A game somewhat resembling cricket, and from which
it sprang was believed to be associated with the particular
sign displayed at the Crooked Billet at Hook. In Saxon
times the game was played with a ball and a crooked
stick and the sign mentioned previously was represented
by an untrimmed stick placed over the door.
Halliwell
(Archiac and Provincial Words Volume 1) describes
a billet as a 'stick' or 'cudgel'. Cricket had also
been named 'the game of tip-cap. In the Crooked Billet
we then recognise the implement used in the early
games of 'bandy', 'tip-cat' and 'billet and ball'
- or cricket.
Cotgrave
French / English Dictionary, 1611, translated the
word 'crosse' as a crosier or 'Bishops staff' or the
'crooked staff' wherewith boys play cricket.
The
Anglo Saxon word 'cric' means a 'staff'
Anne
Pitcher, in her book 'Do you know the Raven' refers
to the green on the opposite side of the dusty road
to the Crooked Billet where children played and that
on market days the green was occupied by herds of
cattle grazing while the drovers went into the pub
for refreshment. The green could well have been the
area where the game of cricket was played to lend
support to Joseph Stevens opinion as to the origin
of the name of the Inn.
OR
The Crooked Billet is one of the oldest Inn signs.
Ranking with the Bush and Ale Garland in antiquity,
and, in it's original state in the early days, it
was also one of the cheapest. All the innkeeper had
to do was in those days was to hang a bush or ale
garland or a crooked piece of wood outside his premises
and this served as a sign to travellers that he served
ale and maybe food and the provision of straw for
a bed. As signs became more sophisticated and embraced
heraldic devices, and then later the attractive illustrations
we see today, the original signs fell into disuse.
It must be remembered that until the 13th century
there was no common language spoken in this country
and it was only by such simple symbols that people
could recognise where refreshment could be obtained.
Our
Crooked Billet sign recaptures this ancient symbol
in all it's simplicity and sets it against appropriate
scenery featuring oat houses such as would have been
used for the storage of malt which is still used in
the brewing of ale to this day. Examples of these
buildings can be seen in many parts of the countryside
and serve as an indication that in bygone days a brewer
plied his trade nearby.
The
'Dictionary of Pub Names' by Leslie Dinkling and Gordon
Wright states that the name is arrived at by 'billet'
being a stick or piece of wood and 'crooked' because
it is depicted by a bent piece of wood.
Was
it Cricket or merely a sign indicating that refreshment
was available ?
There
is evidence on record indicating that that William
Debt took a lease of what was then described as a
'Cottage and Garden' from the Duke of Bolton dated
02/05/1743 for a term of 99 years. . A fine of £10
was paid for the Lease and the rent was one shilling
per annum. ie. 5 pence in today's terms.
A
number of original documents have been filed by Courage
Brewery with the Winchester Records Office including
:-
11/03/1748
Mortgage Deed between William Dent a papermaker and
Richard Marshall a rag gatherer.
11/03/1748
Indenture relating to Cottage and Garden Nr Fulsham
Bridge from William Dent to Richard Marshall. Fine
£26
14/06/1765
Lease from Richard Marshall to James Webb for a term
of 21 years. Rent £7 per annum. In this document
there is the first reference to the property being
called the Crooked Billet
16/03/1767
Probate of Will of Richard Marshall was proved passing
the property to his widow.
22/05/1777
Assignment from Mrs Marshall and her son to Edward
Chamberlain papermaker for £120.
30/07/1793
Lease of Cottage for a fine of ten pounds ten shillings.
Rent 0ne shilling per annum
04/071793
Surrender of above lease and grant of new 99 year
lease again refers to Cottage. Rent one shilling per
annum.
06/01/1800
Will of Richard Chamberlain transferring his interest
in the Crooked Billet to his son John. Chamberlain
appears to have been a man of property as his will
showed bequests including farms lands to other of
his children and his widow.
20/05/1801
Assignment of leaseholds from James Chamberlain cabinet
maker Timothy Mullens brewer for £202
11/06/1801
Contract for sale of Public House to Timothy Mullins,
brewer. Price £200. Deposit paid five pound
five shillings - balance due 10th October 1801.
11/05/1849
Conveyance between Rev John Orde (who appeared to
be the Executor of Duke of Bolton) to Miss Jane May
and Others. This conveyance refers to a lease dated
07/06/1806 for 99years to Timothy Mullins. (no copy
available) Appears to be the passing of the Freehold
to the brewing family of Mays.
The BUILDING itself is described in the book
by Anne Pitchers :-
"The
public house stood flush on the road. It was quite
a long building with tall chimneys, one of which was
crooked. If one stood and looked at the pub one could
see a wood shed, private bar, tap room, living room
and what the family termed as the long room. Then
came the stables, above to the left was a room where
the stable lad could sleep. There were two or three
doors and between these long form-like seats where
on could sit and drink one's pint. Some windows were
shuttered and above the downstairs windows was a vine.
Surrounding the pub were lovely elm trees"
Opposite the pub were four cottages known as Billet
Cottages.
The
Hants and Berks Gazette of 26th January 1884 reported
that two elms near the Crooked Billet fell in a hurricane.
The
hump bridge was constructed in 1825.
In
1841 the Tithe payment on the Crooked Billet was ten
shillings and the land tax six shillings and sixpence
The
1851 Census showed the Landlord as a William Eager,
aged 36 years who came from Greywell. Mary his wife,
who was 35 came from Long Sutton. The other resident
at the time of the Census was Elizabeth Benham. A
lodger, unmarried, stated to be a dressmaker from
Newham - aged 25 and her son James aged 6 months.
The
1861 Census showed the landlord as William Champion,
carpenter / publican, aged 38 years from Odiham together
with his wife Eliza, age 37 years also from Odiham.
They had two working sons, James, engine cleaner,
age 17 and Jonah, carpenter, age 14. Also two other
sons and three daughters plus three male lodgers aged
16, 24 and 19 - all workers connected with agriculture.
The
1871 Census confirmed that William and Eliza Champion
were still in residence. Four of the children registered
on the 1861 Census had gone but four more children
had been born.
In
the 1881 Census William & Eliza Champion were
still there with five of their children. Anne, aged
20 - domestic servant, William, aged 25 - bricklayer/journeyman,
Albert, aged 17 - e.g.machinist attendant, John, aged
14 - corn boy, Henry, aged 11 - scholar.
Kellys
Directories show that a William Champion was still
the landlord in 1899. Anne Pitcher's book shows that
Annie Champions father decided to leave the Crooked
Billet around about 1900. They moved just across the
road to one of four cottages which stood on the corner
of Holt Lane. These were spacious dwellings surrounded
by hedges ands there was a lovely old yew tree. Mr
Champion and his father before him were both landlords
at the Crooked Billet. The Licence being in their
family for 70 years.
Although
a William Champion had been landlord at the Crooked
Billet for about 40 years previous landlords were
known to be Wlm Merrett and Jonah Trimmer. Their relationship
with the Champions is unknown
The
Crooked Billet as we know it today was built in 1935
and set well back from it's former position by the
roadside. The dual stretch of road now in front of
the Crooked Billet was constructed in 1963 when the
River Whitewater was diverted to enable the works
to be carried out.
Richard
& Sally Sanders took over the pub in September
1986 |
