Above postcard, circa 1910, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by David Boulding.

Above photo circa 1913, From http://www.sittingbourne-museum.co.uk

Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by Mark Jennings.

Above postcard, 1948, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1970, on carnival day.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Monday 19 December 1864.

Burglary at Sittingbourne.

William King, 30, labourer, was charged with burglary and stealing a pint of brandy and other articles, the property of Samuel Knight, at Sittingbourne, on the 19th of November. Mr Russell prosecuted; prisoner was undefended.

Prosecutor, landlord of the "Three Kings Inn," East End, Sittingbourne, said that on the 19th November he went to bed at half past 12 o'clock, and when he came down the next morning, at half-past seven, he found that a panel had been taken out of the bar door, and the front room window was open. He missed two bottles of brandy, one bottle of whiskey, a box of cigars, and a quantity of a different sort of cigar from another box, and about a pound of tobacco, made up in screws and half ounces, all done up in plain white paper; also a child's pinafore and a small tumbler. The previous night the prosecutor had seen the prisoner in his tap room.

The pot boy at the "Three Kings," named Warren, was unable to attend to illness, and his deposition, taken before J. D. Dyke, Esq., was read. He stated that he got up at 6:30, and found the panel by the side of the door, and the front room window wide open. He did not see the prisoner in the house the previous evening. He usually looked round at night, and that night he found all the windows fastened.

Louisa Lampkin likewise could not attend through illness. Her testimony was that on 20th November the prisoner came to the "Ship Inn," at Chatham, and wanted to go into her bedroom, and he gave her a bundle to take upstairs. After that prisoner called the girls upstairs, and ask them to have a glass of brandy, and he poured some into a small glass, and they all drank of it. He slept at the "Ship" three nights.

Joseph Holloway, pot boy at the "Ship," said he saw the prisoner there on the 20th of November, with a bundle, which he gave to Louisa Lambkin to take upstairs. The next day he saw the bottle and glass, which came out of Louise's room. They were the same as those produced. On Monday evening he saw a bundle under the bed, only half the size of that which prisoner had previously brought in. On examining it by himself he found it contained several packets of tobacco and a child's pinafore. Witness then showed the bundle to Superintendent Everist.

George Brooks, keeper of the "Royal Standard," Chatham, said that prisoner called upon him on the 22nd, and asked him to buy a box of cigars, which were to be sold a bargain. Witness told prisoner that only the day previously he had brought a box, but prisoner told him that he should have the box for 3s. and a pot of porter. He paid the money and received the box.

Superintendent Green, stationed at Sittingbourne, stated that on the 24th November he received from the previous witness a box of cigars of two kinds.

At the deposition of Superintendent Everist, which was read, was to the effect that he saw the prisoner at the "Ship," with a bundle in his possession. He told him that he was charged with having committed a robbery at Sittingbourne, and he said "You can't prove that I was at Sittingbourne. I only came out on Saturday morning, and I could not do it."

Samuel Knight recalled, said that the brandy bottles, cigars, and small glass produced, corresponded with those he had lost.

The jury found the prisoner guilty; and the learned Judge said he entirely concurred with the verdict; although the prosecutor, speaking carefully, said he could not swear to the things. But, looking at the number, it would have been marvellous that the prisoner should have been found in possession of just so many articles. According to the last Act of Parliament, he must inflict upon the prisoner a sentence of penal servitude; and after a previous conviction, it must be for 7 years.

This was a very bad case. Taking the time of the previous sentence for which prisoner was imprisoned, it would not have expired till Sunday, but by the leniency of the law he was let out the day before; and that very Saturday night he committed the felony with which he was now charged. The sentence of the Court must be 7 years' penal servitude.

From an email received 28 March 2016.

In 1753 it was run by Thomas Cowland who died in 1756 and it was taken over as tenant by his widow Ann until she married Thomas Boulding in 1758. After Thomas died in 1787 she married a third time to Thomas Swift in 1791.

Thomas Boulding was born in 1723 at Crundale, Kent. He's buried with Ann with a headstone at Sittingbourne church. You would have been able to see the headstone across the road from the pub.

As far as I can see they tried to sell in 1779

no mention after 1780 to 1835

Regards,

David Boulding.