Lymington Directory Feb/Mar

FOLLOWING THE LYMINGTON BLUE PLAQUES TRAIL
In the second of this new series, Ray Mayes
follows the Lymington Blue Plaques Trail and
focuses on Plaque Number 2 -The Angel and
Blue Pig at 108 High Street. This month Ray
reveals some of the High Street’s lost pubs and
coaching inns.
English painter and caricaturist Thomas
Rowlandson (1756-1827) visited Lymington
during his “ Tour in a post-chaise “ around 1784,
and made many drawings in and around the
area including one of the Angel Yard, depicting
a scene with stabling and buildings that remain
very familiar today.
THE
ANGEL INN
Originally called The George (after patron saint
St. George), The Angel is probably the oldest inn
in Lymington; it had become a major coaching
inn by the later 18 th century. Many of the
town’s proclamations were made from the first
floor balcony. Its adjacent Assembly Rooms
provided accommodation for the borough
council (during the latter half of the 19 th century
until 1914) and was also the hub of Lymington’s
social life.
At the entrance to Angel Yard from the High
Street, note the stone blocks protecting the wall
from carriage wheels.
The Nag’s Head (over the road from the Angel
at 34 High Street with a typical first floor
balcony) was later renamed the Londesborough
in 1884 in honour of Lord Londesborough, a
regular patron. It ceased to be a hotel in the
mid 1960s. The white stuccoued building is now
Boots Opticians and clothing retailer Fat Face.
The Anchor and Hope (further up at 96 High
Street) burnt down in 1905. It was rebuilt in
mock Tudor style to continue as a pub until
declining trade led to closure in the 1970s. The
distinctive building lives on as Santander bank
and Burkmars Estate Agents.
8
The High Street once had three coaching inns:
The Angel, the Nag’s Head, and the Anchor and
Hope. By the mid-18 th century these were
important inns, with coaches leaving almost
daily at around 5am for Southampton and
London.
The Angel and
Blue Pig (108
High Street) is
the only one
of these
former
coaching inns
to remain a
hotel. It was
refurbished in
2013 when
“Blue Pig “ was
added to its
name.
Provenance of
this part of the name is not clear but may refer
to a former ‘Tap’ or ostlers’ pub in the stable
yard behind the hotel.
From the 17 th century, Lymington has had 45
inns and alehouses, which were chronicled by
Edward King (1893-1974) in his “A Walk through
Lymington – a Sentimental Journey”; today this
number has reduced to some 15.
The lost pubs and hostelries of the High Street
dating from the 17 th century include: The Albion
Inn (10 High Street on the site of the Masonic
Hall) closed 1880; The Red Lion 113 High Street
(now Koh Thai Tapas since 2016, with a similar
facade to the former pub); the White Lion on
site of 88 High Street (now 3 Wishes Gifts); and
The Bugle at 82 High Street well into the 20 th
century (now Halifax Building Society).
The Lymington Blue Plaques Trail comprises 13
blue plaques established since 1998 by the
Rotary Club of Lymington at sites of historical
interest, highlighting important facts about
buildings and people. To promote the plaques,
the Rotary Club has produced a leaflet
describing the Trail. The full trail leaflet is
available from the St. Barbe Museum and Art
Gallery or from the Rotary Club.
To advertise email: info@lymingtondirectory.co.uk, or call 01590 643969 / 07801 562358