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London Road
Watts Cross
Hildenborough
Above photo circa 1911, showing a horse and cart belonging to Walter
Palmer and family. (Horse slaughterers 1911 census). |
Built in 1502 on the Tonbridge Road this is a former coaching inn
supplying cock horses to assist wagons and carriages to climb the hill
heading north from Hildenborough.
This was also known as the "Lower Cock" as a little further along the
road there was also the "New Cock"
or "Upper Cock."
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Kentish Gazette, 12 June, 1780.
To be Let, and entered upon immediately.
That well-known Public House, the sign of the "Old Cock," new
revived, late in the Possession of Mr. John Durrant; situate near
Whatts Cross, inbetween Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.
Further particulars may be known by applying to Mr. Edward Cronk of
Otford.
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Kentish Gazette , Friday 19 March 1802.
Freehold Public Houses, Kent.
Two valuable freehold public houses known by the sign of the "George" at Trosley, and the "Old Cock,"
(Hildenborough) in the High Road leading from Sevenoaks to
Tunbridge in the county of Kent; which will be sold by auction, by Kirk
and Brewer.
(By order of the Proprietor) at Mrs Wigwell's the "Rose and Crown,"
Sevenoaks, on Saturday, the 27th of March, 1802, at 4 o'clock precisely,
in two lots. Lot 1. That much frequented public house, known by the sign of the
"George," situate in the county of Kent; comprising a brick dwelling
house, with good cellaring, new erected stable and outhouse oast house;
about one acre and half, (be the same more or less) of good garden and
excellent hop ground, in the occupation of Mr. Davis; with two other
messuages, and garden grounds; let to Mr. Seager; on lease, of which 18
years were unexpired at Michaelmas last, at the uncommon low rent of £20
per annum. Lot 2. That could accustomed public house, known by the sign of the "Old
Cock," situated in the High Road leading from Sevenoaks to Tunbridge, in
the parish of Sevenoaks; comprising a dwelling house, with good stabling
and accommodation for 40 horses; about 6 acres (be the same more or
less) of capital meadow land and garden ground, with cottage in garden
and other buildings near the dwelling house, let to Mr. Seager, or his
undertenants, tenants at will, at £35 per annum nett. May be viewed 7 days previous to the sale, by leave of the tenants;
where particulars may be had; "Bull, "Wrotham; "Haunch of Venison,"
Maidstone; Mrs. Wigzell's, "Rose and Crown," Sevenoaks; "George,"
Shoreham; "Crown," Tunbridge; "Parr's Head," Gravesend; "Crown,"
Rochester; and of the Auctioneers, High Street, Dartford of which
further particulars may be known. |
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From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 18 February, 1860.
On Thursday evening the annual singing meeting was held at Mr. Tamkin's,
the “Cock Inn,” Hildenborough. A large party from the surrounding
district was present, and the worthy host did everything he could to
tender the evening a pleasant one. A substantial supper was provided.
The chair was ably filled, and a very agreeable evening was spent.
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Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 29th September 1860.
Tonbridge.
On Tuesday, Thomas Reynolds, George Watson, James Ryan, and George Webb,
lads under 14 years, and who were convicted for vagrancy last week, and
committed to Maidstone gaol for 7 days, will charge before Major Scoones,
with housebreaking under the following circumstances. It appeared that
after leaving Sevenoaks common they continue their journey towards this
place, and the Ostler at the "Upper Cock" public house saw them pass
there about 1 o'clock, and they had no bundles with them at that time.
At a very short distance from this place are three cottages one of which
is occupied by person name Fuller, and the prisoners were observed
playing in the road close to the cottages for a short time. The
inhabitants of the cottages were all engaged in harvesting, and on Mrs.
Fuller leaving home that morning she left in the Pantry half a Dutch
cheese, 4 or 5 small plum cakes, part of a plum pudding, meat pie, and
part of the pear pie, and on her return home in the evening she found
the house had been entered by cutting away the lead of the casement
window, and the previous mentioned were all missing. It further appeared
that in the course of the afternoon the prisoners were at the "Lower
Cock" public house and begging water from the Ostler, who stated that
they had a bundle with them which contain provisions. When
Superintendent Colman apprehended them on the charge for which they were
previously committed, he saw them come from the edge side, and at that
place on the same afternoon a cricket ball marker named Cockerill found
the stolen victuals. On Sergeant Mayne's apprehending them at Maidstone,
they denied that they had knives, but P.C. Noakes, of the Sevenoaks
division, who was present on their apprehension by his Superintendent,
produced two knives which he found on them when he searched them.
Committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.
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Kent Times, 18 January 1862.
TONBRIDGE. Special Petty Session.
