The Murder of a young sailor
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Year: Unknown
The Murder of a young sailor
I've come across a set of 6 postcards that tell the tale of a young sailor who was murdered by 3 other sailors that he met up with in the, 'Red Lion' at Thursley. Apparently the other 3 sailors accompanied him up to 'the Hindhead Hills' and murdered him and dumped his body in the Punch Bowl. Is this a well known story in local folklore?
Shared on 14 August 2008
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Year: Unknown
RE: The Murder of a young sailor
Hi Barry - there is a caption shown against this photograph on the Frith site, taken from the book 'Surrey Revisited', which gives more information about this:
In the 18th century the Red Lion was a popular stopping point on the London to Portsmouth road before the stage coaches began the long haul up to the wild and treacherous wastes of Hindhead Common, the second highest point in the county. In September 1786 this inn was also a final supping place for an unknown sailor who was subsequently robbed and murdered by his three Irish companions on the heights above. The villains were pursued by a posse of ten or eleven men from the Red Lion, who captured them near Petersfield; they were convicted and hanged on Gibbet Hill, Hindhead in April 1787. The sailor lies buried in Thursley churchyard, while the inn is now a private home.
Shared on 15 August 2008
