When I started my research on the Lamb Inn there were two particular questions I wanted to answer: (1) When was the Lamb built? (2) What was it before and when did it become an Inn? So far these two questions remain unanswered.
In the Victoria History of Sussex vol.2 (1907) we find “the crypt under the Lamb Inn is a work of the 13th century; its purpose is not clearly proved, It has a good vaulting and a carved central boss” p.384. Also, ‘The Seaford crypt, in the garden of the “Folly’, a house in Church Street, also has vault ribs gathered to a central boss, the date is about 1300”. In his “notes” Budgen (see later) does not quote his source but writes “the ancient stone vaulted crypts of Seaford, Eastbourne, Winchelsea and Rye form a numerous group. . . . ranging from the 13th -15th centuries, those of the last two named towns were mostly intended as merchants cellars.”
The Rev. W. Budgen “Old Eastbourne” (1912) in his Appendix A writes “since the restoration carried out during the spring of 1912, the old house shows its true face as a good specimen of 16th century timber work. A portion of the West face (before the restoration) consisted of a tall and plaster front with a parapet to match and six bare windows. The windows had been brought forward to the same frontage as the overhanging portion the architect has therefore restored the windows in the same place and not according to their original place. There is an underground vaulted chamber of much earlier date than the timber house above.”
Budgen goes on to say ‘There would seem to be a great probability that the Lamb originally belonged to the Church and it may well be the site of the house granted to the Rector about 1240 The traditional underground passage in the direction of the old Parsonage is probably of a date subsequent to the severance of the old Rector’s connection, by way of ownership, and its use in the smuggling practices of former days is more than likely”. p.340.
John Heatherley, proprietor of the Library, issued his “Description of Eastbourne and its’ Environs” in 1818. He wrote, “Amongst the religious houses suppressed by Henry Viii was one at this place for Black Friars, which was not amply endowed; and though its exact situation is not known, yet as there is at the Lamb Inn, in high preservation, a curious vaulted apartment, with groined arches, now used as a cellar, (which evidently belonged to some monastery) it may be presumed, that a part of this religious house alluded to, stood on this spot. Not many years since, a subterraneous passage was discovered, leading from another cellar in the same house, towards the Church; this was explored to a short distance, but the search was then abandoned; either from the occupier not having a thirst for researches of antiquity, or from motives, as some say, of humanity, to prevent the fatal accidents which frequently occur from damp air; the entrance was afterwards built up with solid brick work’.
J. C. Wright, “Bygone Eastbourne” (1902), dismisses the claims of any religious connection as does Mark Lower MA. in his “History of Sussex’ vol. 1. He states “at the Lamb Inn there is a curios vaulted crypt of the 13th. century. The spider-arched roof deserves inspection; but there is no evidence of its having been connected with any religious foundation, though the medieval sign, the “Holy Lamb”, may suggest that it was a resting place for Pilgrims.” p.152.
In relation to any supposed tunnels, the only exploration I am aware of took place in 1971. An amateur local historian, Mr. Fred Bridger, spent some time excavating under the cellar floor. In the Eastbourne Local History Society magazine no.75 we find, ‘The passageway evident was created by the extension of the overhead lounge room and an extra wall was added to the rear of the building” and that ‘The tunnel seems to be no more than an underground gap formed when the chimney was built between the north wall and the adjacent St. Mary's House”. Lawrence Stevens added that “any passageways were likely to have been sewage conduits”.
The probable myths about any passageways/tunnels continue as do references to the Lamb being connected to the nearby Church (originally constructed between 1160 -1190). Robert Armstrong in his “Guide to Eastbourne” 1984 (revised 1990) writes, “the Lamb is probably the oldest hostelry in Britain and (along with the Star Inn at Alfriston), it has the distinction of being a resting place for mendicant friars and pilgrims who travelled to and from the shrine of Richard de la Wych at Chichester”. He also suggests ‘The house was granted to the Rector of St. Mary’s Church. The underground passage which connects the old Parsonage with the Inn was probably constructed to assist the monastic brothers in attending the daily services, though in later years it might easily have been the secret passage used for “moonshining “in smuggling days”.
The “Get up and Go” 1996 Eastbourne Guide describes the Lamb as being built 1340 - 1350 and “it is probably one of the oldest public houses in the country”.
The local Civic Society produced a guide of “Eight Town Walks in Eastbourne” in 1981. It states “the 14th century undercroft of the Lamb is a splendid example of a medieval house, the ribbed vaulting of the ceiling having a perfect example of ball-flower decoration in its central boss. The Lamb was a merchant’s house”. p.3 ‘The medieval undercroft is of outstanding interest being the only one of its kind in the area. It is built of local greensand”. p.1 4.
Lawrence Stevens is in no doubt whatsoever that it was a medieval merchant’s house and dismisses any possible links with the Church. As he points out, there was a separate vicarage by 1244 so the Lamb is unlikely to have been the house referred to in 1240. I would add that during his excavations of the local area, Lawrence found a window in the well of St. Mary’s House which would have fitted into the Lamb structure. The window was dated 14th century.
Finally, there is no doubt that Richard Bartholomew was the innholder at the Lamb in 1600. There are extensive records from that date onwards and I hope to produce some kind of booklet about its later history in due course. However, the question still remains, when was the Lamb built and for what purpose?
N.B. The “Ball room” was first mentioned in 1791 and, as indicated earlier, extensive restoration was carried out in 1912. Earlier records refer to the Lamb, two cottages and up to six stables.

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