The History Of The Keppel's Head
Hotel
The Keppel's Head was
no doubt named after the Admiral Keppel (1725-1786), who had
sailed around the world.
The Keppel's Head was one of the seventeen inns on The Hard in the
18th Century, opening in 1779 with a Mrs Gauntlett as landlord.
In 1778 Admiral Keppel was wrongly accused of
misconduct and neglect of duty at The Battle of Ushant. This
accusation caused riots and had caused damage to Naval establishments
as he was a popular figure.
The court martial acquitted him finding the
accusations malicious and ill founded much to the joy of the
people and as a result a lot of liquid refreshment was consumed.
The Keppel's Head was familiarly known as "The
Nut" and seems to have been a favourite haunt of the Sub
Lieutenants studying at the Naval Education College in the
dockyard. The tavern had a well-known waiter called William,
and he earned a reputation for being able to predict what the
individual young officers would attain in their forthcoming
examinations. His success was quite uncanny, and one may assume
that he acquired his skill through studying human nature,
for a lot could be learnt through listening to the young wags
whilst they "downed" their brandy and sodas.
In April 1803 the inn was totally destroyed
by fire! A public donation was started for this popular and
historic building. A sum of £400 was soon raised, which
was no mean sum in those days.
In 1819 the Keppel's Head was a stop for the
famous "Rocket" coach.
During World War 2 the inn was again damaged by fire during an air
raid in 1941.
There has been some friendly rivalry between
The Keppel's Head Hotel and another local hotel. Visitors
staying in both hotels have felt a presence of something of the supernatural kind.
Supposedly the presence is of Buster Crabb who disappeared
mysteriously in 1956 after diving under a Soviet ship moored
in the harbour
Strangely that day's page has been torn out
of the registers of both hotels. It is not known which hotel
he stayed in the night before he disappeared or which he still haunts.
|
Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel
1725 - 1786 |
