WHEEL INN Pub of Westwell

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Friday, 11 October, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest ????

Wheel Inn

Open 2024

Westwell Street

Westwell

01233 712223

https://whatpub.com/wheel-inn

Above postcard, circa 1904, kindly supplied by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, circa 1909, kindly supplied by Rory Kehoe. Obviously a coloured version of the one above.

Above postcard, postmarked 1911.

Above photo, circa 1911, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1913, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1920, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1950, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, circa 1960, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard circa 1960s. From Chris Cleave.

Above photo, 1974. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Licensees Wilf and Ann Southwick in happier days, when the Wheel was a Whitbread-Fremlin's tied house and a thriving community local.

Above photo, date unknown, showing Morris Dancers.

Above photo 2003.

Above photo 2013.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photos, 19 November 2007, taken by Eric Hartland.

Above sign left, 2010, sign right 2016.

Above photo, February 2018.

Above photo, 2021.

The pub's name is derived from the Catherine Wheel, an old inn name which commemorates the martyrdom of St Catherine, bound to a wheel.

Previously George Ware's Frant Brewery, of Bells Yew Green, Sussex. Ware's were bought out by E H Kelsey, of the Culverden Brewery, Tunbridge Wells in 1950.

In October 2017 the building was covered in scaffolding and sheeting, hopefully being renovated and not closed and converted. It did, however still look like a pub inside.

Certainly open again in 2018.

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 21 July 1846.

Frightful Accident on the Eastern Counties Railway.

An accident of a very dreadful character, whereby nearly 20 persons were more or less seriously injured, occurred on the Eastern Counties Railway, between 4 and 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The up train from Ipswich, due at Stratford at 56 minutes past 3, did not arrive at that station until about 20 minutes after it's proper time. Several passengers had alighted, others were in the act of entering carriages, and the engine-driver was taking in a supply water, when a train was observed coming rapidly towards the station.

Mr. Richardson, the station-master, was upon the platform at this moment, superintending the dispatch of passengers, &c. The noise of the approaching train at once attracted his attention, and, looking eastward, he saw the imminent danger in which the passengers of the stationary train were placed. He immediately ran towards the engine, intending to induce the driver to go on with the train then at the station, but before he could explain his object the collision took place, and on returning along the platform a scene presented itself which almost baffles description.

The train, which, but a moment previous, and consisted of seven or eight first and second class carriages and two horse-boxes, now presented little more than a mass of broken framework and rubbish. Of a second class carriage which had been attached to the train at Romford, and placed in the rear of the two horse-boxes, there was literally nothing left, and the unfortunate passengers which it had contained were seen, bleeding and wounded, lying about the railway in various directions among the fragments. Two other second class carriages was so crushed as to be rendered entirely useless, scarcely one of their hapless inmates escaping some serious fracture or contusion, and of the remaining carriages all were more or less broken, and their inmates seriously shaken and otherwise injured.

When the first momentary shock had subsided, the station-master, with what assistance he could procure, proceeded to collect the wounded persons and assist them into the passengers' waiting room. Medical aid was at the same time sent for, and in a very few minutes Messrs. Elliot, Vincent, Valence, and Kennedy, all medical gentleman residing at Stratford, where upon the spot, vying with each other in their attention to the wounded.

The worst cases were forwarded with as little loss of time as possible in on the omnibuses to the London Hospital, and some persons, also very seriously injured, after being medically attended to, were sent, upon their own request, to their respective residences.
The following is a list of the sufferers, so far as can at present be ascertained:-

Mr. William Millward, bandbox-maker, Bethnal Green, a large toe of the left foot cut off, and foot otherwise much mutilated.

Henry Olive, one of the company's porters, fracture of the right leg.

John Smith, one of the company's porter's, chest and back much injured.

William Prentice, porter, a very bad fracture of the leg.

Mr. Hiram Morris, "Hoop Inn," Deptford, left foot partly cut off, and the right jaw much injured.

Mr. Richard Murphy, Hendon, Middlesex, solicitor, confusing left leg.

Mr. William Keeler, publican, Westwell, Kent, ("Wheel Inn") a fractured collar bone.

James Stone gentleman's servant, a severe contused face.

