The Woodbridge Inn started its life in 1786 as a typical Wiltshire Coaching Inn. It got its name from the old wooden bridge that stretched over the river Avon. The Post Coach would regularly stop to water their horses or change them if necessary, whilst the fare paying passengers were met by the resident Landlord.
For the price of their ticket they were provided with a meal that often consisted of a roast joint that had been cooked the day before.In those days unscrupulous Landlords would rush coaching parties through their meals, in order that they 'did not slow up the post coach' only to serve the same unfinished joint to the next unlucky troop of passengers! A practice that thankful ended with the coach & horses!
There were other threats apart from that of food poisoning. Highway men frequented the dark Wiltshire roads and as the Woodbridge Inn was built on the main route to London, there were many rich travelers to choose from.
Legend has it, that on dark winter nights, a ghostly specter of a Coach & Four gallop over the 'Scales bridge' at the neighboring village of Upavon, and charge on towards the Woodbridge Inn in hope of sanctuary, from what, we will never know!
