Pub memories

[david_russell]

[img://www.hastingsforum.co.uk/forums/sf_attachments/St_Leonards_brewery.jpg]

[david_russell]

The picture above is one of a pair of leather and brass horse blinkers worn by horses which pulled the drays delivering the beer from the Crown Brewery, St Leonards (1831-1858). The Crown in the centre dates it from before 1858. In that year it was renamed the St Leonards Brewery (1858-1913). The Brewery 'Tap' was known as the Crown Arms and then later as the St Leonards Arms.

The horse blinkers belonged to Mr A. F. Dunk the auctioneer mentioned by GK above. The photograph came to light in 1970 when Mr Keith Porter of Maidstone was seeking infomation on Hastings breweries in the Observer for a book he was writing. Mr Dunk replied with this photo. The St Leonards Brewery produced several beers including St Leonards Pale Ale.

At one time one of it's tied houses was the Tower already mentioned.

[david_russell]

Does this mean that Mr Dunk was a collector of local pub 'memorabilia' ? If yes, then what happened to the collection ??

[david_russell]

[img://www.hastingsforum.co.uk/forums/sf_attachments/Crown_Inn_landlord.jpg]

[david_russell]

The above photo is of the landlord of another Crown, this one the Crown Inn, All Saints Street which is still trading. His name was Alexander James Littlejohn (1902-1908) and I have recently been talking with his grandson Phillip Littlejohn. I will post some interesting information about him soon.

[david_russell]

A.J.Littlejohn was landlord of the Crown, All Saints Street for about six years from 1902. Although the pub is still with us it is now a different building having been rebuilt and altered a few times.

In 1910 A.J. gave up the pub business and joined the merchant navy. Initially he signed on with the White Star line as a steward and sailed with the 'Adriatic' for New York. Then in 1912 he signed on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the ''Titanic'.

His grandson Phillip Littlejohn said: "My grandfather was a first class steward on the 'Titanic' but survived the ordeal after being ordered to row lifeboat 13. It was in this boat that the youngest passenger aboard, nine weeks old Millvina Dean was rescued. She became the longest surviving passenger and died in 2009, aged 97".

A.J. later described his experience in lifeboat 13. "We could see the Titanic sinking by the head. Her forward ports were under water and we could see the lights gradually going out_ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _We watched her like this for some time. Then suddenly she gave a plunge forward_ _ __ _ __ _ _.her stern went right up in the air_ _ __ _ _.there were two or three explosions_ _ __ _ _.after there were cries for help. They were awful and heartrending."

A fuller version of the above information can be found in Phillip Littlejohn's book: 'Titanic: Waiting for Orders'. The story of Alexander James Littlejohn.' Crescent Co 1999.

In 1998 when Phillip was researching the above book he visited the Crown, All Saints Street, collecting information. By this time the landlord was Alex Napier, ex drummer with rock band Uriah Heep. Phillip was astonished to find that Alex Napier called time on a reproduction 'Titanic' brass bell kept behind the bar. This was pure coincidence. The connection between his grandfather and the Crown was unknown outside the family until then.

I think A.J.Littlejohn was the only Hastings link with the Titanic ??

[david_russell]

More info:-

I've talked to some customers in the Crown since the last post. A regular, an elderly man called Bill, told me that when A.J. was rowing the lifeboat, "posh, first class ladies, kept on at him to row faster". Remember he was a steward not a seaman.

Also Phillip Littlejohn is giving a talk about his grandfather and the Titanic at the Shipwrecks Centre in Rock-a-Nore on September 18th, 2010.

This should be good. Since his book came out he has accompanied James Cameron on a dive to the Titanic wreck and his talk will be illustrated with pictures from the dive.

This talk is expected to be a total sell out, it's ticket only but I will update later.

[david_russell]

[david_russell]

Just realized that A J Littlejohn is not the only Hastings link to the Titanic disaster.
Elsie Bowerman: suffragette and barrister also survived the Titanic. She lived in Silchester Road and died in 1973 aged 83.
Anyone know any others ?

[david_russell]

Another little story I've just found on the Crown public house in the National Archives. This one from 1839. (rewritten by me).

In 1839 two members of the Hastings Police force, an inspector and a constable were charged with "neglecting their duty wantonly" and "degrading the character of the Hastings police" by drinking ale and rum in the Crown public house from "noon till 7pm in the company of two prostitutes." In the evening when they retired to an upstairs room "the inspector was so intoxicated", a witness reported that "he went upstairs on his hands and knees."