PLOUGH Pub of Sittingbourne

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Sittingbourne, November, 2025.

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 12 November, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1805-

(Name from)

Plough

Latest ????

58 East Street

Sittingbourne

Above photo circa 2004.

Unfortunately the building was demolished, but was situated just below the "Old Oak."

Kent Gazette Reports 16 August 1805.

To be SOLD by AUCTION,

ON Tuesday the seventeenth of September next, at the "George Inn," in Sittingbourne, at five o’clock in the afternoon, unless previously disposed of by private contract, (of which the earliest notice will be given in this paper).

The following Freehold Estates, in four lots.

Lot 1. That long established Public House, formerly the "King Henry," but now known by the sign of the "Plough," at the east entrance of Sittingbourne, with the garden, stable, yard, all the out buildings now standing thereon, and appurtenances, in the occupation of Mr. Edward Langshaw, under an agreement to quit on the tenth day of October next.

Lot 2. Two pieces of excellent Pasture, planted with cherries, in high perfection, together with a garden, stable, and cart lodge, containing in the whole 2a. 2r. 19p (be thereof more or less) situate south of Sittingbourne, towards the cast end thereof, and adjoining lot 1.

Lot 3. One other piece of Orchard Ground, containing 2a. 0r. 5p (more or less) planted chiefly with pears, adjoining lot 2. and extending to the London road, presents a front of about 316 feet, exceedingly eligible for building on, either for making a handsome addition to the admired Village to which it is contiguous, or with a view to increase the trade of lot 1, for it is almost exclusively situate.
The Pasture of lots 2 and 3, with that of a small corner piece containing about 40 perches and adjoining lot 3, is let to Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Smith, at tenants at will for the yearly rent of twenty five pounds. The garden, with its fruit, forming part of lot 9, to Mr. Milliner, tenant at will, for two guineas per year; and the fruit of the whole, exclusive of the said garden, to Mr. Milliner, on a lease which expires at Lady Day, 1815, tender covenants to pay the tithe and keep up the plantation, and at the yearly rent of thirty pounds.

Lot 4. A small compact Farm, called Pinks, situate at Dungate, in the parish of Rodmersham, about two miles from Sittingbourne, comprising a dwelling house, and barn, with twelve acres of land (be thereof more or less), one acre of which, planted with ash and willow, in a very thriving state, is in hand, and the remainder being arable, meadow, and orchard, now let to Thomas Spice, tenant at will, at the yearly rent of sixteen guineas.

The timber on lot 4, and the growth of the wood are to he taken by the purchaser at a fair valuation.

The land tax on lots 2, 3, and 4 is exonerated.

Further particulars may be known on application to Mr. Gibbons, at Sittingbourne; or to Mr. J. Gibbons, Evershead Place, in Oakley, near Darking, Surrey.

Kent Herald, 31 March 1825.

Criminal Court, 30th of March, 1825, before Mr. Baron Graham.

William Monk, labourer, 21, charged with a burglary in the house of James Fullager, at Milton, and stealing a teapot, and other things, value £5.

Mr. Bolland addressed the Jury in this case, and called the following witnesses. Richard Goord examined:- I am a grazier, and on the 20th Jan, lodged with Mr. Fullager, at Milton, near Sittingbourne. I had a great coat and pair of boots, which I saw about two days before the house was broken open. I missed them the morning after the robbery. The robbers entered the house by taking a casement out of the wash house.

James Fullager examined: I am a farmer at Milton. On the morning of the 21st Jan. I found my house had been broken open. I missed a queen's metal teapot value 5s. a plated stand, two plated tops of pepper castors, two silver salt spoons, and five desert spoons. I knew prisoner; he lived in my service in the summer of last year.

Henry Kipping examined:- I am an officer of Maidstone. On the 10th Feb. I went to the county gaol, and saw prisoner there. I asked to look at his boots, and told him I suspected he had been concerned in breaking open Mr. Fullager's house. He said he had not been nearer the house then Key Street and Sittingbourne; on the 19th. Warner was then had in, and from what he stated I went next day to Mr. Fullager's house. I took Monk's boots with me and compared the right boot with the foot mark in the new made ground in front of the house. They corresponded exactly. I went to a lot of rubbish on the King's Ferry Road, and found a broken dish, as described by Warner. (Witness produced the dish.) I afterwards went to Messrs. Beaching and Edmead, pawnbrokers, in Maidstone, by direction of Warner, I there found a blue great coat. (Witness produced the coat.)

Mr. Goord deposed to the coat being his property.

Keeping's examination resumed:- On the 26th February, I saw Monk at the gaol. He said Warner had not told the whole of the truth, for there was a woman with them. I then went to the "Golden Lion," Maidstone, where Warner said they slept on the 21st of January. I searched the privy and in it found a tea-pot and stand. (Witness produced them they were beaten up.)

Mr. Fullager had no doubt of their being his property.

Jane Dirtnall examined:- I live with Mr. Fullager as servant. The night before the burglary, I saw the house safe about half past 10 o'clock. Next morning, about six, I found the house broken open. I noticed the teapot and stand now produce, a dish, a soup like, and two silver tea spoons.

Sarah Epps, another servant, examined:- I got up at 5 o'clock, and missed a pudding and dish; the front door of the house was shut but not fastened.

