Ripley: The Anchor Public House

Image: © Nigel Cox Taken: 17 Feb 2008

The name of the pub probably reflects, as with many others along this road, its location on the former main route to Portsmouth, but the building was originally a sixteenth century almshouse. Its fame derives from its history as the destination for daytripping London cyclists during Victorian times. They were catered for by the landladies, the Dibble sisters. A glimpse at the 1881 Census shows a snapshot of the inn and the following inhabitants at the time: Harriet DIBBLE, Head of the household, widow, age 55, born Wotton, Surrey, Occupation: Innkeeper Harriet DIBBLE, Daughter, unmarried, age 29, born Ripley, Surrey, Occupation: Innkeeper's Daughter Annie DIBBLE, Daughter, unmarried, age 24, born Ripley, Surrey, Occupation: Innkeeper's Daughter George DIBBLE, Son, unmarried, age 19, born Ripley, Surrey, Occupation: Grocer's Assistant Florence COLDMAN, Visitor, unmarried, age 16, born Wotton, Surrey Richard BINSTEAD, Visitor, married, age 28, born Epsom, Surrey, Occupation: Painter Rose BINSTEAD, Visitor, married, age 26, born Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Occupation: Painter's Wife Joseph MAGGS, Visitor, married, age 37, born Westminster, Middlesex, Occupation: Carman Sarah LEE, Servant, unmarried, age 18, born Send, Surrey, Occupation: Domestic Servant Frederick DAWS, Servant, unmarried, age 36, born Pyrford, Surrey, Occupation: Ostler Harry HOPKINS, Visitor, unmarried, age 45, born Ripley, Surrey, Occupation: Cooper According to another website Annie died in July 1956 and Harriet in October 1957, implying that they lived to the ages of about 100 and 107 respectively!

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