DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Tuesday, 28 May, 2024.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest  1828-

George and Dragon

Closed 2024

School Hill

Lamberhurst

01892 891807

https://whatpub.com/george-dragon

George and Dragon 1936

Above photo, circa 1936, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

George and Dragon 1955

Above postcard, circa 1955, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

George and Dragon 2014

Above photo 2014.

George and Dragon sign 1980sGeorge and Dragon sign

Above sign left, 1980s, sign right, date unknown.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

George and Dragon siign 2014

Above sign 2014.

 

Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 07 May 1937.

DANCING at the GEORGE & DRAGON HOTEL, LAMBERHURST.

CORONATION DANCE.

Wednesday, May 12. Carnival, Novelties, Fancy Dress and other prizes. Bar open till midnight.

Admission 1/6, 8.30 - 1.30.

WHIT-MONDAY DANCE.

Grand end of season Benefit Night for the "Harmony Five"

Dance Band. 8.30 -1.30. Admission 1/6.

Come and give your band a hand.

 

From an email received 26 February 2020.

The licensee of the George and Dragon, at least in the summer of 1953, was EITHER Joan Allen nee Hale, OR William (Bill) Gwyn (or Gwynn or Gwynne).

(I say ‘at least in the summer of 1953’, because, as a schooboy, 11 years old, I spent my Coronation Holiday staying at the George and Dragon at a time when the licensee was as I have stated. The Coronation was on Tuesday 2 June 1953, so the holiday would have run from Monday 1 June to Saturday 6 June, if it was for one week. Saturdays were included, then.)

Most likely, that licence ran from 1952 to 1954, but that is just a guess.

Joan Allen nee Hale is, still, at the age of 99, my aunt (my mother’s sister).

William (Bill) Gwyn was a friend and occasional employee of my aunt.

While I was there, a film was being made nearby. The director and his family were staying at the G&D, and one of the outbuildings (or a garage) was used to store their film kit overnight. During that filming, I was taken with them to visit a hopfield, being picked by cockney families on holiday. From ‘British films of 1954’ on the web, I have found that, in 1954, a ‘family’ film was released called Adventure in the Hopfields, and I am fairly sure that that was it.

My mother showed me how to fish for tiddlers, using a jam jar on a string, over the side of the bridge. I believe that the bridge has been re-built since then.

I have seen the black-and-white picture of the G&D, on your website, from 1954. It is exactly as I remember it, from 1953.

I remember watching the Coronation on a television set in the bar. It was only the third television set that I had seen – and only the second that was actually showing a picture.

Bill Freeman.

 

I am informed that the pub is currently closed. (May 2024)

 

LICENSEE LIST

PRICKETT Charles 1828-32+ Pigot's Directory 1828-29Pigot's Directory 1832-34

WATKINS Thomas 1841-58+ (also farmer age 49 in 1851Census)

HOWD David 1881+ (also farmer age 34 in 1881Census)

HOWL David to Jan/1891

PLAYFOOT Walter Jan/1891+

PIERCE F W Mr Next pub licensee had to Dec/1919

PEARCE G E Dec/1919+

ALLEN Joan 1952-54

 

Pigot's Directory 1828-29From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29

Pigot's Directory 1832-34From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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