Crown Hotel Tales

One of Dorset’s oldest hotels, the Crown Hotel in Blandford has a long and colourful history.

Highwayman John Poulter and his five companions were unwelcome visitors to the Crown Hotel in 1752. After spending the day at the Blandford Horse Races, they decided ‘to go on the sneak’ and in the dusk of the evening stole a ‘porte-manteau trunk’ from the Crown Hotel. Taking it to a field to search, they discovered it contained eighteen guineas, several gold and silver coins, a gold watch, a pair of gold buckles, a gold girdle buckle, a great quantity of jewels, a white petticoat and a great quantity of apparel. All were taken to London and sold. (Source: John Poulter’s own account published in 1764.)

A young chimney sweep was suffocated and burnt to death in a chimney at the Crown Hotel which had been on fire a little before. He went up one chimney and attempting to go down another was in a narrow part and could neither get up nor down. (Source: Salisbury & Winchester Journal 27^th March 1780.)

Twenty six year-old Captain of Dragoons, Peter Hawker already a veteran of the Spanish Peninsular War, called into the Crown Hotel in 1813 with 29 others after a day at the Blandford Races. He ordered dinner for all at seven shillings (35p) per head. After nearly drinking the landlord out of his French & English wine, they then went outside and attacked the ‘Johnny Raws of Blandford’. ‘The boys then returned to their broth and finished the evening with some prime grub, swizzle and singing.’ (Source: Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker published in 1893.)

A sow belonging to Mr Spooner of the Crown Hotel had a litter of twelve pigs and one ‘monstrosity resembling an elephant’. It was born dead but was then preserved and displayed in Dansey & Baskett’s shop in the Market Place. (Source: Salisbury & Winchester Journal 18^th October 1819.)

Robert Eyers was not only the Crown Hotel’s owner between 1855 & 1885 but also a fine musician. In 1863, he conducted the Blandford Town Band when it won the National Band Championship at the Crystal Palace. (Source: Blandford Inns by Victor J Adams 1984.)

Winston Churchill dined at the Crown Hotel on 25th February 1915 after inspecting the Royal Naval Division at Blandford Camp. (Source: Blandford Inns by Victor J Adams 1984.)

In 1918, Lord Portman as an act of charity helped George Henry Jones, who had lost a leg while huntsman to the Portman Hunt, to take it over. Hall & Woodhouse bought it from Jones in 1931 for £14,000. (Source: Blandford Inns by Victor J Adams 1984.)

An incendiary device landed on the roof of the Crown Hotel during a German air raid on 18th November 1940. The roof was set alight but thanks to prompt action by Blandford Fire Brigade the fire was brought under control. Despite much charring to the beams the fire fighters were able to confine the damage to the Crown Hotel roof. It is reckoned some one hundred explosive devices were dropped during the raid. After the raid the hotel management presented the fire fighters with a letter of appreciation together with a cheque for ten pounds.   (Source: Western Gazette 1st December 1944.)