GUN TAVERN Pub of Woolwich

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Woolwich, September, 2024.

Page Updated:- Monday, 02 September, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1823-

Gun Tavern

Latest 1944+

97 New Road

Woolwich

Above photo circa 1900.

Above photo 7 October 2016, by kind permission Chris Mansfield. http://www.chrismansfieldphotos.com/

I believe the original "Gun Tavern" was relocated in a new build in 1857 whilst under the reign of John Buttery.

Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 21 April 1855.

GUN TAVERN, NEW ROAD, WOOLWICH.

J. BUTTERY, BEGS to announce that having closed his old establishment, known by the sign of the "GUN," he has removed his premises to the New Tavern, three houses lower down in the same road, and having laid in an extensive stock of the Choicest Foreign Wines and Spirits, and Malt Liquors,He respectfully solicits a continuance of that patronage which he has hitherto to liberally received.

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 8 December, 1855.

On Friday last, J. C.Carttar, Esq., coroner for West Kent, held an inquest at the "Gun Tavern," Woolwich, on view of the bodies of Henry Langham, William Wallace, and John Kirwin, who died from the injuries received by the explosion at a rocket shed in the Royal Arsenal, on the previous Monday morning. The following evidence was taken:—

Mr. Stanton, senior-surgeon, at the Royal Ordnance Hospital, deposed, on the previous Monday, between the hours of eleven and twelve the deceased were taken to the hospital, and Kirwin's right leg was completely shattered, and the knee joint crushed. His left leg was also severely injured, and he appeared to be greatly depressed. A consultation was held, and in order to save life an amputation of both legs was considered necessary, and such operation was performed. He died shortly after the operation. Langham was Severely burned and the shock to his system was very great. Wallace died at three o'clock on that morning. The sufferers on their arrival at the Hospital were all wrapped in cotton wool, and every attention was paid them by Mr. Dodd, a surgeon of the Royal Ordnance Hospital.

William Miller, foreman of the labourers employed in the mealing shed, at the Arsenal, deposed that on the previous Monday morning seven men were at work in the shed, and about half-past eleven o’clock witness and another man were outside, leaving five men remaining in the shed. Wit heard an explosion from a rocket shed, and was immediately knocked down, part of the shed falling on him.

By the Coroner:— About 100 lbs. of powder was in the shed. 17 lbs. of powder is served out as a day’s wonk, for each man.

Jeremiah M’Cauliffe deposed he was talking to the last witness outside the shed, when he was suddenly knocked down, and part of the rocket shed fell upon him. The explosion came from the rocket shed and not from the mealing shed.

Mr. Tozer, the superintendent in the laboratory department, was present to hear the proceedings, but was unable to give any evidence.

The coroner and jury then proceeded to the Royal Ordnance Hospital for the purpose of obtaining information relative to the cause of the accident.

On the return of the coroner, he stated, that from questions which he had put to one of the sufferers, he said that he had a rocket in his hand and was using a tool for the purpose of getting the putty out of the holes, when the rocket flew out of his hand, and the shed immediately blew up.

The tool he was using was here produced and resembled in shape the article called cheese-tasters, or a gimblet without the worm).

Some conversation here took place respecting the description of the tools used, and it was the general opinion that the evidence of Capt. Boxer, R.A. should be obtained.

The inquest was accordingly adjourned until Wednesday next.

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 24 May, 1856.

The Explosion at Woolwich.

On Thursday, the investigation respecting the deaths of the several persons from the recent explosions at Woolwicb Arsenal, was resumed at the "Gun Tavern," Woolwich, before C. J. Carttar, Esq , and a jury. Medical evidence was first taken in regard to Powell, who lost his life on the 6th inst. The jury, after a long deliberation, returned a verdict, "That the deceased Thomas Powell came to his death by the accidental ignition of a tourbillon rocket, upon which he was operating at the time a tool called a drill; and this jury deeply lament that an operation attended with so much danger was carried on in a building where so many articles also combustible were being manufactured, and they strongly recommend that for the future only men of known skill should be employed in this dangerous operation." The bodies of Taylor, Reardon, Green, Flail, and Richardson, having been identified, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," accompanied by the following remarks; "And this jury cannot disperse with expressing pleasure at the assurance given by the Government officers that the buildings where all dangerous operations are now carried on will be as speedily as possible removed to the marshes, where the danger will not be so great."

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 6 September, 1856.

APPLICATIONS FOR SPIRIT LICENSES.

The following applications will be made for licenses at the Special Sessions to be holden on the 25th day of September, inst.:—

Woolwich

"Cricketers;"

"Exhibition;"

"Bank;"

"Albert;"

"Bricklayer’s Arms;"

"Pier;"

"Union;"

"Elephant and Castle;"

"Powis Arms;"

"Bricklayer's Arms;"

"Duke of York;"

"Pioneer;"

"Cornish Arms;"

"Gun;"

"Manor Arms;"

and "Navy and Army Hotel."

