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21 Church Road / 134 Saunders Street
Gillingham (New Brompton pre 1906)
Above photo 1900. Kind thanks to David Pott from
http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk |
Above photo 1980. Kind thanks to David Pott. |
Above photo April 1982. Showing Frederick Pott (left) and David Pott (right). |
 Above photo 1988, kindly sent by Philip Dymott. |
The pub changed names to the "Countryman,"
date unknown.
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From
http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk
During the 1980's inside there
were a number of framed photos that the current landlord had found in
the attic. They were all taken about the same time as the older picture
posted here when my great grandfather was landlord. Unfortunately I
never got around to taking copies of the pictures, and on my next visit
to the pub in the early 90s the interior is as sparten as it was a
couple of years ago.
Frederick is standing in the doorway, unfortunately there is no record
that I know of any of the others in the photo.
Frederick Pott was born March 1853 at Mud Row Eastchurch Sheppey died 6
August 1906 at the "Ghuznee Fort Hotel," Gillingham. He is recorded as being
a member of the court leet and was one of the court's members on
Gillingham's incorporation committee; he was also in the local masons who I
was told by my father used to meet in the function room of the "Ghuznee." He
married Ann Simmonds June 1874 Preston next Faversham.
He is first recorded in the Medway area in the 1881 census living in
Bryant Street Chatham where he was a dockyard labourer. In 1891 he had moved
around the corner to 22 Church Street where he is recorded as a watchmaker.
He took over the "Ghuznee" after the death of his uncle Robert Pott who was
landlord of the "Wellington Arms," New road Chatham from 1861 until his
death 1893. His uncle died childless and left his estate to his nephews and
nieces with Frederick getting a much larger share than the others.
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The "Ghuznee Fort" takes its name from a great fortress in the
Khyber Pass, captured in 1839 by blowing up the main Kabal Gate as mining
and escalading were impossible. Many Royal Engineers from the nearby School
of Military Engineering, were involved in the action and brought the name
back with them.
Above souvenir dated 26th June 1902. |
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From the Sevenoaks Chronicle, 31 August 1852.
ANNUAL LICENSING DAY AT ROCHESTER.
Friday being the day appointed for the general annual Licensing day, and
for hearing applications fro granting new licenses, the county
magistrates assembled in petty sessions at eleven o'clock. There were
present, the Rev. G. Davies (chairman), Capt. Baker, W. M. Smith, Esq.,
M. P., W. H. Nicholson, Esq., Major Boys, and the Rev. J. J. Marsham.
There were several applications for granting new licenses, and the
proceedings were watched with some interest by those concerned.
Mr. Stephenson applied for a license for the "Gunzee Fort," a beer shop,
situated at the same locality, (as the "Viscount
Harding") and which he submitted, from its peculiar
position, was the best entitled to a license. It was, he said, capable of
affording every accommodation, having stabling and a coach-house, was in
a direct line from Brompton to Gillingham, and altogether was far more
eligible for a license than any other application that had even been
made to the magistrates. He handed in a memorial signed by several of
the inhabitants residing in the neighbourhood, favourable to license
being granted.
....
The court was now cleared for the magistrates to deliberate, and on
admission the Chairman intimated that licenses were granted for the
"Prince of Wales," "Gunzee Fort," and the "Viscount Hardinge."
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Sheerness Guardian 9 July 1859.
SERIOUS CHARGE OF STABBING AT NEW BROMPTON.
At the county magistrates' justice room, on Wednesday week last, a
man named Joseph Manrrock who was stated to be a labourer in Chatham
dockyard, was brought up in custody on a charge of having stabbed
William Matthews in a quarrel. The only witness examined in support
of the charge was Mr. Siburn, landlord of the "Guznee Fort"
public-house, New Brompton, the prosecutor himself being too much
injured to attend. From Mr. Siburn's statement it appeared that on
Monday night there was a Foresters' party at his house, the prisoner
and prosecutor being among those present. During the evening
prisoner became very noisy, which resulted in his being expelled
from the premises. He, however, soon afterwards returned, and
commenced a quarrel with prosecutor, during which he drew a large
clasp knife and gave him several severe stabs with it about the face
and body, one of the cuts laying open the cheek from the ear to the
corner of the mouth. Superintendent Everest said he had no doubt
that the prosecutor had been stabbed in as many as fifty places,
from the numerous cuts on his clothes and the quantity of blood on
the ground where the occurrence took place. Although diligent search
had been made by the police, they had been unable to find the knife.
The prisoner was remanded for a week.
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LICENSEE LIST
STEPHENSON Mr 1852+
SIBURN Joseph 1859-62+
(age 35 in 1861 ) 
FULLER Samuel 1874-91+
(age 55 in 1891)
POTT FREDERICK 1901-03+ (age 49 in 1901)
KNIGHT Frederick William 1911-13+ (age 43 in 1911)
COOPER John 1918-22+
 
OWEN Douglas Frederick Charles 1930-38+
 
TAYLOR W H Taylor 1950+ Black Eagle Journal
SWATTON A H 1955+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/GhuzneeFort.shtml
Census
From the Post Office Directory 1862
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1918
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From the Post Office Directory 1938
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