Jacob's Post


Jacob's Post is a hamlet to the east of Burgess Hill, in Lewes district, East Sussex, England.
It is named after a traveling peddler named Jacob Harris who in 1734, according to local lore, killed the landlord, his wife and a serving maid at the pub at this spot, the Royal Oak. He was prosecuted for his crime at Horsham gaol and sentenced to be hanged at the place where he carried out his crime. Some time after the hanging a post was erected on the spot where he was put to death, and the area became known by the name Jacob's Post.
The post itself has a metal bird nailed to the top. The Royal Oak is threatened with demolition.