century but they may have benefited from a small pox epidemic in the middle of the century.

The 1740 map and associated ledgers show that the Duddens rented part of Barrow Farm and other properties nearby.The 1740 map also shows that the Royal Oak was in operation in Lower Street. The 1766  map and ledgers suggest that the Royal Oak was no longer operating as a pub by that date.

The 1740 map shows that  the road zig zaged up Chew Hill  but there was a building at the top on Chew Down. The 1794 map shows the building was still there and that the turnpike road followed the straighter route still in use today.

The New Inn would have overlooked the Unicorn which was on the corner of the High Street and  Coles Lane (east)  next to the fair ground. The New Inn would have provided a good view of the races that used to be held in the natural amphitheatre formed by the shallow valley beneath Chew Down. It is possible hat

The building was not shown in the 1839 tithe map but a large number of clay pipes were discovered when the field called Dudden’s was first ploughed by the Greens. It is possible that the New Inn was later known as the First and Last.