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:: "The George Hotel" Lydd :: |
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HK Ref: |
X0012A |
Location: |
The George Hotel,
Lydd,
Kent. |
Interest: |
More than 400 years of history, ghosts and hauntings. |
Last updated: 11th February 2006 |
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:: Introduction
Built in 1620, during the reign of James I, The George Hotel has seen many activities during it's nearly 400 years. These include the use as a meeting point for famous smuggling gangs, being used to keep prisoners before trial, as a staging post for London Coaches, and of course as an Inn and Hotel.
These days you can be assured of a warm welcome from owners Tim and Ann Crompton whether you come for a drink, a meal, a special occasion, or as a visitor to the area looking for comfortable accommodation. Under the couple's guidance, the pub has been totally refurbished throughout with fresh décor and upgraded facilities. The friendly bars serve a good range of keg bitters, fine wines, alco-pops, and much more, and you can be sure of receiving high quality service from the fully trained staff. The selection of real cask ales includes Bombadier, London Pride and Caledonian Deuchars together with a fourth guest ale. After a busy day, the ideal place to relax is the Lounge Bar which has a cosy log fire that is lit on cooler days, while for some lively pub entertainment you could venture into the back bar and join in a game of pool or darts.
The bar menu offers good value home-cooked food, so you don't need to think twice before deciding to enjoy a lunchtime or evening meal, while in the newly refurbished Smugglers Pantry, up to 30 diners can enjoy a wider ranging menu of fine dishes. An additional restaurant will be opening within the lifetime of this book with seating for a further 40. Bar meals are available all day, seven days a week, with the restaurant open each lunchtime and evening. The large enclosed garden incorporates seating and external heaters, so meals can be enjoyed al-fresco, weather permitting. The nine character bedrooms have also been refurbished to ensure the highest levels of comfort and have been attractively decorated in a traditional style. A family room is available. Major credit cards accepted. |
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:: Background of Lydd
Lydd was notorious for its smuggling sympathies, and though today the town is landlocked, in 1688 when the unfortunate Mr. Carter tried to take refuge there, the sea still washed against the town boundaries and the locals launched smuggling boats from the beach. Besides Mr Carter's close shave, other incidents from the period serve to reinforce the town's reputation.
Around the turn of the century two smugglers were captured as they disembarked from a French sloop at Dungeness. Taking no chances, the customs authorities took them to the George Inn at Lydd, and locked them in a room guarded by six men, their 20 'firelocks' charged and ready. Even these precautions didn't deter the locals, though: nine of them burst in and rushed the room, firing their weapons as they charged up the stairs. Outside, 100 reinforcements stood by in case help was needed. Against such odds the guards stood little chance, and the two smugglers escaped.
The town became especially prominent in the late 1820s and early '30s when increased preventive efforts around Dymchurch forced the owlers to move their operations from there to a cooler spot. On decamping to Lydd they lost no time in making their intentions known to the local riding officers:
'they have drove Mr Darby and his wife and family from their habitation, threatening to murder him if they can catch him'.
The smugglers at this stage still felt sufficiently confident to flaunt their trade - in 1829 when they openly paraded a convoy of contraband through the middle of Lydd, the streets were lined with cheering crowds. Ironically, though, this was to be the last open landing in the area. |
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:: References & Research :: |
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:: Source Information
Thank you to the following sources for supplying Haunted Kent with information regarding The George Hotel in Lydd.
http://www.thegeorgelydd.com |
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"Exploring the Hotel"
"The Knocking Starts .."
"The Candle Experiment"
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(Main bar area at the George)
(The attic at the very top floor)
(The upstairs hallway)
(Strange inprint on freshly made bed!)
(The most haunted bedroom)
(The same haunted bedroom from a different angle)
(Second original entrance to smuggling tunnel, now blocked!) |
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