Information below by Ben Levick

The "Duke's Head" appears on a map of 1840, but may be older than this. The "Duke's Head" is a popular name, often depicting the Duke of Marlborogh, but in this case the pub seems to have been named for William, Duke of Normandy (aka William the Conquerer). This is because the area of Gillingham known as Grange, where the pub is located, was part of the Cinque Porte of Hastings (through medieval land grants). By 1846 it had become known as the "Hastings Arms."