The Wheatsheaf Inn, 2 Barnhorn Road

The Wheatsheaf Inn, 2 Barnhorn Road
LL ref:	376
Start date:	1887
Architect:	unknown
Builder:	unknown
Original use:	Public house
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Situated in the hub of the settlement of Little Common, adjacent to the main Eastbourne to Bexhill road, A259. The present building is mid Victorian, rebuilt in 1887.

It is an attractive local landmark with its red tile-hung upper elevations, half-timbered pair of gables at each end and double-height bay window at the south end counterbalanced by a rustic gabled porch towards the other end. Lower storey of brickwork, upper storey clay hanging tiles. Clay tiles to roof. Gable with timber bargeboards each end of building with timber framing to upper section (false). Gable to south end has two storey bay window with clay tile roof. Brick and timber porch towards north end with clay tile gabled roof. Windows evenly distributed except narrow frame by north ‘cross wing’. All timber double hung sashes with glazing bars in 4x4 arrangement except bay and above mentioned narrow frame which are 3x4.

To the rear of the property are areas of two storey extensions with flat and pitched roofs most of which appear to have been constructed between 1909 and 1930, with a further north extension between 1930 and c1950. The extensions changed what was a plain side elevation into a second main elevation, probably coinciding with the upgrading of Barnhorn Road to today’s main coast road (c1930). Within the period 1909-1930, the outbuildings to the west are also rebuilt, former stabling being replaced by a garage.

The east front appearance dates from a major rebuilding of the external fabric in 1887. A photograph prior to this shows a building of the same basic ground plan with one cross wing to the south. All walls were of painted brickwork, clay tiles to roof. The south cross wing roof had a ‘Sussex’ hip. The door and window openings are in identical locations to today but smaller proportions with glazing bars of a 3x2 arrangement except to the two storey bay where they were as today, 3x4. At this time the bay had a flat roof. The chimney stacks are also in the same positions although of plainer and smaller proportions.

Prior to about 1876, the coast road from Bexhill to Eastbourne turned southwards at Little Common to Cooden before turning east along the present lane across the Pevensey Marshes. This road was called the Pevensey Trade, the Sluice Trade or Bexhill Trade. The inn was therefore positioned on this corner to be visible coming down the hill from White Hill and from the south. From the records seen so far, it would appear that this property was built in the late 18th century (shown on Yeakell & Gardner’s map of Sussex of 1783), as part of the enclosure of Slyders Common which was formerly ‘waste’ of the Manor of Bexhill. The inn was a popular meeting place for the local hunt. In c1832 the coastal coach service is given as ‘The Hero’ running from Hastings to Brighton via Bexhill, Westham, Pevensey, Eastbourne, Seaford, Newhaven and Rottingdean, running westwards on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, eastwards Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Gallery

• 
  1886, prior to modifcation
• 
  1950s