JOLLY FARMERS Pub of Crayford

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Crayford, September, 2024.

Page Updated:- Monday, 02 September, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1841-

Jolly Farmers

Closed 2014-

Saw Mills / Thames Road

Crayford

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

Above photo 1910, from Steve Thoroughgood.

Above photo, 1994.

Above photo 2006 by Dave Patten Creative Commons Licence.

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

Above photo 2007, by Steve Thoroughgood.

Above photo 1985, kindly sent by Philip Dymott.

Above sign, March 1989.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above matchbox, circa 1986.

Above photo, 24 April 2014.

From the Kentish Independent, 25 October 1856.

James Bullock and Frederick Corke were charged with having, on September 16, at Crayford, uttered a counterfeit half-crown to Rachel Upton; also with having, on the same day, uttered another counterfeit half-crown to Lavinia Hearn, well knowing the coins to be false.

Mr. Deedes was for the prosecution; Mr. Ribton defended Bullock.

On the day named, early in the morning, Bullock went to the "Jolly Farmer," at Crayford Creek, and asked for some bread and sugar, and beer and tobacco, and paid for them with a bad half-crown, receiving 1s. 2d. in change. On the same day, about half-past twelve, Corke went to a beer shop at Slade's Green, and paid a bad half-crown for a pint of beer. About half past one both prisoners passed away a bad half-crown at a grocer's at Erith, but as this had been broken up, it could not be produced. They were seen in company several times during the day.

Mr. Ribton urged on the jury that Bullock did not know the coin was bad, and that it was not probable that he would have attempted to pass bad money in a place where he was so well known. He was a lighterman as well as Corke, and as they worked together, it was not improbable that they might have been seen in company.

Witnesses to character were called. Corke stated that he brought some half-crowns from London, where he had received them in change, and that if he passed one he did not know it was counterfeit.
His Lordship summed up with great care, and left it to the jury to say whether the defendants knew the coins were bad, and whether they went out with the common intention of feloniously uttering them.

Guilty, but strongly recommended to mercy.

His Lordship said the court had taken into consideration the recommendation of mercy. The commission of the offence weighed strongly on persons in a small way of business, and the court was therefore compelled to pass a commensurate sentence.

Each six months’ hard labour.

Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser 11 July 1863.

MAN DROWNED.

On Tuesday morning a man named Thomas Gooding, was drowned in the brook near the saw mills. We understand that he with other men employed at the brickfield had been drinking, and that Gooding laid a wager with another man for a gallon of ale that he would swim across the water, and in the attempt lost his life. An inquest was held on Thursday, at the "Jolly Farmer," public-house, Crayford, when the jury returned a verdict that deceased was drowned through his own folly.

From the http://www.kentonline.co.uk 18 March 2005.

Three sought after pub shooting.

Scene of the incident. Picture: BARRY GOODWIN.

A MAN is still fighting for his life after being shot in a busy public house.

Neighbours claim the victim was shot twice after three masked men entered the "Jolly Farmers" in Thames Road, Crayford, on Saturday night.

The man, understood to be in his early 40s, was critically injured and police have launched a major hunt for the gunman.

Police were called just before 9pm after reports of the shooting and the victim was rushed by ambulance to hospital.

The injured man has not been named and detectives have not confirmed whether or not he works at the pub.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said his condition was understood to be critical and added: "We retain an open mind as to any motive at this early stage.’’

A spokesman for London Ambulance service said: "One patient, believed to be aged 42, was suffering from one or more gunshot wounds and was treated and conveyed to hospital."

Neighbours were first alerted to the drama by the noise of approaching sirens as police swarmed in and sealed off the area to search for clues.

Many residents were left shocked, saying this was a normally peaceful area.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "My wife and I had been out that night and come home about 10.15pm.

"We saw three police cars and two police vans outside the pub and the officers had cordoned off the area with tape.

"I asked a couple of people what had happened and was told somebody had been shot. I couldn’t believe it.’’

Sam Wallis, who lives across the road from the pub, said: "The worst I’ve known for that pub is just young people making a noise when they have come out.

"But it has been really quiet since the pub changed hands a couple of months ago so it is terrible that something like this can happen all of a sudden.’’

Another neighbour, Michelle Castell, said: "I heard that three masked men had come into the pub and shot someone. It’s quite a shock because I feel safe in this area and it seems to be a nice pub when I’ve been there."

A second woman neighbour said: "I have lived here for seven years and never come across anything like this. It’s awful that this can happen. This is not a violent area.’’

Police have so far not released any other details of the incident. But they have confirmed that it is being investigated by the Trafalgar Central Shootings Team, which deals with non-fatal shootings.

The "Jolly Farmers" is a large, thriving pub on the busy Thames Road in front of an industrial estate, entertaining drinkers with Friday karaoke nights and tribute bands.

Apart from being used by neighbouring residents it also has a cafe for lorry drivers and a Thai garden restaurant.

No one at the "Jolly Farmers" would comment on the incident.

Anyone with information that may help police investigating the shooting should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The pub was closed by 2014.

LICENSEE LIST

UPTON James 1841-62+ (also saw mills 1858 and farmer age 58 in 1861)