John Grout
About
The story of John Grout is a remarkable tale of a self-made man who rose quite literally from rags to riches. It's somewhat poetic—and tragic—that he began his working life in the stables at The Bull and met his end due to his love of horses.
Born in 1821, John was the son of farmers living near Hall Farm, Kettleburgh, about ten miles north of Woodbridge. Farming in early 19th-century Suffolk was a hard life, and it's likely John was born into modest means.
As a teenager, one of John’s first jobs was as a "boot boy" in the stables of The Bull, then run by landlord John Salmon. Though a junior role, it required a good deal of trust and responsibility, particularly given the demanding nature of horsemen and guests.
In his early twenties, John moved to the Sun Inn—now a residence at 102 Thoroughfare, opposite Sun Lane—where he worked as an ostler, a man responsible for the care of horses. This position would likely have required a strong reference from John Salmon and would only have been offered on merit. John remained at the Sun Inn for some years, during which time he honed his skills with horses and began to cultivate his entrepreneurial acumen.
After his time at the Sun, John returned to The Bull, where John Salmon remained the landlord, although the business was increasingly run by his wife, Mary Salmon. John resumed work as an ostler but gradually took on more of the management as Mary aged. When Mary retired in 1861, John took over the inn—initially leasing it, and later purchasing it outright for £3,000, funded by the success of his horse dealing business.
During the 1850s, John developed a keen eye for buying and selling horses for profit. Starting with individual deals, he expanded operations to build up The Bull’s stables, develop The Bull Ride, and later acquire Barrack Farm. His reputation grew as both a businessman and a horseman.
In the first volume of the Suffolk Horse History & Stud Book (1880), John is recognized as a leading figure in the industry.
But it wasn’t just his skill with horses that earned him admiration—John was known for his honesty, generosity, and integrity. In an industry not always associated with trustworthiness, “Honest John” became his signature. He was generous with his time, his money, and his knowledge.
Grout's horses frequently won prizes at shows across the country. He is said to have won more than 100 cups during his lifetime, with notable success at Ipswich Racecourse—a venue dating back to the early 18th century that is now a housing estate.
One particularly famous horse, Fashion, a filly, won numerous awards and was sold for 1,200 guineas. According to the Lowestoft Journal (February 1887), she later went on to win a major race in the United States. Another notable winner was Catspaw, who won The Great Roman Steeplechase—said to be akin to the Grand National—two years in a row.
John’s reputation drew the attention of European royalty and dignitaries. Visitors to The Bull included monarchs, heads of government, representatives of the Kaiser and the Viceroy of India, and high society figures from Victorian England.
One notable interaction came when the Emperor of Austria offered John a £1,000 annual salary plus expenses to purchase horses across Europe for the Austrian government. John graciously declined, preferring to remain in Woodbridge and continue building his business.
Prince Umberto, son of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, first visited The Bull in 1873 to purchase horses for the royal household. This relationship lasted nearly 25 years and earned The Bull the right to display the Royal Coat of Arms of the House of Savoy.
From modest beginnings, John expanded The Bull’s stables through The Bull Ride to accommodate up to 170 horses. Additional space was secured at Barrack Farm (formerly near Old Barrack Road, around King’s Road). At its peak, the stud housed between 300 and 400 horses. By contemporary estimates, the business had a turnover equivalent to nearly £2 million per year today—said to be the largest such operation in the UK managed by a single individual.
Behind The Bull—now Redstone Mews—stood the Bull Assembly Rooms. Each year, John hosted a complimentary agricultural dinner for over 150 guests from the industry, a testament to his generosity and the esteem in which he was held. If you visit Redstone Mews today, you can still spot the horse rings on the walls of the car park.
John, who lived most of his life as a bachelor, finally married in 1884 to Mary Wade. Mary Wade was the widower of George Pearl Salmon who was the son of his previous employers – John and Mary Salmon (nee Pearl).
In July 1886, John attempted to calm a runaway horse on Market Hill and was badly injured in the process. The shock to his system was severe, and he never fully recovered. During his convalescence, he caught a chill and, in his weakened state, passed away in October 1886.
The dispersal of his stud was entrusted to Tattersall’s, who conducted a two-day auction on Fen Meadow. The event was so well attended that an extra train was run from London. The sale raised the equivalent of over £200,000 in today’s money. One highlight was the sale of a full sister to Fashion, which fetched 180 guineas.
