BRITANNIA Pub of Sheerness

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Sheerness, November, 2025.

Page Updated:- Thursday, 13 November, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1824-

Britannia

Closed 1990

75 High Street

Mile Town

Sheerness

Above photo 1924. Creative Commons Licence.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo 1939, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, 1940s. By kind permission of Trevor Edwards.

Above postcard, 1950s. By kind permission of Trevor Edwards.

Above photo, 2004. By kind permission of Trevor Edwards.

Above photo 2010 by Chris Whippet Creative Commons Licence.

Above card 1970.

Above signs 1991.

With thanks from Roger Pester www.innsignsociety.com.

Above signs, February 1995.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

The "Britannia" was also known as "Green's Hotel" and used to be a Masonic meeting place as far back as 1820 and continued to hold meetings there till 1909 when the new Masonic Hall was completed.

I believe the premises closed as a pub in 1990.

From the Kent Herald, 11 November 1824.

Death.

An inquest was held on Monday last at the "Bell and Lion" public house, Mile Town, Sheerness, before Robert Hinde, Esq., Coroner, on the body of Daniel Wollard, an elderly man, who came by his death in consequence of an injury he received by a fall on the Saturday week previous, at the "Britannia" public house. It appeared in evidence, that the deceased, with several others, had been from one public house to another, the whole of the day, drinking and fighting, and when they arrived at the "Britannia" they were quite drunk, and that the deceased was very quarrelsome and irritated a man, by striking him on the head and repeatedly challenging him; the man stooped and took hold of the deceased legs, as though he would lift him up in his arms, but did not appear to have any intention to fight; in the affair the deceased fell, and received an injury that caused his death on the following Saturday.

The jury, after deliberating for some time, returned a verdict of Accidental Death. The Coroner then called up the man whom the deceased have provoked, (whose name we shall suppress, as his situation in life should have been a barrier to his mixing with such company,) to whom he pointed out the narrow escape he had had from being committed on a verdict of manslaughter and cautioned him against following such a course of life in future; the worthy Coroner applied the latter part of his address to the witnesses who were also called up, with the exception of one, who is Osler at the "Britannia," and a sober man.

Kent Herald, 6 March 1845.

In consequence of information received from Buckhurst, the Sheerness constable, superintendent Orpin, of our borough police, preceded on Saturday evening last to the "Bull" public house, where he took into custody Elizabeth Collins, better known as Eliza Rogers, and William Houghton, better known as Spikett Houghton, of Ospringe.

On Monday morning they were brought before G. Hilton esq., at the office of Messers Shepherd and Tassell, when Henry Spith, shoemaker, of Sheerness, charged the female prisoner with having robbed him of 26s. on the previous Sunday, and Houghton with aiding her to escape after the robbery; Spith stated that he entered the "Britannia" public house, Sheerness, on the morning of the above day to look for his wife, after staying there sometime, he went into the yard, the female prisoner followed and accosted him, at the same time he felt her hand in his trousers pocket and saw the bag containing the money in her hands, he immediately charged her with the theft, and took hold of her, she made a great noise, when Houghton and others, whom he did not know, came and took her away, Houghton pushed him violently and used abusive language; Mr. Buckhurst proved the finding of the bag on the adjoining premises, which Spiff now swore to as the bag lost; Elizabeth Collins, alias Rogers, was then fully committed to take her trial at the next Maidstone Assizes and Houghton for the assault was reminded till Thursday.

Kentish Gazette, 16 July 1850.

SHEERNESS. Coroner's Inquest.

On Saturday week, an inquest was held at the "Britannia Inn," Mile-town, Sheerness, before John Hinde, Esq., on the body of Mary Bardo, aged 60 years, who died the previous day, the cause of her death having been attributed to a blow on the head or neck from one of her sons, George Bardo.

A post mortem examination of the head was made by Dr. Jardine, who deposed that death was caused by apoplexy. Deceased had had two fits of apoplexy previously, the first, three months ago, the other, six weeks ago.

The jury returned a verdict of "Died of apoplexy."

Southeastern Gazette, 22 March 1853.

PURSUANT to an Order of the High Court of Chancery, made in a cause "Smith, against Smith" the CREDITORS of BENJAMIN SMITH, late of "The Britannia Tavern," Mile Town, Sheerness, in the county of Kent, licensed victualler, who died in or about the month of December, 1852, are, by their solicitors, on or before the 18th day of April, 1853, to come in and prove their debts or claims at the chambers of the Vice-Chancellor Sir Richard Torin Kindersley, No. 15, Old-square, Lincoln’s Inn, Middlesex; or in default thereof they will be peremptorily excluded from the benefit of the said order.

Monday, the 25th day of April, 1853, at Twelve o’clock at noon, at the said chambers, is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the claims.

