4 Binford Place appears as a very small property in Chubb’s illustrations, but was built up in the early to mid nineteenth century.
Chubb’s illustration c.1780, showing the Dolphin on the left, then a yard entrance to its right, then a small cluster of little buildings, which would all later be encompassed by a single building. The yard gave access to Chubb’s own family’s property.
Chubb’s illustration, c, 1790. It’s harder to make out here, but the little cluster of buidings on the further side of the yard entrance appear to have been rebuilt a little taller, with two small gables.
The Dolphin in about 1905. Now the narrow building has been extended out to encompass the whole plot. Note the bricks on the side of the façade, indicating that there had been plans for the adjoining property to be redeveloped in the same way.
c.1950s – the Dolphin not long before it was demolished. All that has changed in about 50 years being a coat of white render and the removal of the .
The Dolphin was an old Inn, first mentioned in 1802, and was especially popular with mariners. The brick building the Dolphin was in above probably dates to later than this date, so it was presumably situated on one of the small cottage type buildings depicted by Chubb. It closed in 1964. It was also known as the ‘Dublin Porter Stores’, or just ‘Porters’. (David Williams, Bridgwater Inns Past & Present, 1997, p.21). Number 4 Binford Place was demolished in 1966.
