81 Church Street

Murston

https://whatpub.com/golden-ball

Above photo, March 2005.

Above sign 1987.

Still open as a pub in 2005 but unfortunately closed by 2012, and  planning application approved by Swale Council to demolished the building demolished in 2012 for new housing.

A golden ball was the sign of a pawnbroker, a lucrative sideline for many an innkeeper, legally or otherwise. The sign is faithfully portrayed at in Murston, which was part of a ten-acre farm dating from c.1650. Known as Golden Ball Orchard, the farm was purchased by Smeed Dean in 1890, by which time the farmhouse had traded as a beershop for nearly fifty years, a tap room having been installed in the 1840s. I believe this was originally known as the "Fruiterers Arms."

As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will be shown here.

Thanks for your co-operation.

LICENSEE LIST

HAMMOND Phillip 1861+ (also grocer age 75 in 1861)

CARPENTER William 1870-81+ (also fruiter age 30 in 1881)

FITTALL William 1891-1903+ (age 47 in 1891)

INGRAM John 1913+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/GoldenBall.shtml

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/goldenball.html

Census