John Grout - International Horse Dealer

John Grout, who was the landlord of the Bull Inn from 1861 to 1887, was a horse dealer of world renown. From the 18th century the Bull Inn was a post for the Union stagecoach on the Ipswich-Norwich route.  At every stop six hard-worked horses were replaced by a new team.

There is list of proprietors dating back to 1734. By then it was already referred to as an as 'ancient inn’.

John Grout was born on a small farm in Kettleburgh. He came to Woodbridge to work at the Sun Inn where he was a helper in the yard and in the house. He moved on to the Bull Inn as an ostler and within 3 years the entire management of the yard was entrusted to him.  He then obtained the permission of his employer to deal in horses.

When the landlord of the Bull Inn died his widow took over and in 1861 she sold out to John Grout. By this time he was having to hire stables all over the town for the horses he was buying and selling, so he decided to build extensive stables and a covered exercise area  - the 'Bull Ride' - on  the opposite side of New Street to the Bull Inn. These stables could accommodate up to 170 horses. He also acquired Barrack Farm which was adjacent to Old Barrack Road.

John Grout's equine fame attracted many notable people from Victorian society to Woodbridge, such as the Duke of Westminster and the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, to select their horses. In 1880 he estimated that his annual turnover was £100,000.

Edward FitzGerald the translator, had lodgings on Market Hill and the following appears in Frances Hindes Groom's account of his father.

 I was staying in Woodbridge at the “Bull,” kept by “good John Grout,” from whom FitzGerald procured the Scotch ale which he would set to the fire till it “just had a smile on it,” and who every Christmas sent him a present of mince-pies and a jug of punch. An excellent man, and a mighty horse-dealer, better versed in horse-flesh than in literature. After a visit from Lord Tennyson, FitzGerald told Grout that Woodbridge should feel itself honoured.  John Grout had not quite understood, so presently he took a chance of asking my father who that gentleman was Mr FitzGerald had been talking of. “Mr Tennyson,” said my father, “the poet-laureate.” “Dissáy,” said John Grout, warily; “anyhow he didn’t fare to know much about hosses when I showed him over my stables.”

The Entrance to the Bull Ride on New Street. It was opposite the entrance to the yard of the Bull Inn.

Photograph looking up the top of New Street towards Market Hill. John Grout lived in the house on left. He is leading a horse out of the entrance to the yard of the house. The other men and horses are probably from the Bull Ride on the right.

One of the many cards that John Grout

had printed giving details of each horse

for sale.

John Grout died in November 1886.  His horse dealing business, and the Bull Hotel, was taken over by William Miles. Little is known about his handling of the horse dealing business but clearly still attracted notable people. In 1896 the King of Italy granted William Miles the right to display the Royal Coat of Arms and for many years it proudly adorned the front of the Bull Hotel.

William Miles was proprietor of the Bull Hotel until 1899. After he died the hotel was run by his widow until 1919 and then by a M J Miles until 1921.

Photograph of the from Bull Hotel. It is believed that the coach shown is the one which ferried between the hotel and the station. The coat of arms of the King of Italy can be clearly seen on the front of the building,