Southeastern Gazette, 6 September 1853.

Applications for New Licenses.

Mr. Monckton then applied on behalf of Mr. Sutton, of the "Holly-bush Inn," Thornhills, for a spirit license. This house is situated directly opposite to the "Brickmakers’ Arms," to which house a license was last year granted. With respect to this application, Mr. Monckton, in urging its superior claims to those of the "Brickmakers’ Arms," remarked upon the way in which the licence to the latter had been granted by the Bench, which elicited some alteration, and strong protestations against the "licence" assumed by advocate, in pleading for their clients.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 3 July 1866.

Pleasant Neighbours in Pleasant-row.

William Forrest was charged with assaulting John Dixon, with a poker, on the 20th June, at Pleasant-row, Sandling-road, Maidstone. A young man named Stephens was also charged with assaulting John Forrest, the father of the previous defendant, at the same time and place. The cases were heard separately, but the following appeared to be the main facts of the disturbance. The elder Forrest keeps the “Brickmakers’ Arms,” and he also works as a tailor; the parents of Stephens living near him. Forrest has lived there for sixteen years, and the Stephenses about nine, and during this time frequent disturbances and disputes have taken place. On the night in question a number of young men assembled at the back of the premises, and a heavy metal vessel, containing a quantity of filth, was thrown into Forrest’s house. A regular row ensued, violent threats were used, brickbats were thrown, and the elder Forrest was assaulted by a man named Bradley, with a heavy clothes prop. At length, the younger Forrest seized a poker, as he now said “to defend his father and mother,” and he was in the act of striking the man Bradley, when Dixon, who had previously taken no part in the disturbance, interfered. Upon this, Forrest junior struck him a violent blow on the head with the poker, felling him to the ground, where he lay insensible. A brick was also thrown forcibly against the elder Forrest’s held, and a severe wound inflicted. The Bench, considering that the circumstances called for further inquiries, adjourned the cases for a week.