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Written By: Edward James Gilbert-Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Date: February 4, 2017.
THE WINDMILL TAVERN ON NORTH STREET.
OVERVIEW.
The history of this pub is not well defined as no listings for it in the
Publican Directories is found until 1938 and yet it is known from census
and other records that it was in operation at 32 North Street from at
least the beginning of the 20th century. There are however several
listings for beer retailers on North Street dating back into the 1870’s
but the listings either provide no address for the establishment or list
it at 12 North Street, which presents itself today as a 19th century red
brick terrace home. The "Windmill Tavern" was named from it being in what
was known as Windmill Fields, where a windmill once operated. In 1882
there was a public house on North Street called the “Star” run by
William Pike. Whether the "Star" was the former name of the
"Windmill Tavern"
or not is a matter of speculation.
Local Michael Peters tells me that this is
not the case and that the two although close together were definitely
separate pubs which he remembers from when he was a lad. North Street
and George Street linking each other. Paul Skelton.
An article from the Friends of Woodbury Park gave details about Jonathan
Wheatley (1825-1878) and his wife Kezia (1829-1891) which stated in part
that “Johnathan was an established brewer in Tunbridge Wells operating
from the North Street premises that became the "Windmill Tavern" which was
part of the Windmill Fields development of small properties by Charles
Cripps, father of William Charles Cripps…”
Above photo showing the original Windmill Tavern.
This article included the
photograph shown above labelled as “The original Windmill Tavern in
North Street” which looks nothing like the one at 32 North Street today,
shown at the top of this article. If one relies on the accuracy of this
account then the original tavern must have been demolished around the
beginning of the 20th century to make way for the present building.
The "Windmill Tavern" was run by a number of licensed victuallers but many
of their names are not clearly established due to ambiguous listings in
directories. However it was confirmed that from at least 1901 the
beerhouse keeper was Thomas William Styles (1867-1923) who was found at
32 North Street up to the time of his death at the "Windmill Tavern" in
1923. Who took over the tavern from him was not established but the 1938
Kelly directory gave the listing “Windmill Tavern, A. Richardson, 32
North Street, Tunbridge Wells.” From 1959 to 1972 the tavern was run by
Mrs E. G. Vivall and in 2001 when approval was given to convert the
tavern into a residence the applicant was Lance Riley of 32 North
Street.
Those who frequented this tavern refer to it being “tucked away in an
obscure location on North Street and it is not surprising that this very
local local could not make ends meet”. Others state that “The Windmill
Tavern on North Street is very amenable and doesn’t care what you look
like. Its popular with old, the very old, and young. The food is good
and the pool table is always empty”.
A review of Planning Authority records show that the "Windmill Tavern" was
still in operation in 2001, when in that year approval was given to
convert the tavern into three flats. The building still exists today as
a residence.
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION.
The Windmill Tavern, which closed in 2001 when it was converted into
flats, was located on the south side of North Street just west of its
intersection with George Street. Situated at the north end of North
Street, at No. 32 the tavern was in an out of the way location away from
any passing trade and thus was a true local pub.
The tavern derives its name from a tract of land called Windmill Fields
located at the south-east intersection of Bayhall Road and Prospect. On
this land was once a windmill called the Calverley Mill (demolished
circa 1860) located near what now is St Peter’s Church on Bayhall Road.
On this tract of land was constructed North Street, George Street, Park
Street, Windmill Street, Windmill Court and St Peter’s Street to name a
few. There is also reference on the south side of North Street just past
Prospect Road of “The Old Dairy Flats” suggesting that there once was a
diary at that location. A review of map from 1828 onwards shows that the
aforementioned roads and buildings in Windmill Fields date to after 1828
but before 1832 when in that latter year there was a building of some
type located on what became the site of the "Windmill Tavern."
North Street itself is a very narrow two lane road with no sidewalks
with the buildings constructed along it up against the pavement. Apart
from the "Windmill Tavern" and a church on the north side of the road
towards Prospect Road and what was once a general provisioners shop and
post office on the south east corner of Prospect and North Street the
predominant type of buildings to be found are small red brick 2 storey
terraces, typical of some 100 cottages built in the area by Charles
Cripps. One of these terraces, now known as 32A North Street, abuts the
"Windmill Tavern" on the west side and bears a striking resemblance to the
building on the far right shown in the black and white photo of what is
labelled as “The Original Windmill Tavern in North Street”. It appears
therefore that the “New” Windmill Tavern was constructed to abut what
is now 32A North Street.
Shown above is a 1907 os map on which the
location of the tavern is highlighted in red. A review of Planning
Authority records from 1974 onwards shows that until 2001 there were no
applications for Planning approval.
