The Star Inn, Alfriston 1970

This authentic 1970s colour photograph, captured in 1971, features the exterior of The Star Inn located on High Street in the village of Alfriston, East Sussex. The archival image documents this Grade II* listed building, which was originally established in the 15th century as a sanctuary inn for pilgrims and monks. The architecture is a premier example of medieval timber framing, featuring prominent jettying, diamond-paned bay windows, and intricate wood carvings under the eaves. A striking red wooden lion statue, believed to be a 17th-century ship’s figurehead, stands guard at the corner near the entrance to “The Star Inn Car Park.” The scene captures a family in period attire—a man in a dark suit, a woman in a cream cardigan, and a young child—standing outside the entrance. Parked along the street is a white Hillman Hunter and a dark green Austin 1800. A black Trust Houses (TH) hanging sign identifies the hotel, which remains one of the oldest and most historically significant inns in the south of England.