In his excellent “Book of Taunton” (1977), Robin Bush says, “At the Harp Inn, South Road, circus animals were given a home after their travelling days were over. The landlord, Bromsgrove, had been attendant [±1826-9] to the blind giant, Joseph Sewell, buried here [Taunton] in 1829.” (My additions in square brackets.)

Unfortunately, he gives neither Bromsgrove’s forename, nor the source of this information.

I think the Harp Inn was possibly also known as the Half Way House Inn and South Road became Shoreditch Road (not South Street).

I believe the Bromsgrove referred to was my gx3-grandfather, James (1799-1852), but it could have been a brother, or their father, James (dates unknown).

Can anyone help me confirm/expand this tale?

Hi, You may be able to get some information from the church where Mr Sewell was burued. Your Mr Bromsgrove may be interred there as well.

Found in a Google search:
In July 1829 Joseph Neal Sewell a blind giant from Lincolnshire was buried in St Mary Magdalen churchyard. During his life Sewell had made a living by being exhibited in public, at exhibitions and touring shows, but lately had made friends with a Taunton man called Mr Bromsgrove. He was reputedly staying with another friend, Mr Luxton, when he died and in accordance with his wishes he was buried in the local churchyard. Many people visited the huge and hence unusual grave on the North side of the tower.

Good luck in your search.
Dorothy Nagy

Hi, Dorothy.
Thank you for this - more confirmation of the showman link but still no forename!!
One of James’ sons-in-law was John “Manchester Jack” Gill, reputed to be England’s first lion-tamer.
All the Bromsgroves, descended from John & Esther, that I can connect with, were baptised, married and buried at St Mary Magdalene. Another family, headed by Henry and Sarah, were Octagon Chapel Weslayans, but I cannot connect them to John & Esther.

In the 1861 census, there is a John Gill, age 60, born in Salford, Lanc., married to Bessie, who is the Inn Keeper of the Phoenix Inn, in East Street, Taunton, St Mary Magdalen. He may have tamed a few cats in his younger years. LOL

They sound like an interesting bunch.

Dorothy Nagy

In the parish registers, he is named John Manchester Gill.

“Manchester Jack of Wombwell’s Menagerie was the first lion tamer. In about 1835 he appeared before the public, sitting on the back of Nero, the lion, and opening Nero’s mouth.” (JL Middlemiss: Zoo on Wheels, 1987.) Poor old Nero was, by some accounts, rather elderly.

I have yet to find Gill or any of ‘my’ Bromsgroves in the 1841 census. I guess they were on the road. None of the inns associated with them later were in family hands at that time. In 1841 both of James’ brothers, John & William, were butchers in Taunton but none of James’ family were with them.

Mike