03 January 2011

God Begot House

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This is the rear of God Begot House. In 1012 the wife of Ethelred the Unready was given the Manor of Goudbeyete or as it is now known, God Begot. When she died, she willed it to the Prior and monks of St Swithun, with a very unusual clause, that it be toll  and tax free forever and that no minister of the King could enter the house. Thus it became a safe refuge for any criminal and the city authorities had no power to enter, much to their annoyance! This lasted until Henry VIII abolished the monasteries. The present building dates from the 1462. The name God Begot is thought to mean Good Bargain rather than any religious meaning. The building is now Ask Pizza Restaurant.

13 comments:

  1. Sort of reminds me of Monet's Giverny. Nice picture.

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  2. Nice post and what a beautiful building.

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  3. fyoosha -Dad & stayed there, when it was a darling inn.
    Still have the unused mint condition postcard! Sad. a pizza place.

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  4. Addendum from fyoosha----We stayed there in summer 1968......Dad's 89, driving, reading, writing, correcting My typos, etc.has great memories of The MANOR OF GOD BEGOT stay with me, in '68.Won't tell him it's a pizza shack, now!

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  5. Yes, how the mighty have fallen! It's still a very nice looking building, especially striking from the front. Thanks for sropping by the blog!

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  6. My grandfather used to have a jewelery shop there before the pizza chain!
    One of the benches in the picture is in memory of my grandmother. Lot's of history for me !

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    1. Hi RockAndVole. Was surfing the net and came across your posting of 71/2 yrs ago! I used to visit your grandfather A (and P)when I was a child. Are your father's initials P.N.B? Curious? Come back to me for more info. Kind regards Neil

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  7. Wow! Great to hear from someone with a local connection to the building. Will have a look at the bench next time I pass by

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  8. My father and his brother were the owners of God be Got for many years, so sad to know its now a pizza restaurant. It brings back many memories

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  9. I stayed here in September 1960. It was a charming inn and sorry to know it is now a pizza parlor. By the way, my bill the next morning was 1 pound 7 and 9! That was for room, dinner and breakfast. I still have the bill.

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  10. They could of put a canopy over the benchs... miserable bureaucrats. I guess beggars can't be choosers, at least there is a fridge...er... i mean rubbish bin.

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  11. In 1990 it was a high end restaurant... Red sign.... Beginning with B. Can't remember the name. Been bugging me. Any ideas

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  12. The "God be Got" has a special place in our memory. My wife and I spent the second night of our honeymoon there in October 1963. Pizza place or not, we loved it!
    (Don't ask about the first night!)

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