In the past fives was often played between the buttresses of church walls. Understandably the church authorities objected to this due to the damage caused to windows etc and in 1754 the Bishop of Bath and Wells banned fives from being played against church walls. As a result purpose built fives walls were constructed, mainly in the grounds of pubs. Most of the remaining non-public school fives walls in England are to be found in Somerset:
Middle Street, Shepton Beauchamp
Grid reference ST 404 169
Grid reference ST 404 169
Crown Lane, South Petherton
Crown Lane, South Petherton
Lord Poulett Arms, High Street, Hinton St George
The fives wall is at the back of the pub's garden, which was locked up when I visited at 8.30 am one Saturday morning, which is why I couldn't get a better photo of it. The garden looks beautifully kept.
Fleur de Lis, West Street, Stoke-sub-Hamdon
Grid reference ST 474 173
Grid reference ST 474 173
Anchor Inn, Riverside, Combwich
Cheriton Hill, North Cheriton
This may have been the remaining end of a medieval barn, rather than a purpose built fives wall, although it was used as one. Grid reference ST 685 25.
Milborne Port
Cheriton Hill, North Cheriton
This may have been the remaining end of a medieval barn, rather than a purpose built fives wall, although it was used as one. Grid reference ST 685 25.
Milborne Port
There is an unrecorded fives wall behind the Woodborough Inn in Winscombe. This replaces two earlier walls, one was on the north side of the tower of St James church Winscombe which was replaced in the 1860's
ReplyDeletehave you further details as I give a talk on the forgotten fives walls of somerset. I was not aware of this one
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