YE OLDE LEATHER BOTTLE Pub of Northfleet

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Northfleet, October, 2024.

Page Updated:- Thursday, 24 October, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1734

Ye Olde Leather Bottle

Open 2024+

Dover Road

Northfleet

01474 352978

https://www.yeoldeleatherbottlenorthfleet.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/leather-bottle-ye-old

The above etching says the mail coaches between London and Dover used to stop here for passengers. 1796

Above photo, date unknown. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above photo, circa 1937, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1940s, kindly supplied by Shaun Gardiner.

Above photo, date unknown. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton.

Above photo, February 2012.

Above photo, 2018.

Above photo, circa 2023.

Above sign, September 1992.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

I have seen reference to this being located in the Perry Street area, however, Kelly's of 1903 says Dover Street. It is certainly on the corner of Springhead Road today (2024).

According to the census of 1901 the name had added Hotel to its suffix, and in 1911 was referred to as "Ye Old leather Bottle."

From the City of London Sessions: Sessions Papers - Justices' Working Documents, 11th January 1786 - 12th December 1787.

Saith that on Monday the seventh Instant Richard Richard, and John Rockwal Officer, of Excise came and desired the assistance of this Informant and his Father to go and assist them in seizure a Cart with run Goods at the "Leather Bottle Inn" in Northfleet of which they had Information and having got to the Inn they seized a Cart and about a Ton Weight of Tobacco therein for not being in the Original Package when removed and not having a Certificate to accompany its Removal and having procured two Horses to removed the seizure to Greenhath Richard Horlock the Landlord asked this Informant to Compromise the Matter to which he answered it could not be down and they drove the Horses and Cart towards London and near to a Placed called Gulley Hile they were overtaken by Five Men on Horse Back two of which Informant had seen before at this Inn when the seizure was made and the Prisoner now under Examination is one of these two that the Five Men were Armed with Large Brass Pistols Loaded Whips and Isludgeon and on their coming up one of them put a Pistol to Informants Father's Reced and afterwards rode him down almost under the Wheel of the Cart and the Smugler, then began a general Fire and wounded two of the Officers that the Fire was returned by the Officer but they were overpowered by the Smuglers, who rescued the seizure and drove it away that the Prisoner now under Examination was one of the Five Persons on Horse beck so armed as aforesaid and who fired and wounded the Officer, and by force and be Violence rescued the said Cart and Tobacco and drove away the same in manner aforesaid Taken and Sworn the Day and Year First above Written before me}
J. Townsend
John Beadle Junr.

From the Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser, 24 December 1823.

To Publicans and Others.

Old established Tavern on the bank of the Thames.

By Mr. SHUTTLEWORTH.

At the AUCTION MART, near the Bank of England, On Wednesday, January 7, at Twelve.

A Lease of the Valuable Old Established Tavern known as the "India Arms," most delightfully situate on the South Bank of the River Thames, at Northfleet Hope, 20 miles from London, and a mile and a half from Gravesend, in the county of Kent, immediately contiguous to the Anchorage Ground of the Outward bound Indiamen, and a convenient landing place for Passengers by the Steam and Sailing Boats. The House is very commodious for Company, containing numerous airy bed chambers, large and small dining and sitting rooms, coffee room and tap room, with convenient offices excellent cellaring, coach house, stabling, yard, garden, and cottages, and the advantage of a capital wharf for landing and shipping goods and merchandize.

May be viewed, and Particulars had 10 days previous to the Sale of the Premises; at the "Bull Inn," Dartford; "Leather Bottle," Northfleet; "Falcon Tavern," Gravesend; "Bull Inn," Rochester; "Mitre Tavern," Chatham; "King's Arms Inn," Grays; at the Mart; and of Mr. Shuttleworth, No. 27, Poultry.

Maidstone Journal, 1 February, 1842.

The stable of the "Leather Bottle," at Northfleet, was broken open on Tuesday last, and a valuable horse stolen belonging to Mr. Edwards, of Rochester.

Kentish Gazette, 13 March 1849.

NORTHFLEET.

On Saturday C. J. Cartttr, Esq., held an inquest at the "Leather Bottle," Northfleet, on the body of a gentleman who was found dead in a path running behind the lower wall of the Northfleet church-yard.

