The Moat House - Old Pubs and Old Ales of Tamworth

 Click on a thumbnail image to change the large photograph below - scroll the gallery with the arrows

.

Although, the Elizabethan-style Moat House was officially designated a pub in 2006 following an extensive £40,000 refurbishment by owners London and Edinburgh Inns, the 16th century building has been used more as a restaurant than public house in recent times. It was in 1961 that the Moat House was converted into a restaurant by Berni Inns. It was the latest chapter in a colourful and chequered history for the architectural jewel of Tamworth.

In a 1936 publication entitled "Tamworth Tower and Town", local historian H.C.Mitchell commented that "this stately old house, with its low embattled tower, mullioned windows and clustered chimneys, embowered amidst centuries-old trees, is a priceless heritage from a magnificent age".

Originally called Moat Hall, the house was built in 1572 by the Comberford family. Humphrey Comberford's daughter Mary had married Walter Harcourt and were living in an older house on the same site during the mid-16th century. Following the death of Mary Harcourt in 1591, the rebuilt Moat House became the home of William Comberford. Refusing to renounce his Catholic faith, he was suspected of holding covert mass services in the house. Believing that the 'new' property contained secret Priest holes, Sir Humphrey Ferrers ordered the town's bailiffs to gather a party to search the house in 1606. Three men were found hiding in the house and, with the search party also discovering a number of religious tracts, they were arrested on suspicion of being seminaries.

James I, the first Stuart king of England, visited Tamworth in 1619 and whilst he was accommodated by Sir John Ferrers at Tamworth Castle, the Prince of Wales and future King Charles was entertained by William Comberford at the Moat House. The Parish register recorded that "the kinge lodged at ye castell; and ye prince at the motall. Mr Thomas Ashley and Mr John Sharp, then beilieffes, gave royall entertaynement."

When the English Civil War started in 1642 the Comberford family pledged their support for their former royal guest and sent £10,000 to his cause whilst William Comberford raised a royalist force and garrisoned Tamworth Castle for the crown. Following a siege in June 1643, a Parliamentarian detachment under the command of Colonel William Purefoy captured the castle. William Comberford fled the town leaving his home to be ransacked by Cromwell's supporters.

Following the war, the Comberford family were forced to sell their properties in and around Tamworth. To add salt to their wounds, the Moat House was purchased by a Roundhead Captain by the name of Thomas Fox. Their former enemy paid the sum of £160. The Comberford family were eventually exiled and returned to the Champagne district of France from where they originated.

The Moat House was bought and sold many times in the following centuries. Some of the families who took possession include the names of Boothby, Littleton, Wolferstan and Abney. A notable owner in the late 18th century was George Townshend, son of Viscount Townshend of Raynham. In 1751 he married Lady Charlotte Compton, daughter of the fifth earl of Northampton and inheritor of Tamworth Castle. Succeeding his father as fourth Viscount Townshend, he was created Marquis Townshend in 1787. He enjoyed a distinguished military career in which he saw active service at the battles of Dettingen, Fontenoy, and Culloden. As one of James Wolfe's brigadiers during the 1759 siege of Québec, Townshend assumed temporary command of the army when Wolfe was killed. Townshend subsequently accepted the surrender of the city. An accomplished caricaturist, a skill which landed him in hot water on several occasions, he eventually rose to the rank of field marshal. Following his death in 1807, the 2nd Marquis enthusiastically set about restoring Tamworth Castle but died four years later.

The 3rd Marquis was disinherited following the break-up of his marriage to Jane Dunn Gardiner. The castle was sold to John Robins and the Moat House was acquired by Lancashire-born Alice Woody who, with her son John, converted the house into a private asylum for the mentally ill. Although born in Tamworth, Dr.John Woody had previously worked as the resident surgeon in a similar institution at Stockport.

John Woody opened the gardens of the Moat House to the public for the local horticultural show in 1863. It has been reported that more than 2,000 people gathered in the grounds to admire the plants and gardens. The Warwickshire Militia Band played to the massed crowd, many of whom enjoyed trips on pleasure boats along the River Tame.

By 1891 Robert Woody was in partnership with local surgeon Edward Hollins and they employed Tredworth-born Bertha Jones as the head nurse. John Woody died in 1894 and Edward Hollins continued as sole proprietor of the asylum. The nursing home was later run by Dr.William Lowson but relinquished when he retired. In 1950 he offered the Moat House to the Tamworth Corporation free of charge. The Borough Council initially accepted but, on hearing that only seven of the twenty four council members had agreed to the suggestion, Dr Lowson withdrew his offer and placed the Moat House on the market. Most of the council were concerned about the cost of maintaining the property. The 16th century mansion was sold to Mr.Ashworth. 

The Elizabethan-style mansion has some 19th and 20th century additions, some no doubt from its days as an asylum but other more hideous add-ons courtesy of the Berni Inns empire. They closed the restaurant and sold the property in 1990, though it was left empty for a number of years.  After a period during which the Moat House was operated by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, the current owners re-launched the former mansion as a new public house in February 2006. Tamworth Mayor John Wells was pulling pints at the opening ceremony. Drummond Wallace was appointed as the manager.

© Kieron McMahon [Pubs and Breweries of the Midlands: Past and Present]