1 Hill Road

Borstal

https://whatpub.com/canopus

Above photo, circa 1950s. From http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo 2018, kindly sent by Debi Birkin.

Above sign, circa 1978. Sign right, date unknown. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above sign left, 1995, sign right 1998. With thanks from Roger Pester www.innsignsociety.com.

Above sign, date unknown.

Picture of Whitbread sign. Above aluminium card issued 1950. Sign series 2 number 4.

Previously known as the "Belleview." Date of change, so far unknown.

The "Canopus," was named after the famous Short Brothers' flying boat which covered the routes of Imperial Airways for several years, was launched at Rochester in 1936,

It was named to honour the local craftsmen "whose industry was responsible for the famous flying boat" (or so said a note under a framed reproduction of the sign in the inn parlour). In granting his formal permission, Lord Reith, then head of Imperial Airways wrote:

"Your inn is probably the first named to commemorate the newest form of transport - that of the air - and it is therefore appropriate that you should have chosen the name of the first great Imperial Flying Boats which were built close by at the works of Messrs. Short Brothers, Ltd."

When the Canopus was withdrawn from service in 1947 the steering column was presented by Short Brothers to the Inn.

The Canopus was a sister plane of Golden Hind.

Above photo 1947. Here is the presentation of the steering column from the actual Canopus by one of its pilots Captain H. C. W. Alger.

Dover Express 04 July 1947. At The "Canopus Inn," Rochester, to-day (Friday) part of the control column of the famous Rochester built flying boat (recently dismantled), which gave the inn its name, will be presented to the owners, Messrs. Leney and Sons, as a souvenir.

From Medway News, 14 July, 2011. 70 years ago this week the licensee, Henry Green, was summoned to Rochester City Police Court for showing a light on his premises during the blackout. He explained that his daughter had switched on a light in a room in the daytime and left it on, and because that room was not normally used it was not realised that the light was on. War Reserve Constable Johnson gave evidence that the light was shining from a totally uncurtained window at 11:30pm and, being at the back of the pub, would be visible from across the river. A fine of £2 was imposed.

The pub used to have a team competing in the Rochester and District Bar Billiards League and also had a Bat and Trap area situated in the garden and competed with other pubs in the Medway and Isle of Grain areas.

I am also informed that some time in the 1960s, a landlord, only know to me as Sid at present, suddenly disappeared from the premises, either with the takings, another lady friend or perhaps both, leaving his wife to continue running the pub.

June 2012 there was a note for planning permission to convert the pub into two dwellings and build a third in the former garden.

Above photo showing the building after conversion in March 2014.

LICENSEE LIST

CROUCH Sid & Edith 1963+

Sid's wife 1969+

HARROD Brian & Sandra 1989-93

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/canopus.html