George’s Inn was the largest and most important of the Inns of Medieval Bridgwater, where important travellers would stay. The name refers to St George, and possibly recalls how pilgrims and crusaders would have needed accommodation on their travels to the Holy Land. The Inn straddled St Mary Street and George Street (which was named after the Inn), and two plaques mark each side. It was centred round a large courtyard, which included coach houses and stables.
Recent excavations from when the site was redeveloped revealed evidence that French wine was widely drunk in the middle ages. This makes sense given Bridgwater’s importance as a major West-Country port at the time. George’s Inn had a very long life, closing at last at the end of the nineteenth century after it had been changed into a Temperance Hotel (ie, where no alcohol would be served).
St Mary street is named after the dedication of the Parish Church. It is unknown when the church was founded, although it is possible it represented a holy site at the intersection of the East to West route from Polden Hills, across the river and towards the Quantocks and the North to South route, from the village of Chilton Trinity towards North Petherton.