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THE HISTORY OF THE BRIDGE HOTEL - MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD
Written By: Edward James Gilbert - Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. 26 January 2014.
The Bridge Hotel, at 6 Mount Pleasant Road, up until the mid- 1880's
was referred to as the Bridge Tavern, but afterward became known as the
Bridge Hotel. It was never listed among the principal hotels of the town
in any local trade directories, despite its size and convenient location
across the street from the SER train station. Being so close to the
railway station certainly helped the business due to the large number of
visitors arriving in the town by train since the railway arrived in
1845. The hotel appealed to business travellers and others who could not
afford the higher rates charged by the principal hotels. The hotel
derived its name from the bridge at the junction of High Street, Vale
Road, Goods Station Road and Mount Pleasant Road.
A review of directories shows that it did not exist before 1850 but
appears in the 1851 census and the 1858 Melville Directory under “John
Apps, Bridge Tavern, High Street”. John Apps was still the proprietor in
1862. In the 1870's his son John Edward Apps took over and the 1874
directory listed him at the Bridge Tavern as” John Edward Apps, corn
dealer and farmer. “John Apps senor had died at the Bridge Tavern in
1870 and his son John Edward Apps died there in 1877.
By 1881 Jeffery Mercer was listed as the innkeeper. The 1882 directory
gave the listing “ Jeffrey Mercer, Railway Inn, Goods Station Road & the
Bridge Tavern, Mount Pleasant Road”. At this time the Railway Inn was
located on the north east corner of Goods Station Road and Mount
Pleasant Road. It survived until 1911 when the Weeks department store
bought the premises and demolished to make way for the expansion of
their shop.
John Corner was in charge of the tavern by 1891. The 1899 and 1903 Kelly
directories gave Robert Reeves as the proprietor.
By 1911 the hotel was being run by Thomas Stephen Newell, who was still
there in 1913. Others who ran the hotel were Frederick William Freeman
(1922); Philip Alan(1930) and then James Lee in 1934.
In the mid 1930's the Bridge Hotel was demolished to make way for the
expansion of the Weeks department store, which by 1938 occupied the
entire corner, consisting of 1,2,3,4,5,6,8, and 10 Mount Pleasant Road,
and 1,3,5,7, and 9 Grove Hill Road. For details about the Weeks family
and business see my article ‘The Weeks Store-Tunbridge Wells' dated
September 6, 2011.
THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS
(1) JOHN APPS. John was born 1809 in Brenchley, Kent and was baptised
at Brenchley on September 3,1809. He was one of several children born to
John Apps and Ann Pattenden. John Married Susannah who was born in
Southborough in 1812 and with her had eight children, among which was a
son John Edward Apps (1841-1877) who later took over the operation of
the Bridge Tavern from his father. The 1851 census, taken at Mount
Pleasant Terrace recorded John Apps as the innkeeper of the Bridge
Tavern. Living with him was his wife Susannah and eight children. The
1861 census, taken at the Bridge Tavern recorded John and his wife and
four children, plus three servants and two visitors. His wife Susannah
died at the Bridge Tavern in 1864. Probate records show that John Apps
died at the Bridge Tavern August 28, 1870. The executors of his under
£8,000 estate was Thomas Edwin Stevenson, rate collector and John
Edward Apps, son, innkeeper of the Bridge Tavern.
(2) JOHN EDWARD APPS. John was the son of John Apps (1809-1870) and
Susannah Apps (1812-1864). John had been born in Tunbridge Wells in 1841
and was living with his parents at the Bridge Tavern at the time of the
1851 census. The 1861 census, taken in Mayfield, Sussex listed John
working as an apprentice in the drapers business. On April 27, 1867 he
married Mary Ann Crowhurst (1839-1909) at Southwark, Middlesex. Mary Ann
had been born September 7,1839 at Withyham, Sussex, one of five children
born to William Crowhurst (1813-1864) and Mary Crowhurst (1819-1864).
Before the marriage she was living with her parents in Withyham. John
and his wife had six children, all born in Tunbridge Wells between 1867
and 1874. Mary Ann died 1909 in Dover. The 1871 census, taken at the
Bridge Tavern recorded John Edward Apps as the innkeeper. Living with
him was his wife, three of his children, his stepbrother, one barmaid
and one domestic servant. Probate records gave John Edward Apps late of
the Bridge Tavern, innkeeper, who died May 26, 1877 at the Bridge Tavern.
The executors of his 800 pound estate was his wife and James Young of
the ‘Wiltshire Arms'. John was buried in the Tunbridge Wells Borough
Cemetery June 1, 1877.
(3) JEFFERY MERCER. Jeffery had been born November 17, 1832 at Goudhurst, Kent. At the time of the 1851 census, taken at Goudhurst
Jeffery was working as an agricultural labourer on a farm run by the
Amsden family. In 1856 he married Jane Brackfield (1835-1885) and with
her had two children between 1853 and 1857. Jane had been born 1835 in
Goudhurst and was one of four children born to Thomas Brackfield
(1804-1855) and Elizabeth Linbridge (1803-1870). The 1861 census, taken
at Goudhurst recorded Jeffery as an agricultural labourer and with him
was his wife Jane and two children. The 1871 census, taken at Eden Green
in Goudhurst gave Jeffery as a beerhouse keeper. With him was his wife
Jane, his son George and one lodger. The 1881 census, taken at the
Bridge Tavern in Tunbridge Wells listed Jeffery as the innkeeper. Living
with him was his wife Jane and one barmaid. The 1891 census, taken at 18
Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells listed Jeffery as a widower and licensed
victualler. With him was an adopted daughter, three lodgers and one
servant. In 1903 he married Jane Mary Kemp, born in Frant in 1845 but
had not children with her. The 1911 census, taken at Catsfield, Sussex
listed Jeffery as a farmer. With him was his second wife and the family
were living in 7 rooms. Jeffery died at Goudhurst in the 3rd quarter of
1919.