John left much of his estate to his godson and nephew, Mr. John Whisstock, and to his long-serving manager, Mr. William Miles and his widow, Mary Wade.
Born in 1821, John was the son of farmers living near Hall Farm, Kettleburgh, about ten miles north of Woodbridge. Farming in early 19th-century Suffolk was a hard life, and it's likely John was born into modest means.
As a teenager, one of John’s first jobs was as a "boot boy" in the stables of The Bull, then run by landlord John Salmon. Though a junior role, it required a good deal of trust and responsibility, particularly given the demanding nature of horsemen and guests.
In his early twenties, John moved to the Sun Inn—now a residence at 102 Thoroughfare, opposite Sun Lane—where he worked as an ostler, a man responsible for the care of horses. This position would likely have required a strong reference from John Salmon and would only have been offered on merit. John remained at the Sun Inn for some years, during which time he honed his skills with horses and began to cultivate his entrepreneurial acumen.
After his time at the Sun, John returned to The Bull, where John Salmon remained the landlord, although the business was increasingly run by his wife, Mary Salmon. John resumed work as an ostler but gradually took on more of the management as Mary aged. When Mary retired in 1861, John took over the inn—initially leasing it, and later purchasing it outright for £3,000, funded by the success of his horse dealing business.
During the 1850s, John developed a keen eye for buying and selling horses for profit. Starting with individual deals, he expanded operations to build up The Bull’s stables, develop The Bull Ride, and later acquire Barrack Farm. His reputation grew as both a businessman and a horseman.
In the first volume of the Suffolk Horse History & Stud Book (1880), John is recognized as a leading figure in the industry.
But it wasn’t just his skill with horses that earned him admiration—John was known for his honesty, generosity, and integrity. In an industry not always associated with trustworthiness, “Honest John” became his signature. He was generous with his time, his money, and his knowledge.
Grout's horses frequently won prizes at shows across the country. He is said to have won more than 100 cups during his lifetime, with notable success at Ipswich Racecourse—a venue dating back to the early 18th century that is now a housing estate.
One particularly famous horse, Fashion, a filly, won numerous awards and was sold for 1,200 guineas. According to the Lowestoft Journal (February 1887), she later went on to win a major race in the United States. Another notable winner was Catspaw, who won The Great Roman Steeplechase—said to be akin to the Grand National—two years in a row.
John’s reputation drew the attention of European royalty and dignitaries. Visitors to The Bull included monarchs, heads of government, representatives of the Kaiser and the Viceroy of India, and high society figures from Victorian England.
One notable interaction came when the Emperor of Austria offered John a £1,000 annual salary plus expenses to purchase horses across Europe for the Austrian government. John graciously declined, preferring to remain in Woodbridge and continue building his business.
Prince Umberto, son of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, first visited The Bull in 1873 to purchase horses for the royal household. This relationship lasted nearly 25 years and earned The Bull the right to display the Royal Coat of Arms of the House of Savoy.
From modest beginnings, John expanded The Bull’s stables through The Bull Ride to accommodate up to 170 horses. Additional space was secured at Barrack Farm (formerly near Old Barrack Road, around King’s Road). At its peak, the stud housed between 300 and 400 horses. By contemporary estimates, the business had a turnover equivalent to nearly £2 million per year today—said to be the largest such operation in the UK managed by a single individual.
Behind The Bull—now Redstone Mews—stood the Bull Assembly Rooms. Each year, John hosted a complimentary agricultural dinner for over 150 guests from the industry, a testament to his generosity and the esteem in which he was held. If you visit Redstone Mews today, you can still spot the horse rings on the walls of the car park.
John, who lived most of his life as a bachelor, finally married in 1884 to Mary Wade. Mary Wade was the widower of George Pearl Salmon who was the son of his previous employers – John and Mary Salmon (nee Pearl).
In July 1886, John attempted to calm a runaway horse on Market Hill and was badly injured in the process. The shock to his system was severe, and he never fully recovered. During his convalescence, he caught a chill and, in his weakened state, passed away in October 1886.
The dispersal of his stud was entrusted to Tattersall’s, who conducted a two-day auction on Fen Meadow. The event was so well attended that an extra train was run from London. The sale raised the equivalent of over £200,000 in today’s money. One highlight was the sale of a full sister to Fashion, which fetched 180 guineas.
John left much of his estate to his godson and nephew, Mr. John Whisstock, and to his long-serving manager, Mr. William Miles and his widow, Mary Wade.
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
