37 Goods Station Road

Royal Tunbridge Wells

Above photo, circa 1952.

Ludwig Kessler was licensee in 1867 and was charged with having one quart and two pint measures unmarked, although he was let off with only a one shilling fine. The local inspector of weights and measures must have been carrying out a blitz on publicans in the area, as a string of them received fines for using unstamped drinking vessels. The details come via the Tunbridge Wells Burial Society and a newspaper cutting which I haven't seen.

Ludwig was turned down on 13th September 1869 for a spirits licence to add to that of his beer licence at the "Joiners Arms." The “Maidstone Journal” and “Kentish Advertiser” both reported this fact:
THE JOINER’S ARMS, GOODS STATION-ROAD.- Mr. Cripps, at the Petty Sessions, on Monday, on behalf of Mr. Ludwig Kessler applied for a license [sic] to sell spirituous liquors at his house which had been for several years kept as a beerhouse. Mr. Langham opposed on behalf of the "Elephant and Castle," and Messrs. Kelsey the owners. The Bench refused to grant the application on the ground that the house was but a small one.

Ludwig had had a run-in with the Kelseys a few years previously, when he was landlord of the "Rose & Crown" in Tunbridge Wells. This may have been a case of getting even.

Ludwig and his family had moved to another Tunbridge Wells address by 1870, apparently ending the pub venture.

Peter Kessler. (January 2019)

The pub had been a tied house of Kenward & Court's Close Brewery, Hadlow, until they were taken over by Hammerton's Stockwell Brewery in 1945. In turn, Hammerton's was acquired by Watney, Combe, Reid's Stag Brewery, Pimlico in 1951. A year later, they sold Kenward and Courts 50 pubs to Charrington's Anchor Brewery.

The premises was demolished in 1979.

LICENSEE LIST

KESSLER Ludvig 1877+

STRANGE Frank 1913-22+

VOLLER Chasrles 1930+

MILLS H G 1938+

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

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