The Green Dragon is now the Premier Shop, 3 Fore Street. In about 1995 Graham Barden, the owner of, what was then Londis found a ‘day’ book in the attic, on the inside page is written the following “This book began 14 November 1803 by Jane Scobell (The Day book found in the attic of 3 Fore Street is now held in the Town Hall, it lists sales at an Inn or similar, probably the Green Dragon)
Extract from a Poem written by Brian J Hooper former Headmaster St Andrews Primary School, Cullompton
Recruitment Sergeant “Now come on lads, let’s see who’s willing, To join the Colours, here’s a shilling”
Yokel “ I’ve never had twelve pence that’s mine, So show me where I have to sign”
Recruitment Sergeant: “Well done lad. Now you’re in no flagging, We meet each week at the Green Dragon”
The Dragon was a local bar, Where Kemps and Labdon’s Yard now are, Famous for its grog and gruel, And also for a fateful duel, That took place on a dreadful day before Queen Vic came here to stay, She wasn’t Queen then .. no, less, only a small royal Princess. (Queen Victoria was born in 1819).
Timeline for the Green Dragon
| Date | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| 1713 | Cullompton Parish Overseers of the Poor Apprenticeship Indentures John Jones apprenticed to Samuel Cross for the Green Dragon | Devon Records Office 2404A/PO/81/7 |
| 17 June 1726 | Indenture of demises of this date between Anthony Codner Merchant of the one part and Thomas Lefs? maltster of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1745 | William Whitney apprenticed to Thomas Pannell for the Green Dragon | Devon Records Office 2404A/PO/105/24 |
| 20 Dec 1755 | Probate of the will of the said Thomas Lefs? of this date | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 3 April 1756 | Indenture of assignment by way of Settlement of this date between Thomas Lefs son of the Before mentioned Thomas Lefs of the first part Susannah Lefs of the second part Humphry Bliss Shopkeeper of the third part William Bliss Sergemaker of the fourth part and John Lefs Gentleman and Hugh Skinner Surgeon of the fifth part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 21 May 1756 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said Thomas Lefs the son of the one part and the said Willaim Bliss of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1 March 1758 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said William Bliss of the one part and Agnes Yorath? widow of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1759 | James Wiley apprenticed to William Bliss for the Green Dragon | Devon Records Office 2404A/PO/159/5 |
| 25 June 1763 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said Agnes Yorath? of the first part and the said William Bliss of the second part and William Criddle Sergemaker of the third part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1 Nov 1763 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said William Bliss and Susannah his wife of the one part and the said William Criddle of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| Michas Term? 4th Geo 300? | Indentures of fine? of the date levied pursuant to the last mentioned indenture wherein the said William Criddle was plaintiff and the said William Bliss and Susannah his wife were defendants | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 5 Oct 1771 | Probate of the said William Cridde will of this date | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 10 March 1781 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between Mary Criddle spinster of the one part and Richard Rice carrier of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 2 June 1781 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between Richard Rice of the one part and Humphry Blackmore Gentleman of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 29 Sept 1785 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said Humphry Blackmore of the one part and the said Richard Rice of the second part and Humphry Mills the younger and William Haycraft Leatherdressers of the third part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1 Feb 1786 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said Humphry Mills of the first part the said William Haycraft of the second part Henry Mills fishmonger of the third part and Humphry Mills yeoman/father of the said Humphry Mills the younger and Henry Mills of the fourth part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1797 | Ann Pring apprenticed to Humphry Mills for the Green Dragon endorsed “Mr Humphry Mills and Mr Wm Haycraft being joint occupiers .. apprentice .. Vestry Meeting … no apprentice should be bound to Mr Haycraft …. Of Ann Pring | Devon Records Office 2404A/PO/93/7 Note: In the 1790 Universal British Directory Mills and Haycraft are described as leather dressers and gloves |