Shown above is a site map from
the Planning files of 2005 showing the location of the tavern and shown
below is an architects drawing of the tavern when an application was
made for alterations by one of the residents.
The Friends of Woodbury Park in Issue 12 (September 2011) of their
newsletter on burials entitled ‘Jonathan Wheatley (1825-1878) and Kezia
Wheatley (1829-1891) stated in part “Jonathan married Kezia Brown in her
home village of Pyecombe near Brighton in 1855, and six years later was
an established brewer in Tunbridge Wells operating from the North Street
premises that became the Windmill Tavern. This was part of the Windmill
Fields development of small properties by Charles Cripps, father of
William Charles Cripps. After Jonathan died at the age of 52, Kezia
carried on the family business and its associated “tap” in Goods Station
Road while raising their surviving children”.
The "Windmill Tavern" as we see it today was a 2 storey building with dormers
lighting the attic. It was constructed of red brick with a main floor
area (based on Estate agents plans) of some 800 sf. Flat No. 3 in this
building today is given as 640 sf and there is reference to a “top floor
flat” which no double refers to the flat in the attic area. More
recently this building was offered for sale as a 3BR house.
The sides and back of the building were rendered and painted white. The
front façade of the building is quite attractive being covered with
green glazed tiles; arch top windows on the main floor with square top
windows above. Some nice decorative stonework can be seen around the
door and windows and on other parts of the front façade. When this
building was constructed is not known but it presents itself as having
been built in the last quarter of the 19th century. From the photographs
given in this section note the image of a Windmill on the top right
corner of the front of the building.
A review of Planning Authority records for 32 North Street and the
"Windmill Tavern" from 1975 onward shows no applications were made for
these premises from 1975 up to 2011 when in that year approval was given
for conversion of the tavern into a dwelling. This work included
internal alterations and demolition of part of the ground floor at the
rear with extensions. Unfortunately the name of the applicant was not
given and nor were any drawings showing the existing and proposed
buildings. Since its conversion there have been a number of applications
for Planning approval throughout the years 2002 to 2006 for a roof
terrace (2005) and a conservatory (2004) and other minor work.
It is believed by the researcher that the pub on North Street given in
the 1882 Kelly directory as the ‘Star run by William Pike is the same as
the Windmill Tavern but no street address was given for the ‘Star’ other
than “North Street”. It is also interesting to note that the directory
of Public Houses for Kent from 1867 to 1934 never lists the Windmill
Tavern and only first appears in these directories in 1938, even though
it is known from census and other records that the Windmill Tavern was
there from at least the beginning of the 20th century.
Shown above from Facebook is a composite image of the Windmill Tavern which had for
a time been one of the pubs owned by E& H Kelsey’s Culverden
Brewery, a fact which can be seen clearly in the largest of these four
images just to the left of the Windmill Tavern sign on the front of the
building. The small image in the middle of the group shows a pub sign
hanging off the front of the building.
[1] WILLIAM MITCHELL
No records were found that directly links William Mitchell to the
Windmill Tavern and he only appears as a beer retailer in the 1881
census at 12 North Street and as a beer retailer on North Street in the
1874 and 1882 Kelly directories but no street address is given.
William Mitchell was born 1842 in Tunbridge Wells, one of five children
born to George Mitchell, born 1821 at Maresfield, Sussex and Caroline
Mitchell, nee Turns, born 1822 in Kent (given variously as Tunbridge
Wells and Southborough). George and Caroline were married in 1841.
The 1851 census taken on North Street, Tunbridge Wells, gave George
Mitchell as a labourer. With him was his wife Caroline and their four
children William, a scholar, Hariett, born 1844; George, born 1846 and
James, born 1850. All of the children were given as being born in
Tunbridge Wells.
The 1861 census, also taken on North Street, gave George as a coal
merchant. With him was his wife Caroline and their children William, an
apprentice wood turner; George, a coal heaver; James, a scholar and a
nurse child by the name of Eliza Haynes, born 1856 in Tunbridge Wells who
was also attending school.
Sometime between 1861 and 1871 William Mitchell married Sarah Surrell
who had been born 1841 at Flimwell/Flinwell, Sussex. The 1871 census,
taken at 18 Windmill Fields, Park Road, gave William as a wood turner.
With him was his wife Sarah who was a greengrocer. Also there was an
adopted son George Richard White, age 2 mths.
The 1874 and 1882 Kelly directory gave William Marshall as a beer
retailer. The 1881 census, taken at 12 North Street gave William as a
beer retailer. With him was his wife Sarah, his mother in law Hannah
Sorrell/Surrell, age 64 and William’s adopted son George Richard White,
age 10.
