Stop 12: The Castle Inn-Information
The current Castle Inn was not the first inn at this location. Originally named the Old White Hart Ale House, the building lay roughly under the current railway arches. Following an incident with the Hawkhurst Gang (detailed below), it changed its name to The Castle Inn.
When the railway line was planned to come through Rowlands Castle, the building was purchased by the railway company. In 1853, the new Castle Inn was built in its present location in Finchdean Road, which at that time was named Castle Lane, hence the name. The old building was demolished in 1859.
One family, the Outens, stands out in connection with the Castle Inn, reputed to have kept the inn for almost 200 years until 1937. Following the death of Richard George Outen in 1937, the licence was transferred to Robert Knox bringing an end to an unprecedented link to one public house by one family.
In 1955 the Castle was acquired by Friary Meux from Henty & Constable until it was acquired by George Gale & Co. in July 1990 and today is part of the Fullers group.
Ancient Order of Foresters
The Foresters Friendly Society was formed in 1834 as the “Ancient Order of Foresters”. Despite the name of this Friendly Society the members were not exclusively foresters but included farm labourers and other working men. They met in the forest originally but between 1863 and 2000 the Castle Inn was used for meetings of the local branch.
If you look carefully in one of the doors of the Castle, you will see that there is a spyhole, where members of the Order had to give a password to gain entrance to their meeting room which was on the first floor. It was customary for the Landlord of the Inn to provide an annual lunch or dinner for the Foresters.
The Hawkhurst Gang (1735-1749)
In 1748, the Old White Hart Ale House was run by Elizabeth Payne, a widow. She had two sons who were part of the Hawkhurst Gang of Smugglers, perhaps the most famous gang of smugglers in the 18th century, operating along the South Coast from Dorset to Kent.
In 1747 their boat “The Three Brothers”, carrying a consignment of tea, brandy and other contraband was intercepted by Customs Officers in Poole Harbour. The crew escaped but the goods were seized and taken to Poole Custom House.
The gang attempted to reclaim the goods, stealing two tons of tea and dividing it between themselves before setting off in convoy to the New Forest. One of the smugglers, John Diamond, spotted a friend Daniel Chater near Fordingbridge and gave him some tea. Diamond was later arrested as a suspect in the Customs House theft and a reward for information was offered. On hearing of the £200 reward, Chater, a shoemaker, decided to become an informer and became a key witness.
William Galley, a Custom’s official, carrying a letter for the Magistrate, was dispatched to escort Chater to Chichester to identify Diamond. On their way they stopped off at the White Hart, not knowing of its connection with the Hawkhurst Gang, who were informed of their presence and brutally attacked the two men.
Galley and Chater were lashed to a horse, dragged up Bowes Hill and through the countryside to the village of Rake, where William Galley was buried in a shallow grave. Two days later, Chater was thrown down a well at Ladyholt Park. It was only after an anonymous letter was received that seven members of the gang were apprehended, tried and convicted at the Guildhall in Priory Park, Chichester and hanged in 1749.