Brighton Gazette, Thursday 26 August 1830.

ROYAL KENTISH HOTEL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS.

Mrs. Strange returns thanks to the Nobility and Gentry, visitors of Tunbridge Wells, for the patronage she has hitherto experienced; and begs respectfully to state that she has lately made a considerable improvements in the Hotel, (which is pleasantly situated opposite the Common) with a view to render it more commodious; and it shall be her endeavour by assiduity and good management to retain their kind support.

Posting with good horses and steady drivers. Stages to London from the Hotel, morning and afternoon.

From the South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 5 June 1832.

Tunbridge Wells.

The King's birthday was celebrated here on the 23rd ult by a public dinner at the "Royal Kentish Hotel," on which occasion upwards of 70 of the resident gentry and inhabitants sat down to a sumptuous repast, consisting of turtle, venison, and every delicacy of the season, to which ample justice was done by one and all, who express themselves highly delighted with a treat, and the particular attention paid to them by Mr. E. Churchill, the new landlord of the hotel. Great praise also was bestowed on the wines, which were served as samples of what were contained in the cellars. R. W. Bleancowe, Esq. took the chair, supported on his right by Sir William Geary, and on his left by William Cougreve, Esq. On the cloth being removed all charged to the first toast - "The King," with three times three, which was drunk with enthusiasm, and followed by "God save the King," which was sung in a fine style. The chairman then gave "The Queen," with three times three. The following were then toasted in succession "The Duchess of Kent," "The Princess Victoria," and "The Duke of Sussex," with three times three. "The Army and Navy," "The Lord Lieutenant of the County," The Officers and Privates of the Tunbridge Wells Troop." Sir William Geary's health was then drunk, and "Success to the Oxonhoath Troop." After several other toasts (which were received with repeated cheers) the Rev. J. J. Saints proposed the health of Mr. Bleaklowe, who returned thanks in a neat speech., which he concluded by anticipating the most congenial to the feeling of every inhabitant - "Prosperity to Tunbridge Wells."

This toast was drunk with three times three. Mr. B. Then left the chair; the party, however, did not break up till a late hour. A brilliant star, composed of lamps, was fixed in front of the hotel, which was very attractive. The furze on our beautiful common, we will get to say was set fire to late at night - it is a great pity that some steps are not taken to preserve one of the greatest ornaments to that place.

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 16 December 1834.

Worship Street.

On Thursday, Anne Smith, a very stylishly dressed young woman, and Mary Crawford, a middle-aged woman, who described herself as married, were brought before Mr. Grove, by Hanley, an officer of the establishment, the former charged with having robbed Mr. Edward Churchill, the proprietor of the "Royal Kentish Tavern," Tunbridge Wells, during the time she had been employed in his service as barmaid, of property to the very considerable amount, and the latter with being the receiver of the same, well knowing it to have been stolen.

The prisoners were only apprehended late on Wednesday afternoon, and in consequence of several important witnesses not being in attendance, the evidence was not gone into in detail, but, from what transpired before the magistrates to authorise him to detaining the prisoners in custody, it appeared that Smith had been in the employ of the prosecutor as bar-maid and principal servant, about 12 months, but had left about of week since, in consequence of her being rather intimate with the head waiter.

Shortly after the prisoner had left, the prosecute and missed a quantity of valuable plate, and that led him to inspect and examine his other property, and he then discovered a system of extensive plunder had been carried on for some considerable time. Suspicion immediately fell on the prisoner, and the prosecutor made enquiries respecting her, and ascertained, at the booking office at Tunbridge Wells, that she had been in the habit, for about 9 months, of sending parcels of various sizes, and sometimes boxes, to London, two or three times a week, directed to "Mrs. Crawford (the other prisoner), West Place, Fox Lane, Kingsland Road."

