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42 Church Street
Gillingham
Previously known as "Ye
Old Five Bells" the building can be traced back to 1700.
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Information below by Ben Levick
The name of this pub goes back to before 1700 when the Parish Church
opposite it had only 5 bells. The earliest landlord records seem to have
survived for is Charles Dibberman in 1766 who seems to have died that
year as his widow took it over in 1767-8 before Thomas White became the
licensee in 1769. In the eighteenth century is seems to have been called
the Five Bells and Cricketers and that name is echoed in 1901 when it is
referred to as Ye Olde Five Bells and Cricket Player's Inn. These names
suggest it may have been popular with cricket players after a game on
the nearby green. It is also sometime incorrectly referred to as the old
manor house. It was not the manor house but it is thought to be built on
the site of the oldest houses in Gillingham. The confusion probably
arises because the Manorial Court Leet used to meet there once the old
manor house and court lodge were pulled down. When it was offered for
sale in 1864 the advert said it had good stabling, a skittle ground and
a large garden.
The Five Bells was said to have more than just liquid spirits inside:
in the 1970s the landlord claimed that the resident ghost was always
taking 10p and 50p coins which were left between opening hours. His only
explanation for it not removing notes is that it was used to sovereigns
and half sovereigns!
Sadly it is now closed down sometime before 2007 and was converted
into flats.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 10 January 1804. Price 6d.
GILLINGHAM, NEAR CHATHAM.
TO be SOLD by AUCTION, by Mr. Argles, on Monday tie 16th of January,
1804, at the sign of the “Five Bells,” at Gillingham, precisely at three
o'clock in the afternoon. A capital Piece or Parcel of Land; containing by estimation five acres
and a quarter, desirable situated, about a quarter of a mile from the
church, and late in the occupation of Mr. Dyne, For further particulars, apply to Mr. Binsted, at the “Five Bells,”
Gillingham, who will shew the land; or of Mr. William Green,
Week-Street, Maidstone. |
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From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 11 July, 1857.
Dreadful Accident on the East Kent Railway.
Two Lives Lost.
Thomas Hills, Esq., coroner, residing at Chatham, held an inquest on
Tuesday morning at the "Five Bells," Gillingham, on the bodies of
two men, named Thomas Bolton and Charles Newman, who were killed the
previous afternoon, whilst they were at work in the cutting at
Gillingham, by the sudden fall of about seventy tons of chalk. They
were dug out immediately by the assistance of several workmen, but
they were both dead.
A verdict of "Accidental death," was returned.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 14 July 1857.
Fatal Accident on the East Kent Railway Works.
On Tuesday afternoon a very serious accident occurred in the cutting
on the line at Gillingham. Forty or fifty men were at work in
digging out the chalk; the cutting is about 60 feet in depth. Three
men were at a place 20 feet long and 18 feet forward, and in order
to remove this great weight of chalk they undermined it, and the
whole of it fell, burying the men underneath. The other workmen,
seeing the circumstance, hastened to the spot, and after
considerable labour got the men out. Two of them were dead, and the
other showing signs of life, was removed to the "Five Bells"
public-house on Gillingham Green. The names of those who are dead
are Thomas Bolton and Chas. Newman. The body of Bolton presented an
awful spectacle. The name of the one alive is Henry Wallis he has
some of his ribs broken, and is otherwise much injured about the
body, and faint hopes are entertained of his recovery. It was stated
at the inquest that the men had been warned of their danger. A
verdict of Accidental Death was returned.
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The building by 2018 was converted into flats.
Local knowledge, further pictures, and licensee information would be
appreciated.
I will be adding the historical information when I find or are sent it,
but this project is a very big one, and I do not know when or where the
information will come from.
All emails are answered.
LICENSEE LIST
BRICE William 1858+
TOWN Henry 1861-62+ (widower age 62 in 1861 )
COOKE Walter 1881-82+ (age 32 in 1881)
COOKE Kate Mrs 1891+
PEDDLE George Hill 1903-13+ (age 49 in 1911)
HARRISON John H 1918-38+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/FiveBells.shtml
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/fivebells.html
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
Census
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