Lamb Pub EastbourneOld Town
Eastbourne
Site Visit Notes
1997		Wealden Buildings Study Group


THE LAMB INN, Eastbourne Old Town 

 The Lamb Inn occupies a corner site just east of the old parish churchyard and is aligned north-south, with hipped roof. Timber-framing is most evident along the western façade, jellied along its length, close-studding above and below, and evidence for earlier fenestration. At the southern end the jetty has been cut back. There is a sub-ground level access to a cellar between CD, with framed coving above, a carved animal head to the north, and a stone arched doorway. The northern end has been built at an angle, and a large external stone-based stack set against it.
Internally the joisting to the jetty is clear within AR & CE, with a dragon-beam to the corner at E. The joisting within BC is markedly different, and taken with anomalies on the jettied elevation this suggests the original form was a wealden with recessed hail, the jetty being carried across with the later Inserted floor. There is evidence for a doorhead to the eastern end of the mid-tie at B, which also has indications of a dais beam. There is a 4-light ovolo moulded window on the east side, north of B, and a fine 4-centred arch moulded stone hearth to the external stack.
There is also indication of a doorhead above the present bar in the mid-tie at C, east of the centre point. Within DE, there is mortising for longitudinal partitioning on the joists at the centre point, and to the east, and on the eastern half of the mid- tie at D. Within the western side of CD, above the bar, there appears to be an earlier trimmer. This western side also contains a stone base for an earlier stack, with back-to-back hearths.
East of CE is a framed extension, with another fine stone hearth; it is possible that this was a face-wing contemporary with the wealden. In the angle between the two builds is a late l8thc assembly/ballroom, and a fine contemporary staircase leads up to this and a clubroom above.
Most of the roof structure above AE has been replaced this century, but a length of collar purlin survives between BC, on tail plain crown posts at B & C. Both have evidence for down-bracing to the ties and up-bracing to the purlin, and there are stave holes for partitioning beneath the remaining collar at B.. There is no perceptible sooting. Set south-west of the crown-post at C is a brick stack within wattle-and-daub framing for an earlier framed chimney.
The cellar with its stone ribbed vaulting and central carved boss lies beneath the eastern side of CE, and has a fine moulded doorway access. There is evidence in the misalignment of the ribbing to suggest that the present entrance may have been subsequent to the original undercroft. At the northern end of the cellars a deep excavation has revealed a relieving arch to the chimney and what may have been part of a drainage system.

Consideration

 The existence of such a quality undercroft indicates that there was a building on the site before the present timber-framed construction, which as a wealden, is unlikely to have been built before about 1400, and Is probably nearer 1480 This has strong parallels In towns like Sandwich and Rye, where there are similar survivals, thought to have been for merchants’ transactions and storage of quality goods, such as wines.
 The wealden was a quality build on an important corner site by the church, and may well have been intended as an inn from the start; there are precedents at Lindfield and Battle. Although there is little to go on in the roof, the remaining structure, with its single-bay hall and evidence for a conveniently placed-timber chimney, may never have had an open hearth. Subsequent additions may well have formed a courtyard-type, obliterated by 18th century enlargement (Cf St Mary’s, Bramber etc).

Annabelle F Hughes
1997





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