From the Kent and Sussex Courier, Friday 20 March 1874.

Westerham. Suicide of a Publican.

On Saturday afternoon, J. N. Dudlowe, Esq., coroner, held an inquest at the "Warde Arms," on the body of William Henry Collins, the landlord of that house, who was found hanging in his skittle alley on the previous morning. Mr. Isaac Atkinson was foreman of the jury. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased was in embarrassed circumstances and a writ of being served upon him, and that coupled with his wife's death had disturbed his mind, as he was always of a very nervous disposition. The jury returned as their verdict that the deceased was of unsound mind when he committed the act.

From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 20 February, 1880.

WESTERHAM. FATAL ACCIDENT TO TWO MEN, AT THE NEW DRAINAGE WORKS.

On Saturday last Joseph Rogers, Esq., Coroner for the Tonbridge District, held an inquest at the “Warde Arms,” relative to the death of William Maitland and George Royce, two excavators employed on the drainage works at the Darenth Valley Main Sewer, who were killed by the falling in of a drain on Thursday, the 12th inst.

Mr W J Edmed was chosen as Foreman of the Jury.

Mr H D Brown, solicitor, appeared to watch the case on behalf of the contractor for the execution of the works, Mr J Bingham, of Headcorn.

The bodies having been viewed, the following evidence was given:- William Martin deposed: I live at Headcorn, and am foreman in the employ of Mr. Bingham, who is contractor for the sewage work here in connection with the Darenth Valley Drainage. On Thursday the two men, Maitland and Boyce, were engaged on the work, with other men, in the High Street, just below this house. They were excavating a cutting or trench. Maitland belongs to Sutton Valence, and was a labourer. He was, I believe married, and should think that his age was from 35 to 40 years of age. I only knew Boyce by sight. He was a native of French Street, Westerham. The trench was from 6ft to 6ft 6in in depth, at the time of the accident occurred they had not quite got to the bottom. The soil was not shored on either side. About a quarter to eleven I was standing from eight to twelve feet from the men at the head of the drain to see that everything was going on satisfactory, when I saw a small piece of earth drop from the side of the trench, close to where the men were at work. I at once called out, “You had better get out men.” Those engaged in the trench attempted to do so, but before the deceased men could get out the soil gave way and buried them except their heads. I should think that the soil would have weighed from three to four tons. The soil all fell in from the side next to the carriageway. I at once, with 40 other men, took steps to extract Boyce and Maitland. Before the men got out Dr. Rathill was sent for, and arrived just before they were rescued. I should think it was three quarters of an hour before the bodies were got out. I have been engaged as foreman in sewage and excavation works of various kinds for Mr. Bingham for the last three years. No part of the works in which the accident occurred was shored up, but we have had shores in at parts of the works. We did not consider that the ground there required shoring as the soil is of a hard, rocky, or stony character, and not likely to slip, and therefore, in my opinion, did not require any shores. The soil, where shores were put in, was of a loamy sandy character, and wet. After the accident I saw, by marks, that a traction engine had passed along the road, about six feet from the drain, and that might have had an effect on the soil. Before the men went to work in the morning I examined the ground, as I always do, and found nothing wrong then to cause any suspicion.

Mr Dadds said that the traction engine passed along the road about six hours before the accident occurred.

By the Jury: The clerk of the works comes from seven to nine o’clock in the morning, and did not draw my attention to anything, nor did any of the men to anything being wrong, as they believed they were at work in perfect safety. The excavations was about 4½ feet deep when we left it on Thursday night, and only about two feet was taken out in the morning.

By the Coroner: The men would call my attention if they saw anything wrong, when they were at work, but they had no complaint.

By the Jury: I always ask the men when they are at work whether they see any danger, and about 10 o’clock I asked whether they would have the sides shored, but Maitland said that they did not want any shores. Maitland was only one of my principle men and had been with me some time.

William Ades, a labourer, of Whittersham, said: Yesterday I was engaged with the two deceased men in excavation near this house. I was working about four feet from Maitland, who was the nearest man to me. I should think there were about 15 of us engaged in the work. About 11 o’clock a little piece of the soil came in on the road side, and I heard Martin shout, “run out, my lads,” I got out the best way I could, but I do not know how. Some of the soil came on my legs before I could get out., and a large portion of the soil came in from the side nearest the road. I did not see where the deceased men were till after I got out, and I then saw that they were covered over all but their heads. I with others helped get the men out. I have been engaged in excavating work at Westerham and Edenbridge for the past four or five months, but I have been in the habit of excavating ever since I was a boy. The soil did not require shoring. I heard Martin ask about 10 o’clock whether he wanted shores put in, and I was one of those who replied that we did not.

Mr Robert Mostyn Ratsill surgeon, of Westerham said: Thursday morning I was sent for into the High Street soon after 11 o’clock, to see three men who were said to be buried in the drain but there were only two. I was present when the bodies of the deceased men were excavated from the soil. Maitland was alive when I first saw him, but when he was taken out of the trench he was quite dead. I never saw any life in Boyce, and told the foreman that he was dead at first. I was at the spot half an hour before Maitland was taken out, and kept administering cold brandy and water to him. I borrowed a bath, and Mr Dadds sent some hot water from the brewery, and everything was ready here when the men got out Maitland’s body was placed in the bath, and I used the usual means to restore animation, but without success. The same course was adopted with the body of Boyce. In my opinion death was caused by suffocation.

Luke Smith, gardener of French Street, Westerham, deposed: I knew Boyce. He was a labourer, and lived with me, having married my daughter. He was about 22 years of age, and leaves a wife and two children.

The Jury at once returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.”

The Foreman said that Mr. Bingham, the contractor, had, in addition to paying all the costs of the funeral of both men, offered to head a subscription for the widow with £5. The Jury would also subscribe, and an appeal would be made to the general public.

Kent & Sussex Courier 04 November 1904.

SEVEN OAKS PETTY SESSIONS. FRIDAY. LICENSING.

Mr John Townsend, "Warde Arms," Westerham, was granted one hour's extension for a Foresters' meeting on November 7th.

Kent & Sussex Courier 07 January 1938.

THE WESTERHAM MOTOR GARAGE LTD.

Opposite "Warde Arms," High Street, Westerham, Phone: Westerham 38.

THIS WEEK'S BARGAIN 1937 AUSTIN 12 ASCOT SALOON.

Mileage 7,000. Excellent Condition £180.