It was originally a coaching inn named after Charles II part of the pub was once the library (33 High Street). In 1903 an objection was received for the renewal of the licence because the landlord had been fined for keeping open his premises during prohibited hours. The then landlord, Mr Darch, told the court that he had been in the house for 15 years, it was always full on market days and sometimes he had 30 horses in the yard. He had 10 or 11 soldiers and horses billeted on him.
There is a story that the pub was haunted by a US airman who was stabbed in the public bar and has been back to haunt the pub on a number of occasions.
The section on the corner of Higher Mill Lane was Mrs Graves’ game, rabbit and poultry shop, in the 1950s this section was used as the public library.
King’s Head early 1900’s with shop next door (corner of Higher Mill Lane), which later became part of the King’s Head
Timeline
| Date | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| 1830 | Sarah Burnard | Pigots |
| 1839 | Sarah Burnard | Robsons |
| 1839 Tithe Map | Plot 2530 – Sarah Burnard Plot 2531 – William Burnard | |
| 1844 | Sarah Burnard | Pigots |
| 1850 | William Burnard | Whites |
| 1861 Census | Sarah Burnard 77 Innkeeper Thomas Burnard 48 Maltser Jane Burnard 39 | |
| 1878/9 | William Burnard | Whites |
| 1889 | George Darch | Kellys |
| 1891 Census | George Darch 60 Eliza Darch 52 Ellen Darch 22 Barmaid | |
| 1893 | George Darch | Kellys |
| 1901 Census | George Darch 60 Eliza Darch 52 Ellen Darch 22 Barmaid | |
| 1902 | George Darch | Kellys |
| 1910 | George Darch | Kellys |
| 1911 Census | Ellen Coote 39 Innkeeper Sophia Coote 17 Daughter Drapers Charles Coote 14 Son Butcher | |
| 1914 | Ellen Eliza Coote (Mrs) | Kellys |
| 1919 | Ellen Coote | Kellys |
| 1923 | Ambrose Robert Bater | Kellys |
| 12th June 1939 | DISORDERLY WAYFARERS SENT TO PRISON AT TIVERTON At a special sitting of Tiverton magistrates this morning two wayfarers, Patrick Petet Burke and Patrick Kinsella, were brought up in custody charged with being drunk and disorderly in Fore Street at 10.30p.m. on Saturday. Burke was also charged with stealing three darts from the KIngs’s Head, Cullompton. P.C. Thomas said that the men were shouting in Fore Street, and he was forced to arrest them. On Burke he found three darts. Mr Peters, licensee of the King’s Head, said the darts were used on his premises. Each man was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment for being drunk and disorderly, and Burke to seven days for the larceny of the darts. | Express & Echo |