Hastings Road

Kilndown

Above postcard, circa 1912.

Above map, date unknown,

Above photo shows a Margo's of Bexleyheath Dennis 4 ton charabanc (registration no. KE4732) with bodywork by W. Hampton, North Kent Coachbuilders of Erith in 1923. The 'radiator leaner' is Fred Andrews who drove coaches for the company between 1922 & 1966 and spending his last few years (until 1971) as the company's storekeeper. The Inn appears to have served as tea rooms by the time the photo was taken, circa 1924/25, prior to the vehicle being fitted with pneumatic tyres. Above info and photo kindly sent by Steve Thoroughgood, via Ben Margo, proprietor of Bexlyheath Transport.

I have also seen this pub addressed as in Stonecrouch, Goudhurst. Stonecross being about 900 yards or so further on from Kilndown. Also in Goudhurst, which is the nearest town from Kilndown.

I believe there may have been two pubs with this name as in 1871 it was stated that the license was transferred from the Stonecrouch premises to this one.

The pub was obviously named due to the fact that a post boy would be responsible for distributing the mail on horseback to other locations in the country. Although the name of "post-boy" would suggest youth, records show that William Pollard, the boy who delivered to and from this pub during the 1840s, was 45 years old. (Information kindly supplied by John Wright.)

Lynda Shepherd tells me that the pub was originally called the "Level and Lamb." The piece of land between Stonecrouch and Kilndown being called Level Hill, hence the original name.

Stonecrouch Farmhouse is a medieval Hall House built circa 1450 and enlarged over many years.

At one time it was a staging post for post riders carrying mail and for passengers on coaches driven by horses.

The house at the time was known as the "Post Boys Inn" and the post boys used to change horses in the barns at either side of the house.

Above water-colour showing Stonecouch Farm and Posting Inn, 1799, by William Gibson.

Above painting 1837 by Joseph Josiah Dodd.

In the 1930’s the Post Boys became a garage and tea rooms.

The pub unfortunately closed in the 1930s and the site became a garage and tea rooms, later operating as a Little Chef, and now (2019) a car sales area.

Above Google image, November 2008.

Above Google image showing the location of the former Post Boys, June 2019.

As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will be shown here.

Thanks for your co-operation.

LICENSEE LIST

BLINK Uriah & PRICKETT Charles 1793+

WICKHAM Thomas 1828-32+

PRICKETT Charles 1841+ (also farmer age 45 in 1841)

WATKINS Thomas 1858+

LUCUS George 1861+ (also painter age 57 in 1861)

WEBB Charles 1862+

WILES Thomas 1871+ (also wheelwright age 36 in 1871)(license transferred from Stone Crouch)

DRAWBRIDGE Charles 1881-91+ (age 51 in 1881)

DRAWBRIDGE Samuel 1901-03+ (age 37 in 1901)

RYMAN Charles Henry 1911+ (age 54 in 1911)

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

From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29

From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

Census

From the Kelly's Directory 1903