Fleur de Lys

The Fleur de Lys

Dating back to c.1690 the Fleur De Lys was originally a row of three cottages and an adjacent barn. The barn doubled as the village mortuary from 1877, where bodies awaited carriage to St Laurence in Rowington for burial. The mortuary closed in 1936. The Fleur De Lys was being paid £670 per annum by the 1930′s for ‘candles and service’ – ‘laying out’ to you and me. Presumably this little job fell to the licensee as the Chapel of ease was on the pub land. Gradually, over a long period of time, the pub converted the cottages and finally the mortuary into the present building. Not surprisingly, the smell of lye soap, a substance used to prepare the bodies for burial at this time, has been scented in the area of the mortuary which now forms the lower bar area.

The present landlord’s wife Gail has been asked “…who lights the candles during bright, hot summer days when it isn’t necessary?” The answer may lie with the little girl (who they’ve named Abigail) who appears to haunt the upper back bedroom, the room above the old mortuary. Abigail’s been seen in the corner of the room, which is always cold, even on the hottest of days. One of the previous landlords had a daughter who became reluctant to leave her room from time to time. When asked “Why?” she replied that her friend would cry. “What friend?” “My friend over there.” “Where?” “Over there” “Over there where?”… “There in the corner! The little girl over there!” The girl in question is about 8 or 9 years old from the 1800′s and very frail looking. She seems to have an aversion to women as she cowers when approached by adult females but not by children or men. Her thinness suggests lack of care. Perhaps she could be the child who fell to her death down the staircase that used to rise where the passage between the two inglenook fireplaces.