Dated this 11th day of March, 1853. JOHN WILLS HOFFMAN,

3, Great Carter-lane, Doctors-commons.

PURSUANT to an Order of the High Court of of Chancery, made in a cause "Smith against Smith," such of the next of kin of BENJAMIN SMITH, late of "The Britannia Tavern," Mile Town, Sheerness, in the county of Kent, licensed victualler, as were living at the time of his death (which happened in or about the month of December, 1852), and also the legal personal representatives or representative of such of them (if any) as have since died, are, on or before the 18th day of April, 1853, to come in and make out their, his, or her claims or claim as such next of kin or legal personal representatives or representative, at the chambers of the Vice-Chancellor Sir Richard Torin Kindersley, No. 15, Old-square, Lincoln’s Inn, Middlesex; or in default thereof they will be peremptorily excluded from the benefit of the said order.

Monday, the 25th day of April, 1853, at Twelve o’clock at noon, at the said chambers, is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the claims.

Dated this 11th day of March, 1853.

JOHN WILLS HOFFMAN,

3, Great Carter-lane, Doctors-commons.

Kentish Gazette, 22 March 1853.

PURSUANT to an Order of the High Court of Chancery, made in a cause Smith against Smith, the CREDITORS of BENJAMIN SMITH, late of "The Britannia Tavern," Mile Town, SHEERNESS, in the County of Kent, licensed victualler, who died in or about the mouth of December. 1852. are by their Solicitors, on or before the 18th day of APRIL, 1853, to come in and prove their Debts or Claims at the Chambers of the Vice-Chancellor, Sir Richard Torin Kindersley, No. 15. Old Square, Lincoln's Inn. Middlesex, or in default thereof they will be peremptorily excluded from the Benefit of the said Order.

MONDAY, the 25th day of APRIL, 1853, at twelve o'clock at noon at the said Chambers, is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the Claims.

Dated this 11th day of March. 1853.

JOHN WILLS HOFFMAN,

3, Great Carter Lane,

Doctors Commons.

From the South Eastern Gazette, 6 December 1853.

CORONERS INQUEST.

Yesterday week an inquest was held at the "Britannia Inn," Mile Town, on the body of the infant child of Mrs. Smith, landlady of the said inn. Mrs. Smith is a widow, and the child was born after the death of her husband. Deceased who was five months old had suffered from convulsions. On Sunday night Mrs. Smith went to bed at the usual time, and at 12 o'clock the servant brought the child to her; she gave it the breast and laid it up; she awoke at 6 o’clock and found that the child was dead. Mr. Keddull, surgeon, stated that he had no doubt the child died from natural causes. The jury returned a verdict accordingly.

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 6 December 1853.

Deaths.

December 3, at the "Britannia Inn," Sheerness, where he was on a visit, Mr. Jarrett (father of the landlady,) of Oare next Faversham.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 27 April 1861.

George King, landlord of the "Britannia Inn," Old Town, Sheerness, was summoned for keeping his house open after 12 o'clock on Saturday night, March 30th.

Fined 20s. including costs.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 17 July 1866.

SHEERNESS.

On Monday evening, an inquest was held at the “Britannia Inn,” Mile Town, touching the death of Ann Elizabeth Greenstreet, 67 years of age, who expired on the previous Sunday morning, through taking an overdose of laudanum. It appeared, from the evidence of her husband and the medical man who attended her, that deceased had been in a desponding state of mind for some time, and she seemed to have a great dread of the coming of Sunday. On Sunday morning, she woke at about 4 o’clock, seemingly very depressed, and said she did not know what to do or where to go. Her husband quieted her, and she went to sleep again till about half-past nine when he went to call her. Finding her in a very singular state, he called in a surgeon, who seeing she had taken laudanum, used every effort to restore her, but without effect, as she died about two hours afterwards. The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.

Whitstable times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 7th May 1898.

Sheerness. The rating of licensed houses.

Nearly the whole of the licensed houses of Sheerness have recently been reassessed for rating purposes for the overseers. The increase in the assessments in some cases are double, the rating of the "Wellington Hotel" having been advanced from £60 to £125, the "Belle and Lion Inn," from £44 to £84, the "Britannia Hotel" from £80 to £165, the "Goat Inn" from £32 to £84, the "Victory Tavern" from £48 to £92, the "Criterion Inn" from £36 to £75.

The total increase in the ratings of 55 licensed premises amounts to £1,161 10s.

Maidstone and Kentish Journal, 22 May 1902.

The "Britannia Hotel," Sheerness was transferred from the trustee in bankruptcy to the estate of Frank Poole to Edward Cecil Moore, Chartered Accountant, of 3, Crosby Terrace, London, the said trustee.

LICENSEE LIST

DUNN Emanuel 1824+

JOHNSON Edwin 1828+