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 27 September, 1856.

TRANSFER OF LICENCES. Sept 25.

Present - Sir T. M. Wilson, Bart., chairman; General Angerstein, Captain Hossett, Alderman Eagleton, T. Lewin, Esq., J. Sutton, Esq., and Coles Chile, Esq.

This being the annual licensing day for the hundreds of Blackheath, and Little and Lessness, there was an unusually large attendance of applicants for spirit licences, numbering 60; of which Greenwich numbered 9; Saint Nicholas, Deptford, 1; Saint Paul, Deptford, 6; Lewisham, 4; Lee, 1; Charlton, 1; Woolwich, 20; and Plumstead, 14.

Woolwich.

Mr. Bodkin appeared on behalf of John Buttery, "Gun," Artillery place. Licence refused.

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 20 June, 1857.

PETTY SESSIONS. June 13th, 1857.

(Before Sir T. M. Wilson, Bart., Chairman ; Major Gosset, Captain Grant, J. Sutton, Esq., and T. Lewin, Esq.)

TRANSFER OF LICENCES.

Woolwich.

Mr. Matthews, solicitor, of London, appeared to support an application on the part of Mr. John Buttery, of the "Gun," New road, Woolwich, for the licence of his house to be transferred to a newly erected house in the same locality.

Mr. Colquhoun, of Woolwich, opposed the application on behalf of Mrs. Butler, landlady of the "Anglesea Arms," situate a short distance of the applicant’s new house.

The Bench after hearing the observations of the two legal gentlemen, retired to consider their decision, and on returning into court, The Chairman said that himself and brother magistrates considered the licence ought to be transferred. The transfer was made accordingly.

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 16 January, 1858.

Transfer of licenses, Jan. 9.

Woolwich:

The "Gun," New-road, to John Hammond and Thomas Hadcock.

South Eastern Gazette, 17 July, 1860.

WOOLWICH. Suicides of Soldiers.

Private Reddy, belonging to the Military Train, stationed in the west square of the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, yesterday week committed suicide in one of the stables, by placing the muzzle of his carbine in his mouth and blowing away the back part of his head. On hearing the report of the carbine, his comrades, who were near at hand, rushed to the spot, and found that the unfortunate man, on the commission of the act, had fallen forward and was lying on a wheelbarrow, on his stomach, quite dead.

On Wednesday last, a coroner’s jury, presided over by Mr. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, having assembled at the "Gun Tavern," Woolwich, on view of the body of Corporal Coombes, a bandsman of the garrison, who committed suicide by precipitating himself from a window of the Royal Artillery Infirmary, resolved on addressing a note to General Dacres, recommending that in all cases in which patients exhibit symptoms of insanity they should be accommodated in that part of the hospital which is secured by gratings at the windows, so as to prevent an occurrence now becoming frequent. The unfortunate deceased had made a former attempt at self-destruction a few days previously by cutting his throat with his razor. Four cases of suicide have occurred among the military at Woolwich during the past week, three of whom lay side by side in the dead-house, ready for interment, and they were all pronounced men of a disordered intellect, and subject to fits of temporary insanity.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 20 April, 1861.

SUICIDE OF AN ARTILLERYMAN AT WOOLWICH.

Wednesday afternoon Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, held an inquiry at the “Gun Tavern,” New-road Woolwich, into the circumstances attending the death of Quarter-master Sergeant Robert Mumford, Royal Artillery, who, it was alleged, had committed suicide by taking poison.

The evidence proved that, on the previous Saturday, the deceased went to a public-house named the “Soldiers' Rest,” where he was found in a slate of insensibility, and conveyed to the Royal Ordnance Hospital. He was promptly attended by Dr. Duff, but died shortly after his admission into the institution. The deceased had purchased two separate quantities of morphia at the shop of Mr. Shipman, chemist, a few days previous to his death, and the appearance presented by a post mortem examination led to the conclusion that resulted from poison. After some conversation between the coroner and jury it was considered advisable to obtain an analysis of the contents of the stomach by an eminent authority, and the inquest was adjourned for that purpose.

Orr's Kentish Journal, 8 February 1862.

Fearful and Sudden Death.

On Saturday evening last Horace Adams, aged 25, a private in the Royal Artillery, entered a house of ill-fame, kept by Ann Donovan, 15, Eustace-place, Woolwich, and having sat himself on the bed dropped suddenly down on the floor, and on being placed on the bed by a brother soldier, expired before medical aid could be procured. An inquest was held on Tuesday at the "Gun Tavern," New-road, before J. C. Carttar, Esq., when a verdict of "Died from natural causes" was returned.

LICENSEE LIST

MEEK Mark 1823+