All the above were removed from Stratford direct to the London Hospital. Messrs. Keeler, Murphy, and Stone, were subsequently sent to their homes.

The following persons were sent to their own residence, after having been attended to by the medical gentleman at the station:-

Mrs. Payne, of Ilford, Essex, comminuted fracture of the two bones of the left leg below the knee.

Mrs. Weddenhall, of Chiswell, Essex, a supposed fracture of the left thigh.

Mrs. Brownley, a contusion.

A gentleman residing at Chelmsford, leg seriously injured.

A gentleman living at Victoria Villas, Dalston, a contusion of the brain.

It is a somewhat extraordinary circumstance in connection with the accident, that none of the carriages which retained their wheels, nor the engine which caused the accident, was thrown off the rails, nor were the rails and themselves injured in the slightest degree. The engine, after striking the last carriage mounted on its ruins, and remained in this position until forcibly removed, when it fell over and slightly injured the platform of the station. It was however, again placed on the rails, and remove without further difficulty.

Among the passengers in the Ipswich train was General Sir De Lacy Evans. The back of the carriage in which the gallant General was sitting was completely driven in, and a fragment passing upwards, tore his coat and trousers, and severely injured his back and legs. He was removed to the "Swan Tavern," Stratford, in a chaise, and in the course of the evening was taken to his residence.
Sir John Tyrrell, Bart., Mr. Cotton, late governor of the Bank, and several other well-known gentlemen, are also described to have been passengers in the same train.

The truck train had "shunted" the Romford station, to allow the Ipswich passengers train to pass it.

Mr. Morris, of Deptford, has since suffered amputation of the foot. All the other sufferers are going on favourably.

Unfortunately closed in 2021, hopefully awaiting new licensees. However, previously owned by Shepherd Neame, they have released the tenancy and it's now free of tie.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Jee, 14 January 2022.

The Wheel Inn pub in Westwell near Ashford boarded up as search launched for new landlord.

A village pub is facing an uncertain future after being boarded up this week.

The Wheel Inn in Westwell near Ashford closed on Tuesday, sparking concern among residents.

All windows have been boarded up at the site.
The inn, which overlooks the village green, had been under the care of James Kelland for almost five years but was hit hard by the pandemic.

Now all of the windows and doors have been sealed while the business has been put on the market for £330,000.

Parish councillor Clive Bainbridge said: “James did fantastically with the pub and it was popular, especially among locals, but the last two years had been hard.

“Shepherd Neame has been very good in that it let the pub run on a free-of-tie basis, and it is now selling the pub only on the basis that whoever buys it continues to run it as one.

“That’s really important to us as we don’t want to lose the pub.”

Matthew Bare and James Kelland became the new managers of the pub in 2017.

Jodi Bonner, Dave Mullins and Wendy Bonner enjoy a Pimms during a royal wedding garden party in April 2011.

The ‘free-of-tie’ arrangement means whoever buys the pub will own it outright, with the Shepherd Neame logo and drinks already having been removed by the business under Mr Kelland, who had previously managed the Swan restaurant at the Chapel Down winery in Tenterden.

But villagers now face an anxious wait to see who will step in to run the business.

Resident Mike Jemmerson says the pub – to which he has been going for more than 40 years – was vital to the village.

“We didn’t go in there to drink as I don’t drink alcohol, but the food was great,” he explained.

“We went there just the other day, a lot of people did the same, there were always regulars in there for both food and drink.

Neil Cackett has his legs waxed by Valerie Wren for charity at The Wheel Inn in 2003.

Members of the Ashford and District Road Running Club at their Christmas party at The Wheel Inn in 2015.

The Wheel Inn was boarded up earlier this week.

“We have already had the shop close some years ago, and the school even further back than that, this is one of the last things in the village and it’s a huge community asset.”

Cllr Bainbridge said that Savills, the estate agents in charge of the pub’s sale, was confident of getting interest in the property.

“I have been informed by Shepherd Neame that Savills will be responsible for the sale of The Wheel and that it has booked viewings to take place this week,” he added.

“So at this stage it does believe there is potential interest, and it has agreed to let us at the parish council know if it receives a credible offer that they wish to accept.”