(4) JOHN CORNER. John was recorded at the Bridge Tavern/Hotel in the
1891 census. John was born 1829 in Lewes, Sussex and was one of several
children born to William and Lucy Corner. At the time of the 1851
census, John was working as a grocers assistant on the High Street at St
Thomas in the Cliffe, Lewes, Sussex and was at the same place doing the
same job at the time of the 1861 census. On July 15, 1868 he married Jane
Ann Amelia Friend (1845-1900) and with her had eight children between
1870 and 1889. He was working as a grocers assistant when the 1871
census was taken at 9 Market Street in Lewes, Sussex. By 1881 he and his
family moved to Tunbridge Wells and at the time of the 1881 census he
was at 2 High Street working as a refreshment house keeper. With him was
his wife Jane; 4 children, one waiter, two lodgers and four servants. He
left this position to take over the Bridge Tavern at 6 Mount Pleasant
Road and is found there in the 1891 census as a licensed victualler.
With him at that time was his wife Jane and five of their children. By
the time of the 1901 census he had become the licensed victualler of the
Castle Hotel on London Road. John was a widow by this time and living
with him was five of his children and a boarder. John died at the Castle
Hotel May 3, 1901 and was buried in the Tunbridge Wells Borough Cemetery.
Probate records show he left an estate valued at £1,511 and the
executors of his estate were his sons William Alfred Corner, a boat
builder and Frederick Ernest Corner, an auctioneers clerk.
(5) ROBERT REEVES. Robert was listed at the Bridge Hotel in the 1899
and 1901 directories. He was born 1854 in Kemsing, Kent and was one of
several children born to Thomas and Mary Reeves of Kemsing. Robert was
baptised at Kemsing March 26, 1853. At the time of the 1861 census he was
living with his parents (his father was an agricultural worker) along
with four siblings and some farm workers. The 1871 census, taken on
Church Lane in Seal, Kent recorded Thomas as an agricultural worker with
is two sons Robert and Frederick. In 1874 Robert married Jane Packham,
who had been born in Sevenoaks, Kent in 1854. He and his wife had seven
children between 1876 and 1890. By 1891 he and his family had moved to
Tunbridge Wells and were found in the 1891 census at 66 High Street
where Robert was a beerhouse keeper. With him was his wife Jane, seven
children, a nursemaid and one domestic servant. The 1901 census, taken
at the Bridge Hotel gave Robert as the licensed victualler. With him was
his wife Jane, three of his children, two visitors and six others, being
servants and hotel staff. The 1911 census, taken at the Harp Hotel on St
Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells gave Robert as the licensed victualler. With
him was his wife Jane, a barmaid and a barman. The census recorded that
the premises consisted of five rooms and that they had been married 38
years. Of their 10 children only 6 had survived. What became of Robert
after 1911 was not determined.
(6) THOMAS STEPHEN NEWELL. Thomas was recorded at the Bridge Hotel in
the 1911 census and the 1913 Kelly directory. He had been born 1857 at Brentford, Middlesex, one of four children born to James Newell (born
1829 and died before 1871), who in 1961 was a bailiff, and Anne
Fullalove, born 1827. In 1861 he was living with his parents and two
siblings at Blouch End Hill in Hornsey, Middles. On December 2, 1866 he
was baptised at Southwark Christ Church. In 1871 he was living with his
widowed mother who was a shopkeeper. Also present was three of his
siblings and one servant. Thomas at this time was working as an errand
boy. The 1881 census, taken at 3 Seven Sisters Road in
Tottenham, Middlesex recorded his mother as the head of the household and
working as a china dealer. Also present was Thomas and his siblings
where were all assisting their mother in the business. The 1891 census,
taken at New Brentford, Middlesex, gave Thomas as the manager of his
mother's glass and china business. On August 5, 1895 Thomas married
Louisa Fabian (1861-1953) at St Andrew Holborn, and with her had seven
children between 1891 and 1901. Louisa had been born in the 3rd qtr of
1861 at Walworth, Surrey and was one of seven children born to William
Fabian (1834-1901) and Eliza Jane Elliott(1837-1922). In 1901 the family
was living at Surbiton, Surrey where Thomas was a glass merchant. With
him was his wife Louisa and three of their children. By 1911 they had
moved to Tunbridge Wells. The 1911 census, taken at the Bridge Hotel
gave Thomas as the hotel proprietor and with him was his wife Louisa,
four children, five visitors, four servants and three assistants. The
census recorded that the four children they had up to that time were all
living. Probate records gave him of 55 St Aubyn's House in Sussex when
he died January 2,1918. His wife Louisa was the executor of his £7,728
estate.
(7) THE OTHERS. No definitive information was obtained for those who
ran the Bridge Hotel after 1913 except for their names and year of
record, which I gave at the top of this article.
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