The George, 52 High Street, Hadleigh

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 17 Jun 2017

A much altered 16th century Grade II Listed public house. One of the town's leading coaching inns with regular services to London, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds. A case heard by the Chancery in the 1560s or 1570s refers to a dispute over the lease of a number of properties including the George Inn between the owner Robert Forth and Thomas Swyneborne. As with most inns of this nature it is the subject of many local tales and rumours of underground passages and hidey holes for priests or smugglers' contraband. One more accurate 1735 tale is of the 'Hadleigh Gang'. Customs Officers raided a house at seymor and found a huge stockpile of tea that they took to the George for safe-keeping. During the night they were attacked by about 20 smugglers and after a bloody encounter where a life was lost, the gang recovered their loot. Smugglers John Wilson and John Biggs were later hanged for their part in the crime but their leader John Harvey seems to have escaped with seven years transportation. The first recorded Innkeeper was Anne Hardcastle in 1791. Auction details by direction of the Executors of the late Mr Thomas Clubbe Coleman of March 1850 lists in detail the accommodation that includes 'six stables affording accommodation for 70 horses; lock up and open coach houses'. In 1865 the sale particulars list only 'two 4 stalled stables, 5 horse ditto' but include in the yard a 'brick built cottage'. Directory entries include; 1839 Richard Tozer (& posting house); 1855 William Colman (& posting); 1869 William Suthers; 1891-1892 Charles Tweed Murton; 1900 Alfred Game; 1901 no landlord/owner listed; 1912 Harry A Mayston.

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