Maundrel Hall, Salisbury

‘Maundrel Hall’, as a name, is no longer in use. The hall was on the site of the pub which is now called the ‘Slug and Lettuce’.

The name ‘Maundrel’ is now often spelt ‘Maundrell’, but in reference to ‘Maundrel Hall’ and to John Maundrel it seems to be exclusively spelt with the single ‘l’. [but see below on Maundrell Close]

The building of the Maundrel Hall

I believe the current ‘Slug and Lettuce’ building is the original ‘Maundrel Hall’. I am not certain of this but the only indication I’ve found so far one way or the other implies that it is. (¹)

The Maundrel Hall was built in 1880. It was funded by public subscription, inspired by the dynamic rector of Saint Paul’s Church, the Reverend Edgar Thwaites. Under Reverend Thwaites a temperance hotel and a hostel for girls were also constructed. Given that Thwaites was involved with the building of a temperance hotel, I’d guess that he wouldn’t be pleased that the Maundrel Hall is now a pub.

The Hall’s purpose was to facilitate ‘undenominational worship and discussion’(²). It was particularly aimed at poor non-churchgoers, who would have been uncomfortable in the more well-to-do churches (³) of Saint Paul or Saint Thomas.

A ‘Luther Hall’ opened in 1884, which later became known as the ‘Little Maundrel Hall’(⁴).

In 1895 a J.H. Maundrel (presumably believing himself to be a descendent of the ‘original’ Maundrel) gave £500 for the benefit of the hall.(⁵)

The naming of Maundrel Hall

The hall was named after John Maundrel, a farmer, who was burned at the stake in 1556. (⁶)

His crime was to preach against the established Church of the day.

The ‘Salisbury Martyrs’

John Maundrel was from Rowde, in the north of Wiltshire. He had previously been convicted of heresy for speaking out against the concepts of holy water and holy bread. At the time of this offence his punishment had been to parade around Devizes wearing a sheet and carrying a candle.(⁷)

With the ascension to the throne of Queen Mary the penalties for religious dissent became much more severe.

Maundrel, together with William Coberley, a tailor, and John Spicer, a mason, interrupted a church service at Keevil (⁸). They were arrested and taken to Salisbury where they were questioned by the Bishop at Saint Clements Church in Fisherton.(⁹)

Under questioning, the men denied the authority of the Pope. When asked about religious imagery within the Church, Maundrel replied:

“Wooden images are good to roast a shoulder of mutton, but evil in the church, whereby idolatry is committed”.(¹⁰)

They were condemned to death by burning. Their execution is recorded in John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs:

On the 24th day of the same month [March], they were carried out of the common gaol to a place between Salisbury and Wilton, where were two posts set for them to be burned at. On coming to the place, they kneeled down, and offered their prayers secretly together, and then being undressed to their shirts, John Maundrel spoke with a loud voice, ‘Not for all Salisbury’; which words men judge to be an answer to the sheriff, who offered him the Queen’s pardon if he would recant.

And after that, in like manner, spake John Spicer, saying, ‘This is the most joyful day that ever I saw’.

Thus were these three godly men burned at two stakes; where most constantly they gave their bodies to the fire, and their souls to the Lord, for the testimony of his truth.¹¹)

Update: We drove through Rowde yesterday, and I notice there is a ‘Maundrell Close’, just of the main road. The surname ‘Maundrell’ is spelt in Rowde with a double ‘L’.

Podcast about executions under Bloody Mary

Since writing the above, I’ve listened to podcast about Queen Mary’s ‘strategy’ of religious intolerance. It’s worth a listen if you’re interested.

The podcast is from Blackwell’s website. It’s an interview with the historian Eamon Duffy about his book ‘Fires of Faith’.

The comment from the podcast that particularly stuck in my mind was about the continuing effect of Queen Mary on British culture. The author says that ‘the smoke of Smithfield is still in our eyes’.

The podcast is downloadable from the podcast archive site here – it’s about half way down the page:

• Academic, Educational and Business Books – Blackwell Bookshop Online

Footnotes

1. The website of the Emmanuel Church in the Wilton Road says that ‘The Maundrel Hall has since been re-sold several times over, and is now a part of a restaurant chain.’ – I would call the Slug and Lettuce a pub chain rather than a restaurant chain, but otherwise this would certainly imply that it’s the same building [↩]
2. Fisherton Anger | British History Online [↩]
3. GOSPEL BLESSINGS IN 19th CENTURY SALISBURY [↩]
4. Fisherton Anger | British History Online [↩]
5. Fisherton Anger | British History Online [↩]
6. Fisherton Anger | British History Online [↩]
7. Burned at the stake for heresy (From Salisbury Journal) [↩]
8. Burned at the stake for heresy [↩]
9. THE SALISBURY MARTYRS [↩]
10. THE SALISBURY MARTYRS [↩]
11. (GOSPEL BLESSINGS IN 19th CENTURY SALISBURY [↩]