History of the Inn
William's Grant Inn was built in1808 as a residence by William Bradford III, grandson of Deputy Governor William Bradford. The younger William was a sea captain and ship owner and was away for long periods. He built the house on land deeded in his wife Mary Smith’s name by her father, Nathanial Smith, the largest landowner in the region at the time. Why William never owned the land would be only conjecture. It stayed in the Bradford family for over 100 years and passed through only two other owners until 1993.
The residence was renovated as a B & B then by Mike and Mary Rose, whose mother did unique hand-painted decorations that adorn the entire kitchen and the entry hall. The decor includes antiques and folk art, and a mural of Bristol harbor in the front hall.
The Poehler's became the innkeepers in 1998 adding attractive landscaping with shade gardens, patio area and koi pond. The William’s Grant Inn is a beautiful five-bay Colonial Federal style home with seven fireplaces, the Willam's Grant Inn features charming and thematic guest room decors. It is conveniently located along tree-lined High Street in quiet south Bristol.