The Pubs
It is documented that there were 38 taxed brewers in Great Hockham in the 1300’s, but by the mid 1800’s only four actual pubs remained, The Crown, The Unicorn, The Lion (or Red Lion) and the Eagle.
The Crown
Located on the Shropham Road the Crown was one of the few buildings in Hockham to boast a real cellar (albeit now filled in). Legend has it that the barrels often floated because of the high water table!
The Crown closed in 1946 and later became a dairy, but is now a private house.
The men of Hockham assembled in 1904 in front of The Crown,
about to go on an outing.
The Unicorn
The Unicorn was never much more than a beer house, beer being much healthier to drink than the water. Its position in the village is still remembered by the presence of the old Unicorn Garage, which used part of the old premises. Being right next to the Eagle, it was used by the local farm workers before going to work and on their return. It closed in around 1905, no parts of the original building remain.
The Unicorn is the small building between the Shop and The Eagle
in this 1904 photo.
The Lion
The oldest by far of all the old pubs, the Lion was known in the 17th century as the White Horse, but was renamed in around 1800. On the northern side of the Village Green it was sometimes known as the Red Lion. The pub was the home of the friendly society known as the Forestor’s and the home of the famous Hockham Horns. The pub was closed in 1971 and is now a private house.
The Lion just after after the closure in 1971.
The Eagle
Built in the early 1800’s, the Eagle is the only remaining pub in Great Hockham. Affectionately referred to as the Raven in the books by local author Michael Home (Christopher Bush), the pub was actually run by his Brother. It had some major renovations in the late 1970’s early 1980’s when the old Travis was pulled down and a new cellar and toilets were installed.
The Eagle in the early 1930’s.