A special session was held at the Town Hall on Saturday last, before
C. Powell, Esq., and Major Scones.
George Cox, ostler at the "Lower Cock" public-house, on the
Sevenoaks road, and George Walters, waggoner to Mr. J. H. Whibley,
farmer, at Underriver, were charged with stealing a bushel of oats,
value 3s., on the 2nd inst., the property of Mr. Whibley. Early on
the morning in question the prisoner Walters left home with the
team, and on the way to Tunbridge, having to pass the "Lower Cock,"
he told Copper, the mate, that he wanted to leave a message at that
house. When they arrived there the prisoner took a sack containing
about a bushel of something from the waggon into the stable and left
it there. Sergeant Mayne, K.C.C., who found the oats in a loft over
the stable, spoke to Cox about them, when he said they were left
these by Mr. Weller carrier, of Tunbridge Wells, but this was denied
in the prisoner’s presence, and Mr. Weller also said that Cox had
been to ask him to say that the oats belonged to him. The prisoners
were committed for six weeks’ hard labour. There were some other
charges against the prisoners, but they ware not proceeded with.
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From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 23 October, 1874.
Hildenborough. A Kentish Labourer.
Philip Kingswood, a labourer, was summoned for absenting himself from
the service of Mr. Robert Clarke,
his master at Hildenborough, on the 10th October, and he claimed £1 10s.
damages.
Complainant said that in August last he engaged the defendant to go with
a team, and he was to have 30s.
a week for the first month and 18s. a week afterwards, and a week or
two's notice on either side to
terminate the contract. He went on working to the 10th inst., when he
left for lunch at 10 o'clock and went
to a public house. At 10:50 o'clock witness found him at the "Old Cock
Inn," and he was complained that
defendant was not at work, and at 11:50 o'clock he went to the field and
found the horses standing idle in
the care of the mate. At 1:45 o'clock he again went to the field, and
finding the horses still standing idle he
went to the public house, where he found the defendant who refused to go
to work. An hour afterwards
defending called and demanding his wages for the week. Witness refused
to pay. He claimed £1 10s.
damages because his horses had to stand idle for a week. The Bench told
the defendant, who had been
previously convicted, that it was a serious offence, and ordered him to
pay 30s. damage, to forfeit all wages
due to him, and to pay 9s 6d. costs.
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From an email received 4 April 2017. My grandfather was Henry
Alexander Spooner b.1884 and was the landlord of the Whitbread owned
Pub, then known as the "Old Cock Inn," in Hildenborough, Kent.
The pub was renamed the "Cock
Horse" a few years ago.
Grandfather died in 1948 and my mother Joyce Evelyn Delville-Pratt
(nee Spooner) took over the running of the pub full-time from then until
1962.
She had married my father Clarence Delville-Pratt in 1942 and he died
in 1962.
(My father Clarence, known as Clive to the customers was a manager of
a grocery store in Sevenoaks during this time until his death. He helped
with the pub after work and at weekends)
My twin sister and I were born in the pub in 1951.
My mother, a very popular landlady wanted to continue on with the pub
but in those times, a widow with four daughters they unfortunately did
not agree to.
After we left in 1962, a Mr & Mrs Smart took over the pub but only
stayed a very short time as they unsuccessfully ran the business as
Whitbreads required.
Hope this helps you update your records.
Kind regards,
Lynne Page (nee Delville-Pratt). |
LICENSEE LIST
STUBBINS Hardimus 1511+
ZUY Jonas 1540+
ZUY Clementine 1558+
LAMBE William 1563+
CHILTERN Joseph 1581+
ALGAR Johnathan 1589+
SEARLE Johnathan S 1607+
SEARLE Helen 1615+
SEARLE William 1620+
BADLEY Frederick 1642+
BRANCHE Lucas 1659+
DUNSTAR William 1673+
BARREL Richard 1682+
WILLIS Daniel 1698+
COLLINS Richard 1709+
TATE Jeremiah 1725+
SAYER Joseph 1738+
SAYLE Frederick 1743+
BRINDLEY Thomas 1769+
HAMMOND Francis 1774+
DURRANT John 1780+
EGERTON Philip 1786+
SEDGE Johnathan 1798+
CARTER James 1810+
LANCER Henry 1820+
NEALE Stephen 1828-32
 (
possibly out of date info)
TAMKIN Frederick 1829+
TAMKIN Cecilia 1838+
TAMKIN William 1845-1862+
TAMBIN William 1861+ (age 62 in 1861 )
BETTS Henry 1867+
PACKHAM Alfred 1874+
FENNER David 1878-81+ (age 49 in 1881)
HOPPER George William to Jan/1886
LYDSTER John Jan/1886-91+
PALMER Walter James 1895-22+ (age 52 in 1911)
PALMER Ellen Miss 1930+
SPOONER Henry Alexander 1938-48 dec'd (age 54 in 1938)
SPOONER Joyce Evelyn 1948-62
SMART Mr & Mrs 1962+
KENNER John William 1969+
WILLIAMS William Stuart 1985+
ABRAMON S 1991+
BANKS D T 1992+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/OldCock.shtml
From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
Maidstone
Telegraph
Kent
and Sussex Courier
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
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