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I was always fascinated by the sailor standing on the boat as a kid. I notice it’s lost the boat now.
Does anyone know any of its history?
When was it first erected and by whom?
My Grandfather was landlord at the Crown and Anchor and my father worked with him there when I was born in 1950 and at that time we lived there. The pirate was always there even then.
I recently figured out that it was Tom Jones (my great uncle) who put the pirate up there around 1907/8. He previously put it up on the Royal George just down past the town hall, now demolished, where he was the landlord from about 1903. There are photos at Marlipins of both pubs with his name all over them – I was so amazed to figure this out as I also knew the pub from my youth!
Tom had been a jockey, polo player, boxer, horse dealer, worked at the Raneleigh club with my great-grandfather Alf and was landlord of the Red Lion in Barnes. He was quite flamboyant and renovated the Royal George after retiring from Barnes and I guess he thought the sailor statue was funny? It originally had a turban with a black feather, and big pantaloons – I’m not sure it was a pirate, perhaps a figurehead?
He was friends with the local Captain William Bareham, and used to take tourist on boat trips, horse riding and early cars. His wife Eliza bred prize pugs and showed horses. Tough life! He was a blacksmiths son from Birmingham so seems to have had a lucky break as a young jockey.
See the photo here “Looking west down the High Street showing the Town Hall with a bicycle and cars parked outside, the Royal George hotel bearing signs reading Tom Jones and a statue above the door”
https://www.shorehambysea.com/marlipins-gallery-45-and-6/
Then the next photo shows he’s moved the sailor and his rooftop name sign, and the shield over the door, to the Crown. Look for
“High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea. View looking west. Crown and Anchor pub on the left, Methodist Chapel, Town Hall. Royal George Hotel in the distance. ”
There’s loads more to his story, I’d love to meet a historian or anyone who could help me publish it somewhere, perhaps write up a piece for this site or Marlipins.