Malcolm Saville was a British author of children’s books, best known for his “Lone Pine” series of adventure novels set in the countryside. Although he did not live in Rye, he spent many holidays there and used the area as a setting for his books.
The Hope Anchor Hotel is a historic inn located in the heart of Rye, where Malcolm Saville stayed frequently during his visits to the town. It was during one of these visits that he wrote “Mystery at Witchend,” the first book in his “Lone Pine” series.
To honor Saville’s contribution to literature and his connection to the town, a blue plaque was installed at The Hope Anchor Hotel in 2023. The plaque reads: “The location of the Gay Dolphin Hotel, made famous by Malcolm Saville in his Lone Pine series of children’s adventure books, written between 1943 and 1978” and was unveiled by Malcolm’s daughter-in-law, Mrs Pippa Saville, who resides in the town which he loved so much!
