Jacob's Post
| Browse information by: Location Makers General Information Classification Object Parts Object Condition History References Photographs |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright for Photograph: Creative Commons |
Location
| Street: | Ditchling Road (B2112) |
| Town: | Ditchling Common |
| Parish: | Ditchling |
| Council: | Lewes District Council |
| County: | East Sussex |
| Postcode: | RH15 |
| Location on Google Map | |
| Object setting: | Public Park |
| and in: | Road or Wayside |
| Access is: | Public |
| Location note: | Path leading from gate next to The Royal Oak pub. |
| In the AZ book: | East Sussex |
| Page: | 68 |
| Grid reference: | G4 |
| The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks. | |
| OS Reference: | TQ337181 |
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Makers
| Name : | Unknown |
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General Information
| Construction period: | End of 19th century |
| Installation date: | 1890 ca. |
| Work is: | Extant |
| Owner custodian: | Ditchling Parish Council |
| Object listing: | Not listed |
| Description: | A simple wooden post with the metal figure of a rooster sitting on top. An information board is sited next to the post. |
| Inscription: | Jacob's Post This post was erected at the end of the 19th century to mark the site of the old gallows where the body of Jacob Harris was hung following his execution for murder in 1734. The rooster is a copy made by the pupils of Uckfield Comprehensive School. The original is in the guardianship of Ditchling Parish Council and may be seen at Chichester House, Ditchling. East Sussex County Council Cut out letters in the centre of the rooster: 1734 |
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Classification
| Categories: | Animal, Free Standing, Commemorative |
| Object type1: | Marker |
| Object subtype1: | Commemorative Post |
| Subject type1: | Figurative |
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Object Parts
| Part 1: | Rooster |
| Material: | Painted metal |
| Height (cm): | 65 |
| Width (cm): | 40 |
| Depth (cm): | 0.5 |
| Part 2: | Post |
| Material: | Wood |
| Height (cm): | 190 |
| Width (cm): | 10 |
| Depth (cm): | 10 |
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Object Condition
| Overall condition: | Fair |
| Risk assessment: | At risk |
| Condition 1 of type: | Structural |
| Condition 1: | Loose elements |
| More details: | The whole structure is easily movable in the ground. |
| Condition 2 of type: | Surface |
| Condition 1: | Corrosion, Deterioration |
| More details: | Severe weather-wearing to the post and some corrosion to the rooster. |
| Date of on-site inspection: | 18/09/2007 |
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History
| History: | On 26 May 1734, in the parish of Wivelsfield, Jacob Harris, a Jewish pedlar (also known as Yacob Hirsch), committed three barbarous murders at the public house at the north end of Ditchling Common (now the Royal Oak). He killed the landlord of the pub, Richard Miles, his wife and their maid. He is alledged to have stolen some money and clothes and fled to the Cat Inn, Turners Hill. Pursued by soldiers he hid up a chimney at Selsfield House, West Hoathly, but was discovered. Miles, before he died was able to identify the pedlar and he was incarcerated in Horsham Gaol. He was subsequently tried and executed and afterwards hung in chains on Ditchling Common close to the scene of the murders. A ballad was composed, sold and sung at the execution. Jacob's Post is the remains of the gibbet. Afterwards, and well into the 19th century, a fragment of this post carried in the pocket, was considered a cure for toothache and epilepsy. It was also said that women who were barren went to the corpse when still hung at Ditchling and after holding its hand would become fertile. A piece of the original post is on display at the Royal Oak Inn; the pub sign carries the subtitle 'Jacob's Post'.
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| Hard archive file: | Yes |
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References
Further information: | |
| http://royaloakinn1.food.officelive.com/Jacobspost.aspx | |
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Photographs
Date: 18/09/2007 Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Date: 18/09/2007 Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
 Date: 18/09/2007 Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Date: 18/09/2007 Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
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