Charles II

Charles II in Brighton

It was from the George Inn, which then stood in Middle Street, that on the night of October 14, 1651, Charles II, a fugitive from the field of Worcester, finally succeeded in making his escape to the Continent. The landlord, it is said, had in earlier days been employed about the royal palace, and had no difficulty in penetrating the disguise of his hungry-looking and travel-stained visitor. Like a wise man, however, he held his peace, and shortly afterwards there was introduced to the King and his travelling companion one Nicholas Tettersell, the captain of a collier, who the same night conveyed them across the Channel from Shoreham to Fécamp, on the French coast. The King was, as usual, profuse in his promises to the friendly seaman to whose assistance he owed so much, but appears to have been at no particular pains to remember them after the Restoration.

Tettersell, therefore, like a sailor bold, finding himself overlooked in the general distribution of favours, executed a tactical movement, and brought his grimy vessel round to the Thames, mooring her right opposite Whitehall. This led to inquiries being made, and the gallant captain received a valuable ring and an annuity of £100 a year for himself and his descendants. His vessel, having undergone repairs, was handsomely decorated, and admitted into the Royal Navy as a fifth-rater, being rechristened the Royal Escape. Fortunately, it may be, for the country's safety, no record exists of the redoubtable vessel having ever again put to sea; but she seems to have remained at Deptford, quietly dropping to pieces, until 1791, when her few remaining timbers were chopped up for firewood. Tettersell's tomb, with its quaint inscription, is to be seen in St. Nicholas' church yard.

— , Ward Locke, , Brighton, Hove and District, , 1933