Crown Inn, Chiddingfold

This magnificent old building has fourteenth-century origins and certainly appears to have been let as an inn in 1383. It has a two-bay central hall area (now divided horizontally) and, at the sides, jettied cross-wings. What is of interest for this book is, of course, the bar at the front and which sits within the hall area. Here, as elsewhere, there is lots of heavy timbering and it is a wonderful place for a drink in historic surroundings. The inglenook fireplace seems to be an in situ, late medieval/Tudor feature. It’s hard to know when this bar assumed its present appearance but there is little doubt it is from at least the early/mid 1950s when the entire building underwent a major restoration by its then owners which made the most of the historic ambience. Some of what we see in the bar may not be as old as it might wish to appear (e.g. some of the woodwork is in fact quite modern but has been ‘distressed’). It is known that the restaurant area with its wonderful panelling, fireplace and ceiling was fitted out in the 1950s using material brought from elsewhere. Several windows have stained glass medallions which appear to be old but you never know!