The Heath
Horsmonden
Above photo, 1940, by kind permission Roy Moore,
http://www.kentphotoarchive.com. |
Above postcard, posted 1916. "Gun Hotel" on left. |
Above photo circa 1930. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above advert, 1972, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above matchbox 1980s. |
In 1869-70 the pub was part of a consortium who were advertising their
goods of selling tea in response to grocers' selling beer and wine. (Click
for further details.)
South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 18 September 1832.
TO TIMBER MERCHANTS, SHIP BUILDERS, CARPENTERS, WHEELWRIGHTS, AND OTHERS.
To be Sold by Auction, BY WILLIAM SALMON.
On Wednesday, the 19th September, 1832, at two o'Clock, at the "Gun
Inn," Horsmonden, by direction of the Assignees of David Twort, a
Bankrupt.
ABOUT 380 SQUARE OAK TREES, of large meetings, on Yalding Wharf,
(received from Hayman’s Hill and Beech Farm) and a quantity of ???? and
CROOKS.
Also, about 1100 Ends of ROUND OAK, ASH and ELM TIMBER, of superior
quality, very conveniently situated for carriage, at Hayman’s Hill,
Horsmonded, and at Beech Farm, Marden, which will be put in small Lots
for the convenience of Purchasers.
W. S. respectfully invites Timber Merchants and others, desirous of
purchasing Timber, to inspect this Timber, which will be found of larger
dimensions, and of much better quality than is us uslly offered for
sale, and well adapted for Naval Purposes, the Merchant Service, and
various branches of trade.
Particulars and conditions of sale may be had at the "Gun," Horsemonden;
"Mitre Inn," Maidstone; "Silver Oar," Rochester, "Bull," Wrotham;
"King's Head," Wateringbury; "Rose and Crown," Tonbridge; "George Inn,"
Borough; Auction Mart, London, and of the Auctioners, Maidstone.
Mr. Norton, at Hayman's Hill, will show the Round Timber; and the
Wharfinger, at Yalding Wharf, will shew the Square Timber there.
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Kentish Gazette, 22 January 1850.
HORSMONDEN. Dinner to Alexander Anderson, Esq.
On Friday last, between 20 and 30 of the principal hop-planters of this
parish assembled at the "Gun Inn," at a public dinner, to which they had
previously invited their respected neighbour, Mr. Anderson, to show the
high degree of respect and gratitude they entertained towards him, for
his unwearied exertions in endeavouring to get a postponement of the
1848 hop duty. The chair was taken by Mr. George Whiltley; the
vice-chair by Mr. W. P. Waghorne.
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South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 18 February 1851.
Horsmonden.
On Monday se'nnight one of those rare demonstrations of good feeling
took place here,
that would do credit to a parish of higher pretensions than this, and
which exemplifies
what a public spirited leader can do, even amongst the cold sons of the
soil, who have
been stigmatised by their enemies as apathetic, &c.; but the muster
round the festive
board of Mr. Snoad, of the "Gun Inn," on the above day, shows that there
are some
sterling ore and enthusiastic hearts amongst the Weald of Kenters, that
the public are as
yet unacquainted with. The object for which the above meeting was called
we confess is
out of our power to do justice to; it is so novel, and stands so much
apart from the
general class of social meetings, it requires so nice a discrimination
to relate, so as to do
justice to one party, and not to offend the delicacy of a most
respectable family, on whose
account this meeting was called, that we should scarcely know how to
proceed. However,
the worthy host of the "Gun Inn" has for some time past been most
severely afflicted (we
believe with a rheumatic disease), so as to render him incapable of
business, and owing to
the unusual expenses occasioned thereby, and the profits of his business
not being equal
to his misfortunes, it has resolved in his pecuniary embarrassments. In
this position, A.
Anderson, Esquire, and, as he says, "other respectable inhabitants" (but
we rather suspect
the credit rest with him alone), resolved to prop up this good old
neighbour, and release
him at once from his troubles. This done, a public dinner was announced,
to testify the
respect for the afflicted host, and to give him a spirited start again
in the world. This call
was probably attended to by nearly the whole of the farmers and
tradesmen in the parish,
Mr. Anderson in the chair. The evening was spent in the most social and
convivial way, an
excellent speech being made by the chairman, on the hop question. There
were present:-
Messrs J. Monkton, Boniface, T. Twort, W. Masters, Whibley, Pawley (Pembury),
Austen
(Brenchley), Walmsley, Manwaring, Waters, Williams, A. Thirkell, Taylor,
Russell,
Iggleden, J. B. Jude (Wateringbury), &c. &c., and many from adjoining
parishes.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 1 September 1857.
DEATH
Green. August 12, suddenly, at Horsmonden, the wife of Mr. Green, of
the "Gun Inn," aged 31 years.
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Sussex Agricultural Express, Saturday 8th November, 1890.
Transfer of licences.
The "Gun" alehouse, at Horsmonden, was transferred from Mr. Harvey,
sen., to Mr. Harvey, jun.
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Kent and Sussex Courier, 21 August 1931.
Popular licensee leaves.
Mr. Owen Harriers, who for several years has been the popular
landlord of the "Gun Hotel," Horsmonden, has left the village to take
over the "Sussex
Shades," Tunbridge Wells.
Mr. Harriers, who before
coming to Horsmonden was well known in Crowborough, as a key member
of the R.A.O.B. (Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes,) A body in which he still takes an active interest.
Mrs. Harriers will also be missed in the district, where she
is well known as a violinist and pianist.
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Sevenoaks Chronicle & Kentish Advertiser, Friday, 7 September, 1934.
Horsmonden Licensee Exposes Fraud.
Accepts false coins, then notifies police.
Man sentenced at Cranbrook.
Mr. Frank Butt, licensee of the "Gun Hotel," Horsmonden, told the
following story to the magistrates at Cranbrook Police Court on
Wednesday, when Thomas Henry Allen (43), a labourer, 41, Maud Road,
Camberwell, appeared on remand before Mr. E. E. Selmes and
Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. Tylden-Patterson, charged with uttering
four counterfeit half crowns and have another false coins in his
possession.
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From an email sent, 26 March 2022.
The above page from the minutes of The Fellowship of Kent and Sussex
Cyclists show the name of the licensee as a Mr. Nichols.
Above paper kindly sent to me by Roy Canning. |
I believe the pub changed name between 1980 and 1982 to the "Gun
and Spitroast." Obviously renovated and got a professional chef in.
LICENSEE LIST
LANSDELL James 1828-32+
SNOAD Mr 1851+
GREEN Francis 1857-71+ (also farmer age 43 in 1871)
HARVEY John 1874-Nov/90+ (also farmer and hop grower age 50 in 1881)
HARVEY Mr jun Nov/1890+
BENJAMIN G W 1901+ (age 54 in 1901)
TOURLE Alfred 1913-2/June/27
HARRIES Owen Wyndham 2/June/1927-31
BUTTS Frank 1931-Dec/36
NICHOLAS Edgar Robert Dec/1936-38+
NICHOLS Mr 1938-51
GREAVES Cyril George 1957-58
GOODCHILD Peter & Marion 1972-80s
https://pubwiki.co.uk/GunHotel.shtml
From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
South Eastern Gazette
Census
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