The Seven Stars Inn
Encyclopedia
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.
since February 2002, the pub has existed in its current form for at least 300 years. Built as a Wealden Hall House in about 1400, in traditional Wealden timber frame
, it is Grade II* Listed, Shown with image here. It was altered in the 16th Century, and re-faced in the 19th Century, and has a recessed centre, with curved timber brackets
supporting the eaves
. The first floor oversails on brackets, and has a Crown-post
-supported roof.
A 1955 photograph shows the Seven Stars on the right.
There are rumours and snippets of folk history associated with the building. Charles II
is said to have been confined there for a time during his escape
from England following the Battle of Worcester
. This is unlikely: Charles eventually escaped by ship from Shoreham
, having travelled from the west.
The Seven Stars is listed as one of the Top Ten Haunted Pubs in England. Experiences include phantom footsteps, shadowy apparitions and dogs reacting to sights unseen. The Inn was frequented by 18th Century smugglers , so strange noises in the middle of the night might have another explanation.
who ran the smuggling in the area between 1735 and 1749
. John Amos, a prominent member of the gang, lived in Robertsbridge. Their influence extended from Kent to Dorset and they operated freely enough to use as many as 500 pack-horses to carry contraband
, and raid a government customs house to recover captured goods. Robertsbridge itself was the site of a famous ambush, 30 smugglers assembled, fortified themselves with drink, and ambushed a wagon-load of seized contraband tea
on Silver Hill, killing a customs officer
in the process .
Horace Walpole
reported a miserable journey that ended at Robertsbridge in one of his letters to Richard Bentley , dated 5 August 1752 . Arriving in "Rotherbridge" after passing Silver Hill, they found only one available bed, "all the rest were inhabited by smugglers".
, the "Seven Stars" can be a reference to the Pleiades
, a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus
, (also known as the Seven Sisters, named by the Greeks for the seven daughters of Atlas
); the seven moving heavenly bodies known to the ancients: the sun, the moon, and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn; or the constellation Ursa Major
, "the Plough", important for its symbolism in a rural arable area, and for indicating the direction North. "The Plough" is also a common pub name
.
The reference to "seven stars in the sky" in the famous Green Grow the Rushes O! Teaching Song or Dilly Song
gives further, if mystical , insights. The Seven Stars could be the Seven Stars referred to in Revelations
as representing the seven angels of the seven early Christian churches; or the Pleiades, or Ursa Major. The song is replete with Christian and Pre-Christian symbolism , and dates to medieval times, if not earlier.
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in Robertsbridge
Robertsbridge
Robertsbridge is a village in East Sussex, England within the civil parish of Salehurst and Robertsbridge. It is approximately 10 miles north of Hastings and 13 miles south-east of Tunbridge Wells...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, a well-preserved example of a medieval building
Medieval architecture
Medieval architecture is a term used to represent various forms of architecture common in Medieval Europe.-Characteristics:-Religious architecture:...
and a typical Sussex village pub. It is associated with historical events, both real and rumoured.
Architecture
Owned by Harveys, a brewery in LewesLewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
since February 2002, the pub has existed in its current form for at least 300 years. Built as a Wealden Hall House in about 1400, in traditional Wealden timber frame
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
, it is Grade II* Listed, Shown with image here. It was altered in the 16th Century, and re-faced in the 19th Century, and has a recessed centre, with curved timber brackets
Bracket (architecture)
A bracket is an architectural member made of wood, stone, or metal that overhangs a wall to support or carry weight. It may also support a statue, the spring of an arch, a beam, or a shelf. Brackets are often in the form of scrolls, and can be carved, cast, or molded. They can be entirely...
supporting the eaves
Eaves
The eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
. The first floor oversails on brackets, and has a Crown-post
King post
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:...
-supported roof.
History
Medieval Robertsbridge was granted a market charter in the 13th Century, 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.A 1955 photograph shows the Seven Stars on the right.
There are rumours and snippets of folk history associated with the building. Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
is said to have been confined there for a time during his escape
Escape of Charles II
The Escape of Charles II from England in 1651 is a key episode in his life. Although it took only six weeks, it had a major effect on his attitudes for the rest of his life.-The fugitive king:...
from England following the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
. This is unlikely: Charles eventually escaped by ship from Shoreham
Shoreham-by-Sea
Shoreham-by-Sea is a small town, port and seaside resort in West Sussex, England. Shoreham-by-Sea railway station is located less than a mile from the town centre and London Gatwick Airport is away...
