Above photo, circa 1938, kindly sent by Tony Smith.

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

Above photo by Darkstar, date unknown.

From the Sevenoaks Chronicle, 31 August 1852.

ANNUAL LICENSING DAY AT ROCHESTER.

Friday being the day appointed for the general annual Licensing day, and for hearing applications fro granting new licenses, the county magistrates assembled in petty sessions at eleven o'clock. There were present, the Rev. G. Davies (chairman), Capt. Baker, W. M. Smith, Esq., M. P., W. H. Nicholson, Esq., Major Boys, and the Rev. J. J. Marsham.

There were several applications for granting new licenses, and the proceedings were watched with some interest by those concerned.

Mr. Prall, on behalf of Mr. J. Dutnell, applied for a license for the "Prince of Wales" beer-shop, a house situates in Church Path, leading from Brompton to Gillingham. The house, he said, had been built on an extensive scale, at a cost of from £1,500 to £1,600, was situate in the road leading from the barracks in Gillingham, and inasmuch as it was the first built in Fox Lane, it was, he thought, fairly entitled to the license. A plan was produced, and the number of houses built within the vicinity of it, referred to: the only licensed house near being the "Black Lion."

The Rev. Chairman:- What is the distance from the "Black Lion?"

Mr. Prall:- I should think about 200 yards.

The Rev. Chairman:- I should think not above 150; I have been carefully over the whole of it.

....

The court was now cleared for the magistrates to deliberate, and on admission the Chairman intimated that licenses were granted for the "Prince of Wales," "Gunzee Fort," and the "Viscount Hardinge."

Information below by Ben Levick

The "Prince of Wales" pub in Fox Lane (now Mill Road) opened some time before 1858. In 1876 a meeting here inaugurated a volunteer Fire Brigade under the Board of Health. It closed sometime in the last years of the 20th century and has now been converted to flats.

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 "Prince of Wales," Hards Town, 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.