Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Georgian Lewes By Colin Brent

[extracted from Georgian Lewes, 1714-1830, The Heyday of a County Town by Colin Brent]
"Less edifying was the contest at Lewes in 1807. Between Tuesday 12 May and Thursday 28 May 5019 freeholders cast 4333 votes for the Westerner Charles Wyndham, 2530 for John Fuller of Brightling, and 2473 for Colonel Sergison of Cuckfield. The Easterners clashed over Emancipation for Roman Catholics and West Indian slaves. The High-Tory Folly-building Fuller opposed both. The moment the polling ended, the Mobility tore apart the hustings by the Sessions House and carried the fragments away, claiming "immemorial" custom. It greeted the result - Sergison being the "popular" candidate, by tossing rotten eggs into the balconied Great Room at the White Hart, Fuller's campaign headquarters. Sergison then spoke from a window of the Star, assuring his partisans that a Sheriff's scrutiny of the poll would overturn Fuller's trivial majority. So they dragged the Colonel and his carriage in triumph up the High Street, to rendezvous at the barracks with Whig confederates marching in from Brighton. Though the Sheriff refused a scrutiny, Fuller's victory had proved expensive. As well as the No Popery favours, he paid for almost 2000 dinners at the White Hart, and as many at the Dorset Arms, "an East Country House" popular with freeholders from Hastings Rape."

Sunday, May 12, 2002

Jack Fuller's Pub

On Saturday, 5/11/02 Richard from Tunbridge Wells wrote this entry in the Jack Fuller guestbook:
"Hi, I thought I would write to confirm that Jack Fullers has indeed re-opened as a pub and it is well worth a visit. It's at Oxley's Green which is just outside Brightling village on the road to Robertsbridge. The new owners have clearly put a lot of effort into the place, and when I stopped there for lunch last Wednesday I was highly impressed and will definitely be returning soon. The food is excellent and very good value for money, and the whole place has a wonderful atmosphere to it. John Fuller would certainly give it his approval! So if you're passing the area, or want to try somewhere that's off the beaten track I would definitely recommend this pub. The phone number is 01424 838212. "

Unfortunately he did not leave an email address so I can not thank him personally. So I will do so publicly...Thanks for your comments Richard. My understanding is that the Jack Fuller pub is a "free house" and so not affiliated with any brewery. I would welcome the opportunity to either create a page for the pub or provide a link from my site to theirs.

In the meantime....raise a glass of cheer to Squire John Fuller, long may he be remembered! Cheers!

NB: Correct address and phone number for pub is:

Jack Fullers,Brightling Road, Oxley Green, Brightling, East Sussex TN32 5HD

01424 838212

Wednesday, May 08, 2002

Jack Fullers - Brightling

News that the former Jack Fuller's restaurant has reopened in spring 2002 as a pub. The new public house returns the premises to it's former use with bars, restaurant, accommodation and a function room. The pub dates back to circa 1830 and offers a range of handpumped beers including Harvey's excellent Sussex bitter. Telephone 01424 383212.