The Holly Tree Inn

 Henry Carver is recorded as a “Beer Retailer” in the 1878 Post Office Directory and the 1881 census. Born in Easebourne in 1820, Henry had worked as a gardener until his mid-fifties. Henry married Susan Bacon in 1845 and they mainly lived in Easebourne “Upper Street”. 

Henry died, age 67, in 1886 and was buried in the parish by the Vicar Henry Wood. In the 1891 census, Henry’s widow Susan is recorded as the “Beer House Keeper” at the Public House in Easebourne Street, near to Wick Lane. Susan continued as a Beer Retailer until at least 1899 according to the Kelly’s Directory. Susan died age 76 in the spring of 1901.

 Henry Searle was the “Inn Keeper” at the Holly Tree according to the 1901 census. The address recorded in the census is “Public House, Upper Street”.  Henry was born in Meonstoke, Hampshire in 1856. His wife, Selina, was born in Soberton, a village close to Meonstoke. Before becoming the publican at the Holly Tree, Henry had been the “Licensed Victualler” of The Star Inn, in Bentley, Alton in 1891. It is a public/free house which remains open (2024). By 1911 Henry and his wife had moved back to Meonstoke where he had become a “Fish Monger”.

 John Moseley was listed in Kelly’s Directory dated 1927 as the publican of the Holly Tree and, according to the Electoral Register,  resided at the Holly Tree until the late 1940’s. John had been born Easebourne in 1872 and in the 1901 census was an “Ordinary Agricultural Labourer” aged twenty-seven living with his parents in “Wheelbarrow Castle”. In 1911 he was an “Estate Labourer” and remained living with his parents in “The Castle”. When John was buried in the parish of Easebourne in May 1949 the burial record shows his abode had been “The Holly Tree”.

 Following John Moseley at The Holly Tree, Harry and Beatrice Nash were registered on the Electoral Roll at the pub from 1950 to 1963.  Harry and Beatrice, both aged forty-two, were recorded on the 1939 Register residing at another listed building, Cowdray cottage number 119.

 The Holly Tree Inn featured in a “List of Henty & Constable Ltd pubs” that were acquired in 1954 by Tamplin & Sons Ltd. The merger of George Henty & Sons Ltd brewery (in Westgate, Chichester) with Constable & Sons Ltd (of Arundel) took place in 1921.

 Opposite a photo in the book “Cowdray and Easebourne” by A. Guyatt and V. Mitchell the pub is mentioned as follows: “Recorded in the 1960s, the “Holly Tree” was a one-bar beerhouse, devoid of a car park”.

 In 2004 The Holly Tree Inn was sold and became a private dwelling.