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130 Hythe Street
Waterford
Dartford
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From an email received, 3 September, 2016.
Hello - I am a metal detectorist and whilst detecting on a field at Leeds, Nr.
Maidstone yesterday I found a small brass token.
 
It is halfpenny token dated 1667 and issued by Robert Taylor of
Dartford and has an eagle on one side. Unfortunately it has been holed
but apparently that was done deliberately when either the token became
no longer valid, or the landlord went bankrupt, or he nailed it to his
counter! Take your pick! I go for the first of the possibilities.
Gill Davies.
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See Dartford Map 1905.
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From Dartford's folder of unpublished notes.
The pub was in one or two terraced cottages at 124/126 Lower Hythe Street.
I’m not sure if the two house numbers denote that both buildings were
used or if sources conflict as to which one it was.
We have a list of landlords from 1875 until 1899 although the first one
named is mentioned as having been a beer retailer since 1862 (although
it’s not clear if he was always on this site). In 1881 there is a record
of a different landlord (who may actually have been there since 1878).
His name was William Hodge and he is definitely listed as still being
there in 1889. He is then listed as being at 141 Hythe Street in 1892
although I’m not convinced that the street ever went up to 141 so it may
just be a printing error. Then we have a gap in our records until 1896
when W. Shaw is listed, although the address is given as no. 130. In
1897 and 1899 the correct address appears to be given. Due to a lack of
street directories until about 1913, we don’t have any more information
about landlords but the local newspaper in February 1910 tells us that
it lost its license at the Brewster Sessions that year since there were
four other pubs within 95 yards and that it was ‘used by watermen and
not many of them’. The owners did not object."
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Maidstone Journal & Kentish Advertiser, 27 July 1893.
Dartford. Suicide of a publican.
An inquest was held at the Shaftesbury
room by Mr. F. M. Wood, on Monday, touching the death of William Hodge,
aged 56, landlord of the "Eagle Inn," Dartford.
It transpired that a lodger
in deceased's man's house was taken ill with smallpox, and the case was
removed to the hospital ships. It was necessary however, for deceased to
close his house for a few days for disinfecting purposes, and his business
and gone down since, former customers shunning the house because of the
smallpox. This preyed upon the man's mind, and last Friday morning he
was found hanging to one of the rafters of an out-house on his premises quite
dead.
"Suicide whilst of unsound mind" was the verdict. |
William Hodge, who was the first landlord, was in fact the son in law of
William Gray. He married William Gray's eldest daughter Eliza.
However, William Gray died on 10 February 1893 and the burial register quite
clearly states "Of the Eagle Beerhouse, Hythe Street, Dartford, Beerhouse
Keeper".
LICENSEE LIST
HODGE William 1881-91+ (age 54 in 1891 )
GRAY William to 10/Feb/1893 dec'd age 80
SHAW William July/1894-96+
WRAIGHT Thomas 1901+ (age 32 in 1901)
Closed Feb 1910.
Census
Bromley and District Times
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