In 2017, Shepherd Neame spent £80,000 transforming the outside of the site, which dates back to the 17th century.

This week, the brewery's commercial estates manager John Barnes said: “The Wheel has been for sale as a public house since April 2021, as it no longer fits the needs of our business.

"Shepherd Neame is in communication with the local parish council, ensuring it remains up to date with proceedings.”

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Jee, 5 September 2022

Anger as plans for The Wheel, Westwell, near Ashford, thrown out.

Villagers have hit out after plans that would help reopen their only pub were thrown out.

A vital proposal to expand The Wheel Inn in Westwell, near Ashford, has been turned down by a council planning officer.

The move has sparked backlash from the shocked owners, locals and their MP, who gathered together outside the 17th century inn, which overlooks the village green.

The Wheel initially closed in January, with the windows and doors quickly boarded up, and concrete barriers blocking off the car park.

Worried residents likened the sealed-up pub to Fort Knox, however new owners John Forge and Mandy Keefe soon removed all of the barriers and unblocked the windows and doors.

The pair also announced plans to rejuvenate the former Shepherd Neame pub, including redecorating and adding a restaurant-cum-tea room that would link into the bar area.

To allow this to take place, Mr Forge submitted a planning application for a short extension to the rear of the building to allow for the kitchen to be moved.

Ashford MP Damian Green met with Westwell residents outside the pub this week.

The extension would be clad in black weatherboard rather than brick, similarly to several other houses near the building.

However, a planning officer torpedoed the plans, saying the weatherboard "does not respond to the character" of the historic pub.

"As such, it would detract from the character and appearance of the property and the wider Conservation Area," he added in a report.

The decision has incensed and confused residents, all of whom are in favour of the works, which have also been supported by the parish council.

"It is such an inconsequential piece of work, but it will make all the difference for the long-term future of the pub," Mr Forge said.

The extension would cover a small space behind the pub.

"It's simply three walls and a roof, and it will barely be noticeable.

"When you boil it down to those facts it seems incredible that the officer has taken this decision, especially when you look at the buildings surrounding the pub and see that so many of them have identical black weatherboarding.

"We will obviously go back and resubmit the plans, but it took them four months to get back to us on this. If it takes that long again, and the work takes four months, we're already looking at finally being ready to open more than a year since submitting the plans."

Village resident Kevin Williams says the decision is "unfair" and that a council officer needed to visit the village to talk to the owners and residents.

"John has been at the site everyday working on restoring the property and giving it some TLC," he added.

There are new-build houses next to the pub with similar black cladding.

"At a time when so many pubs are facing difficulties with bills and recovering from the pandemic, this seems like the exact opposite to what the council should be doing."

Ashford MP Damian Green visited the pub on Thursday to talk to Mr Forge and Ms Keefe and to get the residents' views on the matter.

He told KentOnline: "I am very keen to help village pubs survive in this climate.

"I am hoping to see a quick solution to this situation so that the people of Westwell can get back to enjoying their local."

A council spokesperson said: “The application was refused because of concerns about the form of the extension and the selection of materials.

"This is a sensitive heritage location but the decision made does not rule out a possible alternative proposal.

"We know that the pub is important to the local community and are willing to work with the applicant to find a mutually acceptable solution."

From the https://www.dailymail.co.uk By Francine Wolfisz, 11 October 2024.

Meet the defiant pub landlords who've banned children from their lovingly-renovated village boozer - and couldn't care less about the backlash.

Defiant landlords who have banned youngsters from their recently-renovated village pub are standing by their adults-only policy, as critics say the decision is 'archaic'.

Mandy Keefe and John Forge welcomed punters back to The Wheel Inn in Westwell, near Ashford, Kent, last week after it was closed for more than two years.

The pair have lovingly renovated and extended the venue, which also features an adjoining tea room.

But notably there were no children at the opening party.

The couple say they have decided not to admit under-14s due to a lack of adult-only spaces and environments where people can relax while enjoying a pint.

Barred: Mandy Keefe and John Forge have imposed an adults-only policy at their pub.

A sign at The Wheel Inn in Westwell, near Ashford, Kent states no youngsters are welcome.

A sign at The Wheel Inn in Westwell, near Ashford, Kent states no youngsters are welcome.

