Above photo showing the original building.

Above postcard, 1950s, showing the front of the card.

Above postcard, showing the reverse of the same card above.

Another card, looks like the same series.

Probably same series again.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo, 2022.

Above sign, February 1986, sign right, 2014.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above card, circa 1970, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above card, circa 1970, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above map 2018.

Information below from their web site.

The Grasshopper Inn dates back to 1271 and according to old newspaper cuttings, it was the centre of the villages' social life.

Originally there were two cottages huddled together behind a dusty cart track. One of the small cottages was used as a beer house called ‘The Plough'. There were two rooms and a kitchen on the ground floor. The front room was furnished with a deal table in the middle and deal forms along two sides. The other side accommodated two wooden barrels or trestles. One of which contained Westerham Strong Farmers Ale and the other Westerham Mild Ale. When customers visited, they banged on the table and the land lady would emerge from the back room. She filled their pint or quart tankards from the wooden barrels, then retired to the back.

It is not known exactly when ‘The Plough' changed to ‘The Grasshopper Inn' but apparently there was a small establishment called The Grasshopper Inn at Titsey on the Titsey Estate. This  belonged to the Squire who at the time was of the Leverson-Gower family. This Inn was for some reason demolished and the Squire  ordered ‘The Plough Inn' to be changed to ‘The Grasshopper Inn'.

Above postcard, date unknown, showing the above mentioned "Grasshopper" situated on the Titsey estate, near Oxted, Surrey.

Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by Mark Jennings, again showing the Oxted, "Grasshopper."

The Grasshopper is the crest above Sir John Gresham's family coat of arms, which can be found at Titsey Place, his country house and can also be seen as a gold weathervane atop the Royal Exchange Building in the City of London.

In the early 1950's the Grasshopper Inn was restored and extended using old material including Oak paneling, and wrought iron from the houses of parliament and the vestry doors from the Coventry Cathedral, which can be found among the leadlight windows and beamed ceilings of the Tudor Ballroom.

The People, Sunday 14 May 1961.

Post Pub Turns Away Thirsty War Cripples.

The landlord of the "Grasshopper Inn" didn't exactly jump to it when thirteen disabled ex-servicemen turned up for a drink.

The ex-servicemen—some paralysed, some with no legs—were making the first stop of the day on an ambulance-coach outing from the "Star and Garter Home" at Richmond, Surrey.

And they were turned away from the posh "Grass-hopper Inn"—at Westerham, in Kent's "stockbroker belt."

For the last four years, the Star and Garter outing has always had a morning drink at the "Grasshopper."

But this year, there is a new management. A new sign outside the inn says: "Coaches only by appointment."

British Legion official Vic Phipps, travelling with the party, went on ahead of the ex-servicemen to arrange an "appointment."

'We need notice'

The "Grasshopper's" manager, Mr. Derek King, wasn't having that. He told Mr. Phipps: "We need more notice."

The legion official with the party—Mr. David Slade—-tried to soften manager King's heart.

He said yesterday: "I went to see the manager. I was told he was in conference and too busy to see us."

Mr. Slade added: "The place was empty. It was just after opening time."

What does manager King say?

"That’s right." he agreed. "We couldn't permit coaches to call without an appointment. Rule of the house."

Mr. King added: "It was too late when this party arrived— getting near lunch-time, when I'd have been too busy.

"It wouldn't have mattered if they were Lords."