The Rose and Crown dates back to the 12th century (circa 1150) and the reign of King Stephen.

During renovations in 1939 the back wall was discovered to have been constructed of Norman wattle and daub; a structure which stood for over 800 years.   A sample is exhibited at the side entrance to the inn.

Much later, local mole catchers, among others,  frequented the inn and would use the sandstone inglenook fireplace to sharpen their skinning knives.  The evidence of that activity is still visible on the fireplace pillars in the public bar.  

Prior to the second World War regular exhibitions of paintings by local artists was begun in what become known as the "gallery bar".  

The village of Fletching lies to the south east of what was the Sheffield Park Estate, although never a part of it, Fletching has always had close associations with it.  Almost certainly there was a settlement in the area long before Domesday, although written records are scant.  The Domesday Book of 1085 mentions Flescinge(s); the word is believed to derive from fleche meaning arrow, and certainly arrows were produced here during the Middle Ages.

Most of the buildings date from the 15th Century and their charm has been preserved.  The village contains some 24 listed buildings, all those on the west side and some opposite what was the butcher’s shop.

The oldest existing building is the church of St. Andrew and St. Mary the Virgin.  The tower is late Saxon or early Norman, the rest being completed in 1230.  Restoration work was carried out in 1880.  There are many historical connections with this church.  Before the Battle of Lewes in 1264 Simon de Montford’s army was quartered at his estate in Sheffield Place, he received absolution on the eve of his victory over Henry III.  Some of his knights were probably buried under the nave, still wearing full armour.

The author of The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon is buried in the Sheffield mausoleum within the Church.

The Sheffield Estate passed through the hands of many notable men until it was purchased by John William Holroyd in 1769.  He later became the First Earl of Sheffield.  He had a profound influence on Fletching.  At one time he caused a small riot by converting Mays, the cottage at the other end of the block from the Rose & Crown, into a school.  It seemed the locals wanted their children working in the fields, not learning.  The cricketing links were forged by the Third Earl, and persist to this day.