The Wise Man Inn

[puddleshark]

The Wise Man Inn, West Stafford.

Restored/rebuilt after a fire in 2006.

"The building dates back to the seventeenth century and was formerly cottages, built of stone and thatch. The cottages were converted to a pub in 1937. Where the name of it comes from is something of a mystery, but a poem on a wall is attributed to Thomas Hardy, though others attribute it to Goldring in 1850. A John Goldring is listed in trade directories of 1855, 1859 and 1875 as a beer retailer as well as a grocer." www.weymouth-dorset.co.uk/west-stafford.html

The poem is said to start, "I trust no Wise Man will condemn, a cup of genuine now and then...", which does sound more like a beer advert than a poem by Hardy.