Page 20 • The HERALD • 30th October 2025 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v Kitchen & Bathroom Showroom with free design service Tel: 023 8084 3787 Email: showroom@pcbuildingsupplies.co.uk Web: www.pcbuildingsupplies.co.uk To advertise your business in The Herald, contact Sue on 023 8084 0815 or email: sjones@herald-publishing.co.uk Joseph Rowe and the Ship Inn by Robin Somes, Fawley and Blackfield Memories Previously, we mentioned Joseph Rowe of the Ship Inn at Lepe, who certainly had a varied life. Born near Lymington in 1819, at 16 he joined the British Merchant Service as a Boy Seaman on coastal trading vessels, soon moving to Southampton. ere in 1840, he married Harriet Chamberlain, and they soon started a family; by 1841 they were living in Millbrook with their rst child, William. ey went on to have 11 children, evenly-spaced between 1840 and 1859. By 1851, he had spent 16 years at sea, and earned his Master’s certi cate – under the surname of Roe. 1861’s census records him as “Master Mariner”, but then came an abrupt change; in September that year he became licensee of the Ship Inn, whose lease was advertised a few months previously. He is described as “Innkeeper and coal merchant”, so it is possible he used his connections in the coastal trade to bring in coal at Lepe; he also held a licence to sell petroleum there in 1875. Furthermore, he had moorings and boats nearby, including the ketch “Peace”, rented to my relative John Spedding. Whether he was litigious, or just unlucky in business dealings, most newspaper reports mentioning him concern legal disputes over business transactions, drunken disturbances by customers of the Ship, and inquests into at least four drownings – the rst being Charles Bubb in 1864, then Charles Green in 1876. In January 1883, John Spedding fell overboard from “Peace” one night; his body was found nearly four the cabin. When the coastguard returned to Peace in the evening, Edward was missing; shortly a erwards his body was found in the water nearby. A bruise on his forehead suggested he had su ered another t, fallen and hit his head, then went into the water. He was buried in the family grave in Shirley; the inquest a few days later recorded a verdict of “Accidentally drowned”. Shortly a er Edward’s death, Joseph le the Ship Inn, moving initially to Brighton. One might conclude that Edward’s loss was the reason for his leaving the Inn, but it appears the move had been arranged some time before, and the house contents, farm equipment, livestock and boats were auctioned o the same week. e Ship was closed, and converted into the family home now known as Lepe House. Joseph died in 1890, in Fareham. months later. e fourth drowning, sadly, was Joseph’s own son, Edward, on 25th September 1884. at a ernoon, Edward and one of the Lepe coastguards were mending sails aboard the Peace. He was by all accounts subject to ts, and had su ered one in the morning; on completing their work, he complained of a headache, and went to lie down in The Master’s Certificate of Joseph Rowe, issued in 1851 Totton Sun owers WI invite you to join them at their Cake & Cra Fayre on Saturday 1st November at the ree Score Club, Totton (next to the Library carpark) between 10am and 3pm. Entry is free. ere will be a pop-up café with fabulous homemade cakes and many local cra ers selling their unique products. A great opportunity to shop for gi s or simply treat yourself! Cake & Craft Fayre
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