15 (8 in 1851 ) Milton Road
Gravesend
Above photo, date unknown. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton. |
Above photo date unknown. |

Above photo date circa 1930. |
Above photo, date unknown. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton. Showing
one of the twenty-seater Dennis Buses of the Gravesend & District Bus
Company, which operated a service from here to Perry Street from 1925,
and later to Waterdales via Darnley Road. |
Above photo, date unknown, showing the passing of the Sea Cadets. Photo
by Ted Pook. |
Above sign, March 1986.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com. |
First recorded as being located at 8 Milton Road in 1808 although the
building is thought to have been built in the 1790's.
In 1823 the "British Tar" was registered as a Free House.
In 1858 the premises was taken over by brewers Barclay and Perkins, and
again in 1910 by the brewers Russell's Gravesend Brewery.
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.)
1931 Russells sold out to Truman's Brewery and ceased brewing but
continued to use the brewery as a bottling plant.
In 1977 Derek Winch bought the "British Tar" from Truman's/Grand Met so
to become as it started in the 19th century as a Free House.
Above showing the plans of the building circa 1910. |
Southeastern Gazette, 13 September 1853.
PETTY SESSIONS.
Wednesday. (Before J. Saddington, Esq., Mayor, R. Oakes, M.
Troughton, H. Ditchburn, J. Smith, E.
Tickner, E. Lacey, Esqrs., and Dr. Ridge).
This was the annual general session for renewing licenses and
granting new ones.
Jane Godfrey, the landlady of the "British Tar," was summoned for
having her house open for the sale of liquor, on Sunday morning on
three several occasions. The defendant admitted one offence, but
denied the others. She stated that the men were soldiers, who had
ridden up from Maidstone before breakfast, had put up their horses
in her stable, and had their breakfast. The constable, however, said
that he knew two of the soldiers belonged to the garrison of this
town.
Fined 1s., costs 6s. 6d.
|
South Eastern Gazette, 25 October 1853.
Wedneday. (Before J. Saddington, Esq., Mayor, in the chair, and R.
Oakes, Eaq.)
John Nott was charged with being drunk and assaulting Mrs. Godfrey,
the landlady of the "British Tar." Ordered to pay the costs, 4s.
|
Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser, Saturday 6 December 1862.
Gravesend Police Court. Monday, December 1st.
George Burr Beers, who said he was a sailor and farmer, was brought up
in custody, on a charge of stealing a pint beer pot, the property of
Thomas Wagstaff, of the "British Tar" public house.
John Calecraft said that on Saturday last, about 12:15, he was in the
"British Tar," when he saw the prisoner, who was in the room, go out
with a pint pot in his hand.
Thomas Wagstaff being told by Calcraft that the prisoner had gone out
with a pot in his hand, followed him, and came up to him, with the
policeman, who who searched him, but no pot was found upon him.
It was proved that the prisoner had been begging in the town, and he was
committed for 14 days, as a rogue and vagabond.
|
LICENSEE LIST
NEWSON Thomas 1823-28

NEWSON Samuel 1832-41 (age 85 in 1841 )

NEWSON Jane 1841-46
GODFREY William 1846-53 (also bricklayer age 35 in 1851 )
GODFREY Jane Mrs 1853-56
WAGSTAFF Thomas T 1856-63
ROD William 1863-69
BUSBY Alfred 1869-74
HAYWARD William 1874-92 (age 59 in 1881 )
(died 9 May 1896)
GREGORY James W 1892-99
GODFREY/GREGORY Rosina G Mrs 1899-1904

SUPPIT Joseph D 1904-10
WILLIAMS Mrs E 1910-12
ACOTT P J 1912-13
CHARLTON Alfred W 1913-21
CHARLTON Charles William 1922
ROBERTS Thomas 1922-24
HAWKINS John Rupert 1924-37
RAINE John Percy 1937-44
RAINE Thomas H 1944-51
MORRIS Francis 1951-62
AREND Joseph 1962-65
KNELL Jack 1965-Sept/73
WINCH Derek Sept/1973-2005
O'KEEFFE Thomas J 2005+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/BritishTar.shtml
From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
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