Thomas Everest, constable of Northfleet, deposed that at seven o'clock on Thursday morning, a man named Day called on him and told him that a gentleman was lying dead in the footway below the church-yard wall. Witness at once proceeded there with Day, and found the deceased, whose body was then in the body-house in the church-yard lying on his left side across the path in a pool of blood, with his throat cut from ear to ear, and holding in his right hand a razor. On the ground near him was also found a vial, in which remained a few drops of laudanum.

Charles Edward Crofts deposed that he was a surgeon resident in London. He identified the body of the deceased as that of Mr. Joseph Palmer, chief clerk to an eminent Chancery-lawyer's firm in the city. Was acquainted with him for 17 years, and had within that period attended him professionally for a nervous affection; but most frequently within the last two years. His age was about 49. He suffered very much from this affection, to the effects of which his own intemperate habits had latterly added. In December last witness last attended him in one of those attacks. had not seen him within a month. All the arteries of the throat were severed. The cat was such as a man so committing suicide might make. Deceased held a good situation in the firm alluded to; witness had no reason to believe that he was apprehensive of losing it. He smoked cigars inordinately. Saw at no period indications of insanity in deceased's manners.

A gentleman connected, as he stated, with the firm in which deceased was employed, but who gave his name and that of the firm in so low a tone that we could not accurately catch either, deposed that he knew the deceased for fifteen years in connection with the firm under which he held a responsible and confidential office. The last lime he (witness) saw him was on Saturday afternoon, when he paid him £2, being the balance of his week's salary due on that day. For some time back his habits were irregular, and he was remonstrated with about them, but was not threatened with deprival of his situation. He was a man of undoubted integrity of character, and extremely clever and well informed. Witness heard no more of him till Thursday last, when he was informed of the dreadful termination of his existence. This witness appeared to be deeply affected whilst giving his evidence, so also did the preceding witness (Mr. Crofts.)

A waiter at the "Hit or Miss" public-house, Gravesend identified the body as that of a gentleman whom he had served at that house at nine o'clock on Tuesday morning with a pint of ale and three pennyworth of brandy, and on the Wednesday at the same hour with a similar quantity of both. Deceased remained in the parlour from that time up to seven o'clock, an within that time he (witness) served him with two more pints of ale, two three pennyworths of brandy, and two glasses of gin and water. At seven o'clock, it rained in torrents; deceased asked if he could have a bed, and on being answered in the negative, he left the house and took the way to Northfleet.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased had committed suicide on Wednesday night, being at the time in an unsound state of mind.

Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser, Saturday 23 June 1860.

Northfleet Rifle Corps.

On Thursday evening, Lieutenant Kenyan, of the rifle courts, entertained the non-commissioned officers to dinner at the "Leather Bottle."

Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser, Saturday 21 November 1885.

Sudden Death.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mrs. Sarah Smith, 65, of No. 2, Perry Street, left her home to take a short walk as usual. She passed through Wombwell Park and by the road to Brook Vale, where she called at a cottage to enquire the way home as she had lost herself. She was directed to Perry Street by way of the Park, and she started on her return journey, but she would appear to have turned back again, and when near Hubble's Farm she was seen to fall by a Boy, who communicated with Mr. Alfred Higgins, working on the farm. On his going to the old lady she appeared to be dead, and with assistance he conveyed her to the "Leather Bottle Inn," Northfleet. She was there seen by Dr. J. S. Crook, who pronounce life extinct, and subsequently, under direction of P.S. Waterman, the deceased was removed to her home at Perry Street.

1895.

Alfred Thomas Hollingberry, landlord of "Ye Olde Leather Bottle," Northfleet, was summoned by the Excise authorities for illegally retailing beer, and it was proved that when his carman delivered ale at one house he sold a gallon of porter for 1s.

From http://www.ghostpubs.com accessed 17 June 2015.

HAUNTED.

The inn sign shows a young man with a bottle held to his mouth as he enjoys a drink. Pub names such as this is a reminder that that at one time bottles were originally made of leather, rather than glass. Almost every night, around closing time, a strange phantom man, witnesses see, in the bar. Observers describe him as having long hair over his collar, with he then disappears through a wall. This tall, ghostly man has also, witnesses saw, in other parts of the building. A female ghost figure also haunts the pub. However, she is observed less frequently.

LICENSEE LIST

HORLOCK Richard 1777-87+

LAWS William 1828-32+