London Road / Railway Station

Westerham

Above postcard, date 1928, kindly sent by Mark Jennings.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by Graham Wootten.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above Google image, June 2023, showing the same location.

Sussex Agricultural Express, Saturday 3 September 1892. Westerham. Obituary. We regret to hear of the death of a highly respected tradesmen, Mr. John Lear Ford, proprietor of the "Crown Hotel," which took place at 3 o'clock on Thursday, the 1st inst., after a severe illness of a fortnight's duration. The greatest sympathy is expressed towards his wife and two children in their sad and sudden bereavement. Deceased was 61 years of age, and has resided in Westerham many years.

Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 05 March 1909. EXTENSIONS. Mr. Whitmore, of the "Crown Inn," Westerham, was granted an extension for a private ball, and Mr. Patrick, landlord of the "King's Head," Bessels Green, an hour's extension for a quarterly meeting in connection with the Foresters' Club on the 8th March.

Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, Friday 16 July 1909. Mrs. Whitmore, of the "Crown Hotel," Westerham, was granted an occasional licence for the Westerham Flower Show, and Mr. Marchant landlord of the "Cock Inn," Ide Hill, was allowed a similar privileged for the annual fete.

Above advert circa 1915.

The Crown Family and Commercial Hotel was built in 1883, two years after the Westerham Valley Railway. Hoiwever, I do have reference to licensee Henry Pope in 1871, so the latter-day pub was probably built on the foundations of another, probably also with the name of "Crown" as usually any new build near a new station would be called the "Station Hotel."

The census of 1901 gave this the "Royal" prefix.

The premises was demolished, in the late 1980s, the business having not been able to cope after the closure of the railway station in 1961, and a business centre, also called the "Crown" has been built on the site.

LICENSEE LIST

POPE Henry 1871+ (also barber age 30 in 1871)

FORD John Lear 1891-Sept/92 dec'd (age 60 in 1891)

WHITMORE George 1901-09+ (age 55 in 1901)

WHITMORE Alice Maria 1913-18+

WOLFE T H 1938+

HODKISSON Ron Oct/1958-June/1965

https://pubwiki.co.uk/CrownHotel.shtml

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

Census