The prosecutor, on gaining this information, directly came to town, and made known the circumstance of his office, and on Wednesday afternoon Hanley, the officer, accompanied him to a house in West Place, and there apprehended both the prisoners, and, on searching the premises, found an immense quantity of tea, sugar, soap, candles, a quantity of bed furniture, together with a great many bottles of wine, brandy, and gin, and other property, all of which Hanley conveyed away, and produced in his office before the prisoners.

Mr. Churchill swore to the candles, soap, and the greater part of the bed furniture. The latter was marked with his name in full, and "Royal Kentish Tavern," T Wells. The candles were a peculiar make, and the soap was stamped "Williams, London."

The prisoners were remanded.

From the Kentish Gazette, 1 August 1837.

CRIMINAL COURT.

Charles Townsend was indicted for having stolen in June a coat, value 7s. from Samuel Waghorn, hostler of the "Kentish Hotel," Tonbridge Wells. The prosecutor deposed that on the 13th of June he hung up the jacket in question behind the stable door; that he saw it hanging there on the 17th instant, and missed it subsequently. On Sunday week he came to Maidstone, and saw the
garment on the back of the prisoner, who was at the "Bull Tap." It had been washed, and the skirts cut off. The prisoner, in his defence, stated that he had taken the coat without knowing it to be the prosecutor’s, whilst working at Tonbridge Wells; that hearing that there would be plenty of work in Maidstone this week he wore it, but with the intention of taking it back again.

Three months' imprisonment and hard labour.

South Eastern Gazette, 10 April, 1860. Spotted Dog

PENSHURST, KENT.

Freehold Beer-house, Grocer’s Shop, Butcher’s Shop, Furniture Warehouse, Dwelling-house, and Cottages, on Smart's Hill.

Messrs, CHARLTON WILL SELL by AUCTION, at the "Crown Hotel," Tonbridge, on Tuesday, the 17th of April, 1860, at Three for Four o’clock, the following Property, in two lots:—

Lot 1. That desirable BEER-HOUSE, GROCER’S SHOP, FURNITURE WAREHOUSE, three COTTAGES, outbuildings and garden ground, with a pump and well of excellent water, in the occupation of Mr. Frederick Hardwick and his under-tenants.

Lot 2. A BUTCHER’S SHOP, DWELLING-HOUSE, two COTTAGES, and garden ground as stumped out, adjoining the last lot, in the occupation of Mr. James Still, Thomas May, and John Adams.

Particulars and conditions of sale may be had fourteen days previously, at the "Leicester Arms," Penshurst; "Crown," Tonbridge and Sevenoaks; "Kentish Hotel," Tonbridge Wells; of Messrs. Carnell, Gorham, and Warner, Solicitors, Tonbridge; or of Messrs. Charlton, Auctioneers and Estate Agents, Tonbridge.

South Eastern Gazette, 15 May, 1860.

Detaining Weights and Measures.

At the Petty Sessions, yesterday week, Mr. John Stringer, inspector of weights and measures, was charged with misconduct in the execution of his duty, by Mr. Haines, of the "Kentish Hotel." Mr. Cripps appeared in support of the summons. The charge was for illegally retaining certain measures, the property of Mr. Haines. It appeared that Mr. Haines sent certain measures, which were used for odd purposes, to the defendant, with instructions to stamp them if found correct, and if not correct to return them, and he would smash them up for old pewter. Two or three of the measures the inspector refused either to stamp or return. The bench dismissed the case, but cautioned the inspector against detaining measures or weights sent to him.

South Eastern Gazette, 6 November, 1860.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS. A Singular Present.

Recently Mr. Haines, the landlord of the "Kentish Hotel," received from some unknown person twenty handsomely and strongly bound copies of the New Testament and Psalms, got up in the best style, accompanied with the following notice:-

London, September, 1860. Dear Sir, — Having spent a pleasant time in your respectable and well-conducted hotel, I beg your acceptance of the accompanying tokens of my best wishes, believing their contents will afford instruction and comfort to many a wearied traveller.