Mr Forge told KentOnline: 'We're getting older people saying, 'Brilliant, we don't want b****y kids running about.'

'We get people actually standing at the bar saying: 'This is great because we don't have to worry.'

'In a pub, you don't watch your language. You're drinking - you're taking a legal drug.

'You're then, at times, behaving inappropriately.

'Customers have said it's brilliant, because they don't have to watch exactly what they're saying.'

The publicans say they do not want to facilitate a rowdy atmosphere or encourage swearing and shouting.

'But, it still happens,' Ms Keefe said.

'Do people really want their children in that sort of adult environment?

'Also, what is there for children to do? So, they get bored.

'Then they start to run, they start to cry, or they get shouty.

'That impacts on those people who have come in here for a quiet, adult time.

'We've had people in here sitting all evening on the sofas, meeting up with their friends, having a nice chat, and all have said what a lovely atmosphere it is.

'Unfortunately, part of that lovely atmosphere is no children.'

The landlords are standing by their decision and say they have created a 'lovely environment'.

The pub only just reopened and has been renovated after being closed for more than two years.

Up until 1995, it was illegal in England and Wales to bring under 14s into pubs.

The Licensing Act 2003 allows pubs and restaurants to operate their own policies relating to children.

Ms Keefe, who has adult children herself, says the Wheel Inn's rule is 'to some extent' a tribute to the glory days of the boozer.

The 62-year-old said: 'If you go on holiday, you can choose to go to an adult-only hotel or resort or cruise.

'Here, where can you go where there are no children? Nowhere.

'What we've done here is given people a choice.

'We're the only ones that are saying no children.

'We're providing a nice environment for adults to go where they can talk and chat and be adults together.'

However, some critics on social media have blasted the rule as 'archaic'.

One mother, who recently moved to the village, said: 'It will please a very small demographic, unfortunately not the future one.

'Even when my kids come 'of age', I don't get the impression they'll be welcomed with open arms.

'It's archaic and just a shame more than anything. We're gutted as we were looking forward to getting to know people in the village.'

The landlords, who bought the village's only pub in March 2022, say they will not change their policy to please parents.

The landlords' decision to ban all children has been slammed by critics as being 'archaic'.

The pub owners argue that if people can go to an adult-only hotel or cruise, they should be allowed to enjoy a pint in a child-free environment.

The pub owners argue that if people can go to an adult-only hotel or cruise, they should be allowed to enjoy a pint in a child-free environment.

The Licensing Act 2003 allows pubs and restaurants to operate their own policies relating to children. Pictured: Inside the newly-renovated village pub.

Mr Forge, 59, said: 'I really couldn't give a toss about them, because what you'll find is that they're actually hypocrites.

'At the end of the day - when their kids have grown up - 90 per cent of them will want to go to a child-free environment.'

Ms Keefe was more affected by the criticism and dismayed that it occurred on social media rather than in person.

'When the signs went up, nobody came to speak to us. Not one person,' she said.

'It's a close-knit community, and then suddenly you look on what is the village Facebook page, and you see it being slated.

'It's not very pleasant.

'It felt like I was being bullied into changing my mind rather than coming in the door and asking why we've done it.'

Mr Forge added: 'They shouldn't be allowed to dictate. There are places for them to go to. Go to those places - end of.'

Before last Thursday, the former Shepherd Neame-owned Wheel Inn had been closed for more than two-and-a-half years.

The previous landlord boarded up the building, saying it was a 'fantastic pub', but trade had dropped after the Covid pandemic.

After purchasing the inn, the current owners' first planning bid for an extension was refused by Ashford Borough Council, sparking outrage against the authority in the village.

A second application was given the green light and the couple undertook a lengthy renovation.

A House of Commons research briefing on 'children in pubs' says: 'A commercial service provider like a restaurateur or pub landlord is entitled to refuse to serve someone.

'In exercising that right, the service provider must consider the obligations placed on them by legislation outlawing discrimination on grounds of disability or race.

'However, there is no law that would cover alleged 'discrimination' against children.'

Closed in January 2022, and reopened again in October 2024.

LICENSEE LIST

KEELER William & Maltida 1839-48 (also butcher age 25 in 1841)