James Warner (an accomplice) examined:- I lived at Eltham before I knew Griffiths. On the 19th of January I saw him at Maidstone. He asked me to go to the gaol and see Monk. Monk just came out of the gaol-gate as I got up. He and I went into the "Compasses" and had a pint of bear. He then went to the "Golden Lion," where Griffiths was. I then went to the "Queen Anne," and Griffith and Monk came there to me. We then went towards Key Street. Monk said he knew a house where he could get some things, where he had lived servant once. Mr. Goord's house. We concluded we would go there that night about 12 o'clock. We went to the "Cross Keys" at Key Street; Monk said it would not do that night as there were people about; we then went to the "Plough" at Sittingbourne and slept there; next morning we went to the "Castle," at Greenstreet; after staying there two or three hours, and then went out, at last we got a Milton about eight o'clock in the evening. We had agreed to go to Mr. Fullager's that night's. When we got to Milton, we went into a farm yard and laid down. We got down to Fullager's about 12 o'clock. It rained, and we all three went into the privy. Then Monk and Griffiths got over a hedge at the back of the house. I stood in front to keep watch. In about 90 minutes they came round, and Monk tried to get into the cellar window, but could not. We then all went round, and Monk got into the window of the wash house; they pulled some part of the window down, Monk went through the house, and opened the front door. He came out and brought some silver spoons, a tea pot, some salt spoons, a pepper caster, a pair of boots, and a great coat, and a meat pudding in a dish like that produced. Monk pulled the door too after him. We went into the main road, Griffith broke the dish and threw it over some chalk rubbish into the hedge. Monk and the great coat, and Griffiths the boots. We got into the "Squirrels" at Stockbury, we laid down in a hedge. I got into Maidstone about seven o'clock. We all met at the "Golden Lion," and in the evening Monk took the coat out and pawned it. Monk and I slept at the "Golden Lion." The other things Griffith took to London to sell in Petticoat Lane.

W. Moore, Osler at the "Key," Key Street, deposed to prisoner and Warner being at the house the night of the day, on which Monk came out of gaol. Another man was with them.

James Hunt, landlord of the "Plough," deposed to Monk and Warner sleeping at his house with another man, the night before the burglary.

His lordship, in addressing the Jury, said the case was so very clear, and the testimony of the accomplice was so strongly corroborated, that it would be a waste of time to recapitulate the whole of the evidence. The Jury without hesitation found prisoner guilty.

Death recorded.

It appears that Prisoner committed the burglary immediately after being discharged for the confinement of 12 months for passing bad money.

Kentish Gazette 4 June 1839.

On Sunday evening a fire broke out in some of the out houses belonging to the "Plough" public house, at "Sittingbourne." It appears that a man named William Nell had been drinking there that evening, and had become quite intoxicated. He left the house with a pipe in his mouth, and went to a hog-pound in the yard, where he lay down and fell asleep. The lighted pipe communicated with the straw in the pound, and about nine o'clock the place was in flames. We regret to state that the man was found dead from the effects of the fire. Part of a stable adjoining was burnt to the ground, and had it not been for the prompt exertions of the people near, four horses, which were in the stable at the time, must have also perished.

From the Kentish Gazette, 4 June 1839.

On Sunday evening a fire broke out in some of the out houses belonging to the "Plough" public house, at Sittingbourne. It appears that a man named William Nell had been drinking there that evening, and had become quite intoxicated. He left the house with a pipe in his mouth, and went to a hog-pound in the yard, where he lay down and fell asleep. The lighted pipe communicated with the straw in the pound, and about nine o'clock the place was in flames. We regret to state that the man was found dead from the effects of the fire. Part of a stable adjoining was burnt to the ground, and had it not been for the prompt exertions of the people near, four horses, which were in the stable at the time, must have also perished.

Kentish Gazette, 20 August 1844.

SITTINGBOURNE. Aggravated Case ok Manslaughter.

On Saturday an inquest was held at the "Plough," before J. Hinde, Esq., coroner, on the body of an Italian, named Giuseppe Bianchi, who met his death through being ridden over by a man named Stephen Wood, by which he was thrown down, and received a fracture of the skull. After hearing evidence to the above effect the jury returned a verdict of "Manslaughter" against Stephen Wood, who was at once committed to Maidstone gaol under the coroner's warrant. Wood is a gipsey, and describes himself to have come from Canterbury. It appears he was racing on the footpath in a careless and furious manner with another man, and rode off after the accident without offering the least assistance. He was taken into custody next day on the road near Bapchild.

Kent Herald, 11 December 1845.

Death.

Dec. 5, at Sittingbourne, age 52 years, Mrs. Pay, for many years landlady of the "Plough Inn," much respected.

From the Kentish Gazette, 16 December 1845.

DEATH.

Pay:— Dec. 5, at Sittingbourne aged 52, Mrs. Pay, for many years landlady of the "Plough Inn."

From the Southeastern Gazette, 15 May 1866.

DEATH.

On the 10th inst., at Doddington, of consumption, Mr. Wm. Bates, landlord of the “Plough Inn,” Sittingbourne, aged 30.

LICENSEE LIST

LANGSHAW Edward to Oct/1805

HUNT James 1828+