, having travelled from the west.
The Seven Stars is listed as one of the Top Ten Haunted Pubs in England. Experiences include phantom footsteps, shadowy apparitions and dogs reacting to sights unseen. The Inn was frequented by 18th Century smugglers , so strange noises in the middle of the night might have another explanation.
Smugglers
Robertsbridge was within the area controlled by the Hawkhurst GangHawkhurst Gang
The Hawkhurst Gang was a notorious criminal organisation involved in smuggling throughout southeast England from 1735 until 1749. One of the more infamous gangs of the early 18th century, they extended their influence from Dorset, where they successfully raided the customs house at Poole, to the...
who ran the smuggling in the area between 1735 and 1749
. John Amos, a prominent member of the gang, lived in Robertsbridge. Their influence extended from Kent to Dorset and they operated freely enough to use as many as 500 pack-horses to carry contraband
Contraband
The word contraband, reported in English since 1529, from Medieval French contrebande "a smuggling," denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold....
, and raid a government customs house to recover captured goods. Robertsbridge itself was the site of a famous ambush, 30 smugglers assembled, fortified themselves with drink, and ambushed a wagon-load of seized contraband tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
on Silver Hill, killing a customs officer
Customs officer
A customs officer is a law enforcement agent who enforces customs laws, on behalf of a government.-Hong Kong:4 931 posts, of which nine are directorate officers, 3 804 are members of the Customs and Excise Department, 504 are Trade Controls Officers and 614 are staff of the General and Common...
in the process .
Horace Walpole
Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician. He is now largely remembered for Strawberry Hill, the home he built in Twickenham, south-west London where he revived the Gothic style some decades before his Victorian successors,...
reported a miserable journey that ended at Robertsbridge in one of his letters to Richard Bentley , dated 5 August 1752 . Arriving in "Rotherbridge" after passing Silver Hill, they found only one available bed, "all the rest were inhabited by smugglers".
Origin of name
According to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and FableBrewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, sometimes referred to simply as Brewer's, is a reference work containing definitions and explanations of many famous phrases, allusions and figures, whether historical or mythical.-History:...
, the "Seven Stars" can be a reference to the Pleiades
Pleiades (star cluster)
In astronomy, the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters , is an open star cluster containing middle-aged hot B-type stars located in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky...
, a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus
Taurus (constellation)
Taurus is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is a Latin word meaning 'bull', and its astrological symbol is a stylized bull's head:...
, (also known as the Seven Sisters, named by the Greeks for the seven daughters of Atlas
Atlas (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Atlas was the primordial Titan who supported the heavens. Although associated with various places, he became commonly identified with the Atlas Mountains in north-west Africa...
); the seven moving heavenly bodies known to the ancients: the sun, the moon, and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn; or the constellation Ursa Major
Ursa Major
Ursa Major , also known as the Great Bear, is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. It can best be seen in April...
, "the Plough", important for its symbolism in a rural arable area, and for indicating the direction North. "The Plough" is also a common pub name
Pub names
Pub names are used to identify and differentiate each public house. As many public houses are centuries old, many of their early customers were unable to read, and pictorial signs could be readily recognised when lettering and words could not be read.Modern names are sometimes a marketing ploy or...
.
The reference to "seven stars in the sky" in the famous Green Grow the Rushes O! Teaching Song or Dilly Song
Green Grow the Rushes, O
Green Grow The Rushes, Ho , is a folk song popular across the English-speaking world. It is sometimes sung as a Christmas carol...
gives further, if mystical , insights. The Seven Stars could be the Seven Stars referred to in Revelations
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
as representing the seven angels of the seven early Christian churches; or the Pleiades, or Ursa Major. The song is replete with Christian and Pre-Christian symbolism , and dates to medieval times, if not earlier.
External links
- 1898 edition: complete searchable text from bartleby.comBartleby.comBartleby.com is an electronic text archive, headquartered in New York and named after Herman Melville's story "Bartleby the Scrivener". It was founded under the name "Project Bartleby" in January 1993 by Steven H. van Leeuwen as a personal, non-profit collection of classic literature on the website...
- Details of Grade II Listing
- 1955 Photographs
- Haunted House
- Famous Politician on his travels
- The Hawkhurst Gang
- The historic 14th C Seven Stars Inn, Robertsbridge
- Wikimapia Link