Gregg
& Sarah
Greg and Sarah Noble moved to Dorset from Winchester
where Greg worked at The Bush Inn, Ovington as Head Chef. Prior to
that Greg worked in London as Executive Head Chef of Toad Hall, Kings
Road; Head Chef of L'Equipe Anglais, W1 and Head Chef of The Pen,
Parsons Green.In 1995 they took over The Ship at Shaftesbury where
over the last 7 years they've gained a reputation for a warm friendly
pub with good food and excellent Badger
beer. In Autumn 2002 they moved to the Crown at Marnhull with their
young family.
Thomas Hardy
In
November 1891 Marnhull achieved new fame as the home of "Tess
of the d'Urbervilles" when Thomas Hardy published what
was to become one of his most popular books. The Crown ("Pure
Drop Inn") at Marnhull ("Marlott") was the
place John Durbeyfield, Tess's father, decided to celebrate that he
was in fact of the aristocratic d'Urbervilles.
The final paragraph of chapter XIV deals with Tess
burying her illegitimate child in St Gregory's churchyard "...in
a shabby corner of God's allotment where He lets the nettles grow,
and where all unbaptized infants, notorious drunkards, suicides, and
others of the conjecturally damned are laid". The book appeared
at a time when the establishment, that Hardy condemned, was increasingly
under interrogation and it caused an outcry in some sections of society.
Click
here for a map of the Hardy trail
Marnhull
Marnhull
is a few miles outside Sturminster Newton on the B3092 to Gillingham
(Map). Many creamy limestone farmhouses and
cottages are scattered about this dispersed, very rural village. Marnhull
once claimed to be the largest village in England. Situated on top
of a hill, it overlooks the beautiful Blackmore Vale and St Gregory's
pinacled tower can be seen from miles around.
The first written record of the village of Marnhull
(marnhulle) was in 1267 but Roman artefacts such as coins,
spears and pottery have been found suggesting a much older history.
At the centre of Marnhull is the beautiful 14th Century Church of
St Gregory. St Gregory's east window is by Burne-Jones and the panelled
nave roof is arguably the best in Dorset. Among the many things of
interest in the church is a playful rhyme placed on the stone of John
Warren and his wife by the rector in 1752. It refers to the fact that
they were both heavy smokers; "...And now there's no doubt,
But their pipes are both out......"
In 1891 Thomas Hardy described Marnhull ("Marlott")
as follows:
"The village of Marlott lay amid the north-eastern
undulations of the beautiful Vale of Blakemore or Blackmoor aforesaid,
an engirdled and secluded region, for the most part untrodden as
yet by tourist or landscape- painter, though within a four hours'
journey from London."
Since then people have travelled from all over the
world to have a pint at the Pure Drop Inn in Marlott. The following
passage is from Tess just after her father finds out, from a Parson,
that he is of aristocratic blood.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
by Thomas Hardy
Excerpt from Chapter 1
`Boy, take up that basket! I want'ee to
go on an errand for me.'
The lath-like stripling frowned. 'Who be you, then, John Durbeyfield,
to order me about and call me "boy"? You know my name
as well as I know yours!'
`Do you, do you? That's the secret - that's the secret! Now obey
my orders, and take the message I'm going to charge 'ee wi'... .Well,
Fred, I don't mind telling you that the secret is that I'm one of
a noble race - it has been just found out by me this present afternoon
P.M.' And as he made the announcement, Durbeyfield, declining from
his sitting position, luxuriously stretched himself out upon the
bank among the daisies.
The lad stood before Durbeyfield, and contemplated his length from
crown to toe.
`Sir John d'Urberville - that's who I am,' continued the prostrate
man. 'That is if knights were baronets - which they be. 'Tis recorded
in history all about me. Dost know of such a place, lad, as Kingsbere-sub-
Greenhill?'
`Ees. I've been there to Greenhill Fair.'
`Well, under the church of that city there lie--'
`'Tisn't a city, the place I mean; leastwise 'twaddn' when I was
there--'twas a little one-eyed, blinking sort o' place.'
`Never you mind the place, boy, that's not the question before us.
Under the church of that there parish lie my ancestors - hundreds
of 'em - in coats of mail and Jewels, in gr't lead coffins weighing
tons and tons. There's not a man in the county o' South-Wessex that's
got grander and nobler skillentons in his family than I.'
`Oh?'
`Now take up that basket, and goo on to Marlott, and when you've
come to The Pure Drop Inn, tell 'em to send a horse and carriage
to me immediately, to carry me hwome. And in the bottom o' the carriage
they be to put a noggin o' rum in a small bottle, and chalk it up
to my account. And when you've done that goo on to my house with
the basket, and tell my wife to put away that washing, because she
needn't finish it, and wait till I come hwome, as I've news to tell
her.'
As the lad stood in a dubious attitude, Durbeyfield put his hand
in his pocket, and produced a shilling, one of the chronically few
that he possessed.
`Here's for your labour, lad.'
This made a difference in the young man's estimate of the position.
`Yes, Sir John. Thank EE Anything else I can do for EE, Sir John?'
The above potted history's were researched
in one day by the web author. If anybody has any further information
or corrections please don't hesitate to contact Rob at www.robfrost.co.uk.
The Crown, Crown Road, Marnhull, Dorset. DT10 1LN. Tel: 01258 820224
pub
is largely untouched and a Priest hole, which at one time led to
St Gregory's Church, is still visible. In the 500 years or so since
it was built, the pub has more than doubled in size. At the back
of the pub is a beautiful oak panelled wall which is probably Tudor.
A stone in the wall under the arch (to the left of the picture above)
is inscribed "James Downe....1725"