inns/pubs/hotels 1881

[sillgen]

We have just had all the maps out all over the kitchen too!   My husband actually had a drink in the Friar's Oak - all in the interests of research you understand!   That seems to have changed its name quite frequently.  It was the Pilgrim Goose not so long ago but has now reverted.    Clayton district obviously covered a much wider area than just the Clayton bit and of course Burgess Hill would have been a very minor place in those days.   It would be worth looking at the enumerator's route on the census records you have to see where they were exactly.
Andrea

[sillgen]

I have just remembered that the Royal George in B Hill was on the London Road.   It has very recently been pulled down and posh new flats put up.
Andrea

[janan]

That's a shame Cazza you won't be able to visit it
Might be worth contacting the local museum to see if they have a picture - Bridport museum were able to come up trumps for me with a photo of a pulled down pub my ancestors ran.

Jan

[spower]

George Godley ran the Friars Oak inn at Clayton (or Hassocks now). It's still there but don't bother asking them about the history. When the nearby commons of Wivelsfield, Clayton & Keymer were enclosed, to form Burgess Hill, the Friars Oak Inn was used for public meetings and to view the plots available. During the sale George bought a piece of land and built a pub on it which he called the Royal George. It's since been knocked down but was on the corner of Royal George Rd. When he moved he left his son to run the Friars Oak. Various family members ran other pubs in and around Burgess Hill such as The Plough, The Cricketers, The Burgess Hill Inn etc. The Godleys were a well known local family and crop up quite often in local history books and old newspapers.