46 Canterbury Street / 1 Green Street

Gillingham

Above photo, circa 1905, showing the "Royal Oak" on the left.

Above photo 1930, from www.Flickr.com by Ben Levick.

Above photo 1970s, from www.Flickr.com by Ben Levick.

Above sign, June 1985. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above card issued March 1953. Sign series 4 number 35.

Above photo 16 February 2011, from www.Flickr.com by Ben Levick.

The "Royal Oak" is a common pub name, usually commemorating Charles II hiding in an oak tree during his escape after the civil war. Located at the corner of Canterbury Street and Green Street, it opened in the 1860s. This "Royal Oak" was only named after the tree indirectly, as it was actually named after a screw Battleship launched in 1862 at Chatham.

It closed in 1999 and is now a fast food take-away.

Andrea Waite kindly sent me the following pictures of trophies that used to be housed at the pub.

LICENSEE LIST

SMITH John 1881+ (age 44 in 1881)

COKAYNE Charles A 1913-18+ (also Shoeing & General Smith)

AVENT James George 1922+

SARGEANT Arthur James 1930+

COOKE George Lewis 1938-55+

???? Cyril & Kay 1970s

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

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/royaloak.html

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

Census