Crown and Garter, Hungerford, BerkshireThe Crown and Garter is part of local history
Inkpen lies at the foot of Inkpen Beacon which, at 975 feet, is the highest chalk hill in England and derives its unusual name from the pen or enclosure of the Saxon chief Inga, hence Inkpen.
The Combe Gibbet stands on the top of Combe Down and was erected on top of a Neolithic burial ground. It was only ever put to its grisly use once in 1676 for the purpose of hanging George Broomham and Dorothy Newman. The gibbet was placed in such a prominent location as a warning to deter others from committing crimes.
George and Dorothy were having an affair and were hanged for murdering George's wife Martha and their son Robert after they discovered them together on the Downs. Unfortunately for the lovers, the murder was witnessed by ‘mad’ Thomas, who managed to convey to the authorities what he had seen.
The two dead bodies were laid out in ‘Gibbet Barn’ at the Crown & Garter Inn, a replica gibbet marks the site. The original was destroyed many years ago and subsequent replicas have been replaced several times.
The Crown and Garter is a traditional coaching Inn dating from the time when the lane outside was on one of the main coach roads to Salisbury and is reputed to have been a resting place of James II when on his way to visit one of his mistresses. In more recent times the Inn was used as a meeting place by sheep drovers from Dorset and Oxford farms.
