Journal Items

Researching the past

Then and Now

Test your knowledge !

FAQs

Personal Histories

Kids Quiz

Gallery

The Prince of Wales

The Three Post Boys

The Jolly Sailors, Milton

The Chalk Tavern

The Shakespeare/Shire

The Green Dragon

Pubs

more.....

Pubs of the town

Does anyone have any information on the pubs of Sittingbourne and Milton. I have a list from the 1908 directory and have added to it from my own knowledge. Follow the link below to see this list, but all updates and or photographs would be most welcome !

e-mail the museum if you can help.

follow this link to see the list.

Allen, SHM

see also our personal histories pages

Dear Sirs I stumbled on your site I've attached scanned photo of an old postcard. Could you help out  The pub shown is now a petshop the building on left hand corner has name Pharmaceutitical ? but advert in window suggests grocers shop across the road up from 3 Post Boys pub.Taylor & son what did he sell ? stamped 1908 Pub P.M.Rammet (no doubt picture was taken somewhat earlier)

I also enclose scan reverse of this card which is interesting Where the stamp should have been is a nice single ring postmark Key St.1908 to the left is 10 mm circle stamped 64 perhaps some of your postal buffs might know the significance of the latter.

But more Important does Key St p.o. still exist?  hope you can help

Yours Sincerely G.A.Maddock (Gordon)

Reference your recent request for information about Sittingbourne Pubs.

The Three Post Boys that you had listed as now being the Halifax building society was actually located a few shops down at what is now the Pet Shop with the alleyway by its' side running down to the back of the pub.

The Halifax was at that time the London and County Bank (the 1908/9 directory of Sittingbourne confirms this and has a poor quality picture of them).

In 1881 William Crayden (spelt Craydle in the 1881 census) was Landlord with help from his Niece Frances Ransom (21) and Nephew John Ransom (16) the children of Moses Ransom who was Landlord at the Norwood Arms in Wormshill at the same time (took over as Landlord from his Father William).

Hope this helps, Martyn Ransom

Do you have any info the previous 'landlords' of this pub? We are particularly interested to know if a 'Jack' Spratt (wifes' name Gwendolyn) is listed sometime during the 1960s. His was my husbands' grandfather, and we believe he was known to tell a tale or two!

Deb & Chris, Adelaide, Aus

Your web site asks for 'snippets' of information, I hope this is of interest.
In 1901, Chalk Tavern, Bassett Rd, was occupied by a John Newman and his wife Emily. John was a naturalised Swede from Stockholm.  I do not know if he owned the pub or not.  In November 1879 John was aboard the Whitstable schooner "Emerald", when it was run down and sunk by a steamer in the Tyne Estuary.  The accident and subsequent inquest are reported in Wallace Harvey's book "The Merchant Ships of Whitstable".  John survived to give evidence at the inquest but the Captain, Ernest Hoult and a "boy" Edwin Coleman were killed (I presume both drowned). 
Soon after this incident John married Emily Warner, from Whitstable and presumably gave up the sea for a land based existence.  Emily Warner was my maternal Great Grandfather's sister.
By coincidence my paternal Great Grandfather, Robert Pope moved to Sittingbourne in the 1870's to work in a "Chemical Factory", where he married Sarah (nee Austin) a local girl and in 1881 they lived at 19 Quay Rd.  By 1901 he was working in the Paper Mill(s) and he and his family were living in Chalkwell Rd.  Both died in the 1920's and are buried in Sitingbourne cemetery.
Hope this is of interest, if you can add any more information I would be grateful. 
ps although I am not from the Sittingbourne area I am living in Kent. 

regards AJ Pope

Thank you for publishing this historical snippet, and to A J Pope for submitting it.

As it turns out, the Newman's of the Chalk Tavern, Sittingbourne were my great-great-grandparents. As one does at a certain age, I am currently researching the family history and was delighted to find this on your pages. Of course, it raises some questions of local history and geography, with which I wonder whether you can oblige.

1. The information I have locates the pub, or at least the people, in Milton, yet the pub is currently very much not in Milton. Has Bassett Rd moved?

2. The pub was then at No 29 but is now at No 30. Also, your site shows No 29 as a private house. Did the brewery move it across the road?

3. I wonder whether you would pass on my email address to Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Pope. My mother and I would be most grateful.

My mother remembers sitting on John's (a.k.a. Jack) knee, listening to many stories. She recalls a very kind and gentle man. At other times he was a labourer and, latterly, a sweep.

Family knowledge says that Jack/John was advised by his ship's captain as to what name he should use on arrival in England. In Sweden, his family name was Blomquist. Regrettably, his given name is not known or I may attempt to research him in Sweden.

Isn't the Internet wonderful?

Fyi: My mother is was Joan M Newman; her mother was Ruth Newman; her mother was Sarah Newman (unmarried), daughter of Jack and Emily.

My thanks and regards,
Jerry Kelk

I have received , by Email, a copy of your leaflet 'Pubs of Sittingbourne and Milton'. This was of special interest to me as my grandfather, FREDERICK CHARLES PACKER was landlord of the Rose and Crown in Bell Rd. I think it would be from middle 1920's to middle 1930's.

I have a photo of him standing in the doorway and I have had some prints done which have reproduced very nicely. Iris Cook (nee Packer)

The Shire / Shakespeare

- Enq 138

I have just remembered that several weeks ago a couple came into the museum and said that they would be taking over the Shire Pub at the bottom of Snipes Hill. They asked if we had any information on it's history or it's previous names. They knew it was once called the Shakespeare, but do not really know much more than that, other than it's recent  reputation! As a matter of interest, it is to be converted to a Beefeater type restaurant. Any information ?

Bill R, SHM, Nov 06

I'm doing some research into my family tree and have found that the Goatham family were shown as living at The Jolly Sailors Inn, 21 Flushing St. Milton. I'm unable to trace this address, does it still exist? Also do you have any information on this pub?

Liz Gates

The British Queen - enq 74

Could you please tell me if you have any information or pictures of The British Queen Pub in Key Street, Sittingbourne, Kent formerly The Tanners Arms and now I believe The Long Hop.

I am predominantly interested in Licensee's between 1901 and 1957 and also the cottage and occupants which was attached to the side of the pub called British Queen Cottage. My Great Grandmother Ada Watts lived there for many years and at least up until her death in 1957. She actually died in London at a daughters house. I believe one of her daughters Maude Startup with her husband Bill lived at the Cottage too. I look forward to hearing from you with any information you may have, or a time when we may be able to visit the museum to research ourselves.

Thank you in anticipation Ms Donna Dickens

Donna:

The British Queen pub as you say was the Tanners Arms in the 1840s and is now the Long Hop. It is on the London Road corner of Wises Lane and is actually situated in the parish of Borden which could be relevant when you are doing research.  The 1901 census entry for the British Queen shows the Hollis family living there. George Hollis was listed as publican there in the local 1908 directory and the cottage is not mentioned. During the First World War George Hollis was still the licensee, There were 6 sons all of whom served in the army and all of whom survived.  Electoral registers would help you trace later occupants. They are kept at the centre for Kentish Studies in Maidstone but as a society we cannot undertake research as we don’t have the time.

Good luck with your research, Helen

<top>