Motherly innkeeper Hannah Seller

When sailing into Christchurch Harbour in those early days the first building to greet mariners like me was Haven House, which stood in solitary isolation next to the Run, as the channel from the sea is known. Its tall chimneys and outside steps were a welcome landmark.

I have been told that the Run was not always where it is today. In the late 1600s a new channel into the Harbour was cut through the Hengistbury Head sand spit.

It is said that Haven House was built to accommodate Dutch canal engineers brought over to supervise the work, which is why some still call it the Dutch Cottages.

The old Run was filled in, but within 10 years storms had closed up the new entrance with gravel and sand. This caused the waters of the Harbour to break through at a different place to become the Run as it is today.

Haven House later became an inn. I knew it when it was run by John Seller and his wife Hannah, but after John died in 1779 his widow took sole command. For nigh on 25 years that redoubtable woman provided every comfort a weary mariner could desire - a good meal, plenty to drink, and a warm bed - thereby earning herself the affectionate name of Mother Seller.

Of course, Hannah also gave refuge to smugglers, for there was barely a mariner or fisherman along the whole south coast who did not at some time engage in smuggling to supplement their poor income.

As an innkeeper, Hannah clearly had the opportunity to sell smuggled liquors and she doubtlessly knew all the inlets and creeks around the Harbour where contraband might be hidden – but if she ever did is not for me to say. What do you think?

Did you know?

The present-day Haven House Inn public house was built in about 1830 after the original Haven House was taken over as a Coast Guard Station. Today, the original Haven House is known as the ‘Dutch Cottages’.

You can listen to the audio track for this trail spot below, or read the audio transcript.