The New Inn Ridgewood

[Valley]

Have been asked if I can help with this The NEW INN RIDGEWOOD which is now a care home, used to be a pub in 1881 I have one Benjamin Ware b 1822 Framfield at this address he was also there in 1891,1901 and think he died in 1911. I am not sure if he was the landlord or just lodging there. I am not sure of the background of this Inn any infor would be great and also any info on Benjamin.

Many Thanks
Val

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi val

Looking at the census on FindMyPast, I notice that in 1881 he is a Brickmaker employing several staff and living in Ridgewood, but in the 1891 census he is listed as the licencee at the NEW INN in Ridgewood as well as a Brickmaker. 1901 shows him as retired victualler in New Road Ridgewood, but dose not actually say NEW INN. 
So would suggest that yes, he was definitely the landlord between the years 1891 and 1901 - only way to confirm this is to try and find street directories of that time.

Hope that helps

Chris in 1066

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi again Val

Just looked at the 1899 Kelleys Street Directory for Sussex and in Ridgeway, Uckfield is the following:

Ware Benjamin & Sons, Brick, Pipe, Tile and Pottery Makers, Sussex Pottery, Ridgeway.

This indicates he was no longer at the New Inn in this listing.

Also looked at the 1878 Post Office Directory

Ware Benjamin, NEW INN, & Brick and Tile Maker, Ridgeway

This indicates he was there well before the 1881 census entry

Chris in 1066

[Chris in 1066Land]

Val

Well, theres a surprise - just looked at The Post Office Directory for 1866:

Ware Benjamin, NEW INN, & Brick and Tile Maker

Seems he was there for quite some time

Chris

[Chris in 1066Land]

Val

And the final Directory that I have access to, there are two entries:

Kellys Directory of Sussex 1890

1. Ware Benjamin, NEW INN, Ridgeway

2. Ware Benjamin & Sons, BRick and Tile, Drain Pipe and Sanitary Ware  maker, Sussex Pottery, Ridgeway, Sussex

Incidentally the 1871 census says INNKEEPER and Brickmaker, but does not give an address other than Ridgewood

I hope that info I have given helps you to sought out your little conundrum

Chris in 1066

[Valley]

Chris

Thank you for the info chris, I am doing this for the currant owner of the New Inn and had heard stories of smuggling and the place being haunted but that well unless I see!! Nothing in the cencus and directories indicates any type of smuggling. I dont know when it was built may go into that one soon Thanks once again

Val

[Chris in 1066Land]

Val

According to the 1905 Kellys Directory of Sussex, the landlord is

New Inn, Robert Sindern, Ridgewood, Uckfield

Going to browse the net for a while to see if I can dig anything up

Chris

[Valley]

Hi Chris
Just found this info refering to Ridgwood

The area used to be home to Wares Potteries, owned by Benjamin Wares which operated until 1963 producing tiles and other ceramic products. The name of the factory is commemorated in the nearby Wares Road. In the Uckfield Millennium Green is a deep quarry where clay was dug in the 19th and 20th centuries and brought by tram up to the workhouse in the top corner of what is now Wares Road. Here the clay was processed and fired into pottery which is popular for collectors today.

[Chris in 1066Land]

Val

Just been on (A2A) the National Archives Web Site http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/ - selected the East Sussex Records Office and put in "New Inn, Ridgewood" and it came up with 5 hits.

It seems that it had connections with TAMPLINS BREWERY LTD, BRIGHTON (FORMERLY TAMPLIN AND SONS LTD), AND OF ABSORBED COMPANIES which included Southdown and East Grinstead Breweries Limited and Messrs Whitfeld and Green.

Have a look for yourself - but would suggest that the East Sussex Record Office in Lewes could give you some answers

Chrisa in 1066