Above photo, pre 1939.

Above photo, April 2011. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton.

Above photo 2023, kindly taken and sent by Ian Goodrick.

Above sign left, March 1986. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com. Sign right, 2019, kindly taken and sent by Tom Duff.

Above sign 2023, kindly taken and sent by Ian Goodrick.

Morning Advertiser 2 August 1853.

GRAVESEND. BAT and BALL TAVERN, and CRICKET GROUND.

VISITORS to Gravesend may obtain good Dinners, good Liquors, and moderate charges, at this well-known house, and can amuse themselves in a six-acre enclosed field at cricket, trap-bat, quoits, archery, and other field sports. Large or small Dinner or Tea Parties provided for on the shortest notice, and persons with their own refreshments accommodated.

Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser 28 March 1863.

BAT AND BALL TAVERN, GRAVESEND.

HENRY BISLEY (From Bermondsey,) INFORMS the Inhabitants of Gravesend and the vicinity that he has RE-OPENED the "Bat and Ball Tavern," in the Wrotham Road.

The Premises have been put into thorough repair, regardless of expense, for the comfort and convenience of visitors, to whose accommodation H. B. will at all times give his best attention.

The Stock of Wines, Spirits, and Malt Liquors has been purchased with the greatest care.

From the Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Monday 6 June 1870.

Gravesend.

The various benefit societies in this town have made arrangements for a joint demonstration and fete, to take place at the "Bat and Ball" ground on Tuesday July 12th. The profits will be handed to the treasurer of the Grayes and Dispensary and Infirmary.

From the Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser, Saturday 11 October, 1874.

On Wednesday, at noon, a most distressing case of suicide was brought to light, in which Mrs. Frances Austin, landlady of the “Bat and Ball Tavern,” had terminated her existence by hanging. The circumstances connected with the unfortunate occurrence are of a very painful nature. Deceased, it would appear, had for some time been in a low condition, and had once or twice been heard to say that she hoped she should not live long, at the same time entertaining great horror at the thought of being covered with earth. For a few weeks prior to her death, however, she presented symptoms of improving health, and, as stated below, was more than usually lively on Tuesday night when serving behind the bar. On the morning of that day deceased and her niece, who has assisted in the business for the past two years, fell out, resulting in the latter’s suddenly leaving and going to her home at Greenwich. In the afternoon, Mr. Austin, leaving deceased at home alone, took train for London with the avowed intention of obtaining someone to take the place of his niece, but he did not return until the middle of the following day when he leaned what had transpired. His reason for not returning earlier is, that having missed the last down train on the Tilbury line on Tuesday night, he did not think it important to be home before noon on Wednesday. Although he knew deceased would be alone in the house though the night he took no means whereby to inform her of the cause of his absence. It certainly appears remarkably strange that as the gas was burning in the bar parlour from closing time on Tuesdays night that the discovery should not have been made before; even then it was at the intense of a civilian. Further particulars are gleanable from the subjoined.

An inquest on the body was held at the “Bat and Ball” on Thursday, at twelve o'clock, before E. A. Hilder, Esq. (borough coroner), and a competent jury, of which Mr. W. Cain was foreman. The Coroner having briefly stated the circumstances, the following evidence was adduced:-

P.C. Richard and Inspector Chapman gave corroborative testimony as to the discovery of the affair. In consequence of information received, they visited the “Bat and Ball” on Wednesday, between eleven and twelve o’clock. All doors were fastened, but the gas was burning in the bar parlour. After knocking several times without any respince being given, they forced an entrance at the back, searched the rooms, finally finding deceased in her bedroom. She was dead, being hanged with a piece of rope attached to a clothes peg on the inside of the door. Her feet were a very few inches from the ground; a chair stood close by. Deceased had been in bed to all appearances.

Mr. T. G. Cresy, surgeon, deposed:- I knew deceased some time, having attended her professionally in the Spring of this year. I treated her for an infection of the brain, consequent upon her critical period of life. She suffered from melancholy, great depression, expressing a hope that she should not live long. At my request she was sent away for a change and returned much better; so that I did not consider my visits necessary, and left word that I was to be sent for if deceased got worse. Deceased was very inattentive at times, but she was quite conscious. On Wednesday, about noon, I was sent for and found deceased quite dead. I should think the act had been committed three or four hours before I saw her. On examining the body I found the mark of a single strangulation, that is the chord did not shift in the slightest – death was instantaneous.

By the Jury:- I had seen the deceased within a month of her death.

Edward Austin deposed:- Deceased was my wife; her age was 51 last birthday. I last saw my wife about half-past three on Tuesday afternoon; there was no one in the house but deceased. Through Miss Durrant, my niece, having left, I went to London for the purpose of getting a person to assist in the place of the one who had left. I returned the next morning; I intended to have returned the same night but missed the train. I got home about twelve o’clock, and was met by a neighbour who told me what had occurred, and on reaching the house I found the police in charge of the premises. I saw deceased. As Dr. Creasy had told you, deceased was ill in the summer, but I thought she had quite improved. I was surprised to find what had occurred; deceased had never threatened to do anything of the kind. My niece left in consequence of a few words she and deceased had in the morning.

By Mr. Channer: I intended to have come home on the Tuesday evening but missed the train. I could have got down by an earlier train i9n the morning but did not think it necessary.

William Heard, living at 33, Wrotham Road, said I have known Mr. and Mrs. Austin ever since I have been in Gravesend. Mrs. Weaver brought me word about half-past eleven, and on going up to the house I heard what had taken place. Subsequently going down Windmill Street I met Mr. Austin, and after an introductory conversation I told him of what had occurred, and he seemed greatly surprised. At Mr. Austin’s request, I went and saw Miss Durrant between three and four o’clock. I asked her if she would come down, but being overpowered, she said she could not come down then but would try and do so as today (Thursday).

By the Chairman:- The niece would have returned from Greenwich with me, but her mother advised her not.

At the wish of the jury the room was cleared, and after consulting in private for about half-an-hour, the following verdict was returned:- That Mrs. Frances Austin committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity, and we (Jury), think Mr. Austin very remiss in leaving her in such a state as she was in, and when he found he could not get home on the same night he ought to have been down very early in the morning.