18 Nov 1799 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between William Bliss yeoman son of the before mentioned William Bliss and Susannah his wife the before called Susannah Lefs of the one part and the said Humphry Mills William Haycraft and Henry Mills of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 13 April 1801 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between Sarah Bliss spinster daughter of the said William Bliss and Susannah his wife for the first part and and the said Humphry Mills William Haycraft and Henry Mills of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1 May 1804 | Probate of the will of the before mentioned Henry Mills of this date | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 3 Nov 1807 | Deed poll under the Hands and Seal of Henry Skinner Esquire and William Brown merchant | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1811 | William Manley 9 apprenticed to Humphry Mills for the Green Dragon | Devon Records Office 2404A/PO/161/8 |
| 8/9 Jan 1812 | Attested copy of Indenture lease release and assignment of this date between the said Humphry Mills of the one part and the said Henry Skinner and William Brown described as Bankers and Copasbiers? on the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 7/8 Oct 1814 | Attested copy of indenture of lease and release and assignment of this date between the said Humphry Mills of the first part William Mills Gentleman of the second part and Joseph Davey Sergemaker of the third part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 1814 | Ann Foweraker 9 apprenticed to Humphry Mills, yeoman for the Green Dragon | Devon Records Office 2404A/PO/143/27 |
| 9/10 March 1815 | Indenture of lease release and assignment of this date Between the said Humphry Mills of the one part and the said William Mills of the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 21 Aug 1818 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said Humphry Mills of the first part the said Henry Skinner and William Brown of the second part the said Joseph Davey of the third part and Joshua Williams Thomas Sparkes Joseph Sparkes and George Sparkes Bankers of the fourth part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 30 June 1821 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said William Haycraft of the first part the said Humphry Mills of the second part the said William Mills of the third part and the said Thomas Sparkes Thomas Sparkes and George Sparkes of the fourth part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 30 Nov 1823 | Indenture of assignment of this date Between the said Thomas Sparkes Joseph Sparkes and George Sparkes on the one part and the said Roger Morle on the other part | Schedule of evidences re assignment of premises in Cullompton part of a tenement at the Green Dragon Inn |
| 24 Dec 1823 | Mr Roger Morle to Trustees for Mrs Sarah Monkton –Assignment of premises in Cullompton, part of tenement called the Green Dragon Inn | Original document held in the Town Hall |
| 1839 Tithe Map | Plot 2511 Owned and occupied by Sarah Monkton Plot 2512 (Part of Half Moon Inn) owned by Elizabeth Monkton, occupied by William Hodges | 2512 is directly opposite Tiverton Road, 2511 is to the east of 2512 (site of Premier Shop) |
| 8 July 1839 | “after a severe illness, Mr. James Monkton, a respectable and much esteemed inhabitant of Collumpton. He was taken from his chamber where he lay in a dying state, on Sunday during the awful fire; a burning flake, wafted from the lower part of the town, having fallen on premises near the house in which the unfortunate sufferer was expiring”. | Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 13 July 1839(3a) |
| 1839 | Near the Half Moon the destruction of valuable property is very great. A great number of houses continuous to the bank are total wrecks, but that building was saved | Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 13July 1839(3a)) The Green Dragon was next door to the Half Moon (between the Half Moon and the bank) Sarah Monkton is described as draper and tea dealer |
| 1851 Census | Sarah Monkton 54 Widow Annuitant William Cottle 66 Visitor Sarah Potter 19 Servant | |
| 1861 Census | Sarah Monkton 71 Ann Monkton 43 Daughter – Governess Lucy J Hart 10 Boarder Georgina Wray 6 Boarder Sarah Paine 16 Servant | Listed as second premises in Fore Street (3 Fore Street) |
| 1881 Census | Ann Monkton 63 Retired Governess Emma Goldstone ? 60 Retired Governess Edward Goldstone 60 Boarder & Merchants Agent Ann Goldstone 54 Wife of above Ann Ellis Servant 28 | |
| Oct 1891 | Invoice for repair of party wall between Mr Jago and Miss Monkton (Miss Monkton to Richard Pearcey) 4s6d | Original document in the Town Hall |
| 1911 Census | Listed as private house Labdon |