The 1891 census, taken at 26 Park Street, Tunbridge Wells, gave William
as a “wood dealer timber”. With him was his wife Sarah; his mother in
law Hannah Surrell, age 73 and their 20 year old adopted son George
Richard White, a carter.
In September 1899 William’s wife Sarah passed away and was buried in the
Tunbridge Wells Borough Cemetery on September 29th. The 1901 census,
taken at 26 Park Street gave William as a widow and working as a coal
and wood merchant. With him was just his adopted son George Richard
White, a carter.
William Mitchell died in Tunbridge Wells in October 1907. There was no
probate record for him. William was buried in the Tunbridge Wells
Borough Cemetery on October 24, 1907.
Based on the above it can be seen that William Marshall was from at
least 1874 until 1882 a beer retailer at 12 North Street. Today 12 North
Street presents itself as one of similar terrace homes along that road
being located quite some distance from the Windmill Tavern at No. 32,
suggesting that William was not a licensee of the Windmill Tavern but
rather a person selling beer from his residence. There is no evidence
that the buildings on North Street were renumbered and so one cannot
conclude that No. 12 became No. 32 later.
[2] J. SMITHERS
The Licensee list gave J. Smithers as a beer retailer on North Street in
1891 indicating that this was a census record. At the time of the 1891
census in Tunbridge Wells there was a James Smithers, born 1846 Capel,
Kent who was a printer who had his wife Charlotte and widowed mother
Mary Smithers living with him at 1 Shaftsbury Rd, Tunbridge Wells
(nowhere near North Street). There was also a John Smithers at 71 St
John’s Road, who was a publican, born 1834 in Cowden, Kent. Living with
him was his wife Susan, born 1834 in Chiddingstone, Kent and their 30
year old daughter Emma and one boarder. What connection, if any, either
of these men had with the Windmill Tavern, is not known.
[3] THOMAS WILLIAM STYLES
Thomas is the first confirmed publican of the Windmill Taverm. He is
listed there in the 1903 and 1913 Kelly directories; in the 1901 and
1911 census, and in his probate record of 1923 indicating that he was
the licensee from at least 1901 up to and including January 1923.
Thomas was born 1866 at Hunton, Kent and baptised there as William
“Stiles” November 25, 1866, the son of Thomas and Hannah Stiles.
Thomas lived with his parents and attended school in Hunton from 1866 to
at least 1891. The 1891 census, taken at The Square in Nettlestead in
Hunton gave Thomas “Styles” as an agricultural labourer born 1834 at
Goudhurst, Kent. With him was his wife Hannah, born 1842 at Hunton and
six of their children, including their son Thomas who was working as a
bricklayers labourer.
Sometime after 1899 and before 1901 Thomas moved to Tunbridge Wells. The
1901 census, taken at 32 North Street (The Windmill Tavern) gave Thomas
as a beerhouse keeper on own account. With him was his wife Emma, born
1876 in Marden, Kent and their two children Frank Stanley born in Hunton
in 1895 and Edith, born in Hunton in 1899. Also living with him was his
brother in law Sidney Styles, born 1880 in Marden, a grover domestic.
The 1911 census taken at “32 North Street, Windmill Farm” gave Thomas as
a licensed victualler on own account at home. With him was his wife Emma
and their four children. In addition to Frank Stanley, who was working
as an apprentice upholsterer,and Edith who appears to have died young,
there was Patience Eve, born 1906 in Tunbridge Wells, and Nellie, born
1910 in Tunbridge Wells. Also there was one niece Edith Louise Styles,
born 1899 in Hunton. The census recorded that the premises consisted of
seven rooms; that the couple had been married 16 years and that they had
three children all of whom were living, which based on the census
records is incorrect for they actually had four children.
Probate records gave Thomas William Styles of the Windmill Tavern, North
Street, when he died January 9, 1923. The executor of his 104 pound
estate was his widow Emma Styles. Thomas was buried in the Tunbridge
Wells Borough Cemetery on January 12,1923. When and where his wife died
was not established and all that is known is that she was not buried in
the Tunbridge Wells Borough Cemetery.
[4] John Balcombe
From the licensee list above was given John Balcome at the Windmill
Tavern from the 1918 Kelly directory, however this is in error for John
Balcombe appears in the 1918 Kelly directory as a beer retailer at 5
Culverden Down, nowhere near North Street.
[5] A. RICHARDS
The 1938 Kelly directory gave the listing of A. Richards as the licensee
of the Windmill Tavern. No other definitive information about him was
found.
[6] MRS. E. G. VIVALL
Local directories throughout the period of 1959 to 1972 give the
licensee of the Windmill Tavern as Mrs E. G. Vivall. No other definitive
information is known about her.
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