PLOUGH AND CHEQUERS Pub of Gillingham

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Gillingham, July, 2023.

Page Updated:- Monday, 31 July, 2023.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1787

Plough and Chequers

Open 2020+

Danes Hill (Gad's Hill 1787)

Gillingham

10634 856080

https://whatpub.com/plough-chequers

Above photo 2011, from www.Flickr.com by Ben Levick.

Above sign left, 1991. Sign right, 2011.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above sign 1978.

Wright's Topography of 1838 records the "Plough and Chequers" at Gad's hill, but the pub was probably there earlier than that. The 1845 Kelly's Directory lists a pub called 'The Plow' at Gad's Hill, but it is unclear if this is the same pub. The Plough is a fairly common pub name in rural areas, and the Chequers is also an old pub name, with several possible origins. Chequers or Draughts was a popular pub game, so may have given its name to pubs (even wine shops in Pompeii used this sign). The service tree is also sometimes called the chequers tree, so one of these nearby could serve to identify the pub. Another theory is that it comes from the coat-of-arms of the Earls of Warene & Surrey which licensed ale-houses. A writer in "The Gentlemans Magazine" in 1794 said "I think it was the great Earl Warene had an exclusive power of granting licenses to sell beer: that his agent might collect the tax more readily, the door-posts were painted in chequers." Yet another theory for the sign links it with the custom of innkeepers also being money changers. A money changers office ("exchequer") used the sign of a chequered board on which, in medieval times, money calculations were made

Kentish Gazette 26 June 1787.

To be Sold by Auction, By Mess. Batten and Blenkinlop (for Mrs. Batten) On Friday, the 6th Day of July,

Between the Hours of Four and Six o'clock in the afternoon, at the Sign of the "Plough and Checquers," at Gad's Hill, in the Parish of Gillingham, a Substantial and newly well-built Brick Dwelling-House, together with the Yard, Garden, and Orchard, thereunto belonging, containing by Estimation one Acre, more or less; situate in the Parish of Gillingham, and near the said "Plough and Checquers," now in the several Occupations of Mr. John Bross and Mr. Strood, as Tenants at Will.

Also a Messuage or Tenement, with the Garden and Appurtenances, adjoining to the above Messuage and Premises, and now in the occupation of Mr. Dunn.

For Particulars enquire of J. Simmons, Attorney, Gillingham.

From the Maidstone and Kentish Journal, Monday, 28 May, 1866.

PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF SALE.

Messrs. Cobb have received instructions from the Executors of the late Mr. Joseph Ashley, to sell by auction, in the month of June, at the "Sun Hotel," Chatham.

The Valuable Freehold and Leasehold Public Houses, Beer Houses, Trade Premises, Dwelling Houses, &c., viz:-

The "Plough and Chequers," Gillingham.

......

Further notice as to time, &c., of sale, will shortly be issued.

Particulars in the meantime may be obtained of Messrs. Acworth and Son, Solicitors, Star Hill, Rochester; of Messrs. Morris, Stone, Townson, and Morris, solicitors, Moorgate Street Chambers, Moorgate Street; and of Messrs. Cobb, surveyors and land agents, 26, Lincoln's-inn-fields, London, and Rochester, Kent.

LICENSEE LIST

BROSS John & Strood Mr 1787+