Thursley, The Red Lion 1907
Photo ref: 57522
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Photo ref: 57522
Photo of Thursley, The Red Lion 1907

More about this scene

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.

A Selection of Memories from Thursley

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Thursley

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

My grandmother, Rosa Hayden, nee Stonehouse, lived at the bottom of The Devil's Punchbowl and later at Forked Pond. Her husband, a Boer War and WWI survivor was gamekeeper at Forked Pond, even though he lost an arm. Early in WWII a German Bomber crashed (crew buried with military honours in Milford, I think.) and dropped it's bombs before crashing. Three exploded and my grandfather always said ...see more
Whilst researching my family tree I found that my Great Great Aunt Louisa Shorland and her husband Edwin Shorland were the licencees at the Red Lion, Thursley in the early 1880's
I grew up in Hindhead near Thursley in the 1960s and this story was extremely well known locally. On the walk which we did often up to Gibbet Hill above the Devil's Punch Bowl you would pass the Sailor's Stone memorial which told the story of the crime. The Sailor's Stone is still there, as is the unknown sailor's gravestone in Thursley churchyard which, having moved back to the area, I saw just the other day. The ...see more
I lived in The Red Lion Inn, Thursley (Bridle Cottage) from the day I was born for approximately 22 years. I was born in June 1961 and I am the oldest child of four. I lived with my parents and grandparents. My grandfather, Tom Briscoe, bought the old pub in 1959 (after it had been closed down, I do not know why the pub stopped trading?) - and he converted the place to a private house. I have such happy ...see more