The Seven Stars Inn is a 14th-century public house in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, a well-preserved example of a medieval building and a typical Sussex village pub. It is associated with historical events, both real and rumoured. As of at least autumn 2016, it was closed for business.
Built in about 1400 as a Wealden hall house in traditional Wealden timber frame, the building is Grade II* Listed.[1] It was altered in the 16th century and re-faced in the 19th century. It has a recessed centre, with curved timber brackets supporting the eaves. The first floor oversails on brackets, and has a Crown-post-supported roof.[2] Owned by Harveys, a brewery in Lewes, since February 2002,[3] the pub has existed in its current form for at least 300 years.
Historyedit
Medieval Robertsbridge was granted a market charter in the 13th century,[4] and quickly became prosperous. The Seven Stars dates from this era of early prosperity. The earliest surviving building in the village is only 10 years older.[5]
Folk history surrounding the building has rumoured that Charles II is said to have been confined there for a time[6][7]during his escape from England following the Battle of Worcester. This is unlikely as Charles eventually escaped by ship from Shoreham, having travelled from the west.
Smugglersedit
Robertsbridge was within the area controlled by the Hawkhurst Gang, a criminal organisation involved in smuggling between 1735 and 1749.[8][9][10] John Amos, a prominent member of the gang, lived in the village. The gang's influence extended from Kent to Dorset and they operated freely enough to use as many as 500 pack-horses to carry contraband, raiding a government customs house[11] to recover captured goods.[12] Robertsbridge itself was the site of a famous ambush. Thirty smugglers assembled, fortified with alcohol, and ambushed a wagon-load of seized contraband tea on Silver Hill, killing a customs officer in the process.[8]
Member of Parliament Horace Walpole reported a miserable journey that ended at Robertsbridge in one of his letters to Richard Bentley, dated 5 August 1752.[13] Arriving in "Rotherbridge" after passing Silver Hill, they found only one available bed, "all the rest were inhabited by smugglers".
Hauntingsedit
According to a local newspaper, the building has been named as one of the top ten most haunted pubs in the country. In July 2013, it was reported that Hidden Worlds Paranormal Support Group would be investigating to help the owners deal with an alleged poltergeist and other ghostly activity.[14]
Citationsedit
^"Wealden Hall Houses :: Geograph Britain and Ireland". Geograph.org.uk. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
1898 edition: complete searchable text from bartleby.com
Details of Grade II Listing
1955 Photographs
Haunted House
Famous Politician on his travels
The Hawkhurst Gang
Wikimapia Link
October 31, 2023
seven, stars, 14th, century, public, house, robertsbridge, east, sussex, well, preserved, example, medieval, building, typical, sussex, village, associated, with, historical, events, both, real, rumoured, least, autumn, 2016, closed, business, seven, stars, in. The Seven Stars Inn is a 14th century public house in Robertsbridge East Sussex a well preserved example of a medieval building and a typical Sussex village pub It is associated with historical events both real and rumoured As of at least autumn 2016 it was closed for business Seven Stars InnThe inn from the northwestLocation34 High Street Robertsbridge East Sussex TN32 5AJCoordinates50 59 09 N 0 28 29 E 50 9858 N 0 4747 E 50 9858 0 4747Builtc 1400Architectural style s MedievalListed Building Grade II Designated3 August 1961Reference no 1275146Location within East Sussex Contents 1 Architecture 2 History 2 1 Smugglers 3 Hauntings 4 Citations 5 External linksArchitecture editBuilt in about 1400 as a Wealden hall house in traditional Wealden timber frame the building is Grade II Listed 1 It was altered in the 16th century and re faced in the 19th century It has a recessed centre with curved timber brackets supporting the eaves The first floor oversails on brackets and has a Crown post supported roof 2 Owned by Harveys a brewery in Lewes since February 2002 3 the pub has existed in its current form for at least 300 years History editMedieval Robertsbridge was granted a market charter in the 13th century 4 and quickly became prosperous The Seven Stars dates from this era of early prosperity The earliest surviving building in the village is only 10 years older 5 Folk history surrounding the building has rumoured that Charles II is said to have been confined there for a time 6 7 during his escape from England following the Battle of Worcester This is unlikely as Charles eventually escaped by ship from Shoreham having travelled from the west Smugglers edit Robertsbridge was within the area controlled by the Hawkhurst Gang a criminal organisation involved in smuggling between 1735 and 1749 8 9 10 John Amos a prominent member of the gang lived in the village The gang s influence extended from Kent to Dorset and they operated freely enough to use as many as 500 pack horses to carry contraband raiding a government customs house 11 to recover captured goods 12 Robertsbridge itself was the site of a famous ambush Thirty smugglers assembled fortified with alcohol and ambushed a wagon load of seized contraband tea on Silver Hill killing a customs officer in the process 8 Member of Parliament Horace Walpole reported a miserable journey that ended at Robertsbridge in one of his letters to Richard Bentley dated 5 August 1752 13 Arriving in Rotherbridge after passing Silver Hill they found only one available bed all the rest were inhabited by smugglers Hauntings editAccording to a local newspaper the building has been named as one of the top ten most haunted pubs in the country In July 2013 it was reported that Hidden Worlds Paranormal Support Group would be investigating to help the owners deal with an alleged poltergeist and other ghostly activity 14 Citations edit Wealden Hall Houses Geograph Britain and Ireland Geograph org uk 18 April 2009 Retrieved 24 June 2013 Historic England Details from listed building database 1275146 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 24 June 2013 Untitled Document Archived from the original on 7 August 2007 Retrieved 18 May 2008 Robertsbridge origins and history Aboutrobertsbridge org uk Retrieved 24 June 2013 Timber framed buildings in Robertsbridge Aboutrobertsbridge org uk Retrieved 24 June 2013 Britain s Top Ten Haunted Pubs Spookystuff co uk Retrieved 24 June 2013 1 Archived December 1 2008 at the Wayback Machine a b Smuggling gangs of East Sussex and their inland bases Smuggling co uk Retrieved 24 June 2013 Platt Richard 2007 Smuggling in the British Isles Tempus Publishing Ltd pp 224pp ISBN 978 0 7524 4249 5 Smugglers Smuggling 1300 to 1833 VillageNet History History effecting Kent amp Sussex Villagenet co uk 15 May 2012 Archived from the original on 21 January 2012 Retrieved 24 June 2013 Terror of the Hawkhurst Gang Darkdorset co uk Retrieved 24 June 2013 2 Archived December 20 2008 at the Wayback Machine The Letters of Horace Walpole Volume 2 by Horace Walpole Full Text Free Book Part 5 16 Fulltextarchive com Retrieved 24 June 2013 Bid to uncover truth behind haunted pubExternal links edit1898 edition complete searchable text from bartleby com Details of Grade II Listing 1955 Photographs Haunted House Famous Politician on his travels The Hawkhurst Gang Wikimapia Link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Seven Stars Inn amp oldid 1105353206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
