DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Gravesend, January, 2024.

Page Updated:- Saturday, 20 January, 2024.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1758-

(Name from)

Pope's Head

Latest 1939

95 West Street

Gravesend

Pope's Head rear

Above photo showing the rear of the "Popes Head," date unknown, also showing the rear of the "Crown Shades."

Pope's Head 1935

Above photo, circa 1930, sent by Jason Kemsley and kind permission of Tony Larkin.

Former Pope's Head 2011

Above photo, 2011 showing the former pub. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton.

 

Previously known as the "Four Trumpeters" the pub changed name between 1754 and 1758.

The original pub was destroyed from a fire that occurred in November 1846.

(Click here to read more.)

 

South Eastern Gazette 23 June 1840.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS.

To be heard at Maidstone, in the county of Kent, on the 14th day of July, 1840, at the hour of ten in the forenoon precisely.

James Augustus Lamb, also sued as J. A. Lamb, formerly of Middlesex and late of the "Pope's Head Tavern," West-street, Gravesend in the county of Kent, licensed victualler.

 

From an unknown paper, also date as yet unknown. By  A Special Correspondent. Gravesend, Tuesday.

This Was A Tavern In The Town.

"Time was," said the landlord bending over the gaping trapdoor which led to the green-slimed stairs and the muddy swirl of the river (when smugglers used to come aboard here."

"Aye," said Luke Ellen, 82-year old waterman, "and murders were done for a shilling - or less."

Popes Head Watermen

Above showing Old Watermen, regular customers at "The Popes Head." "We went lobster fishing in the river."

And the was a dark suggestion that this would be a good place to argue with the Brewster Sessions.

Landlady Mr Bramble

Above picture:- Mrs. Bramble.... Wistfully playing the tunes that used to send the crowds rollicking and dancing on Saturday night..."

Landlord J C Bramble

Above picture:- Mr. J. C. Bramble, landlord. "All over the world sailors would meet.... and pledge their next meeting."

(Rest unfortunately missing. Paul Skelton.)

 

Information below, 1888. Sent by Jason Kemsley. From http://www.casebook.org  8 April 2015.

WILLIAM PIGGOTT

Piggott came to the attention of the police after the landlady of the Pope's Head public house in Gravesend, Kent, heard him yelling his hatred and hostility towards women.

P.C. Vollensworth was summoned, and found Piggott dazed and confused. When the Constable noticed an injury to the man's hand, which he was unable to satisfactorily account for, he was arrested. When questioned at the police station, Piggott made a rambling statement in which he explained that on Sunday morning the 9 September 1888 in Brick Lane, he came to the aid of a women who had fallen while having a fit, he came to her aid and attempted to help her up, whereupon she bit him on the hand, causing the wound and the blood on his shirt.

Superintendent Berry later recovered a paper parcel which Piggott had left at a fish and pie stall, it contained two bloodstained shirts, it was noticed that his shoes also looked like they had been wiped clean of blood.

Inspector Abberline was summoned to Gravesend and returned to London with Piggott. Now looking a strong suspect, he was placed in an identity parade of seventeen men, before Mrs Fiddymont, Joseph Taylor and Mary Chappell, to see if they could recognize the bloodstained man seen in the "Prince Albert" public house shortly after the murder of Annie Chapman. Of the three witnesses, only Mary Chappell picked Piggott out as the man she had seen, before changing her mind and saying she was no longer sure. The police eventually satisfied themselves that Piggott had nothing to do with the Whitechapel murders. He was treated for delirium tremens and discharged on 9 October 1888.

Piggott was born in 1835 and was 53 years of age at the time of the Whitechapel murders. He was no stranger to the infirmary as he had previously been admitted there on 8 June from 19 Brick Lane, and discharged on 30 July again suffering from delirium tremens.

Piggott was said to be a ship's cook, who at one time had owned his own pub in Hoxton, which he paid the sum of £8,000 for. In appearance he was said to closely resemble John Pizer (Leather Apron). There is a suggestion that Piggott may have later been incarcerated in an asylum.

Jack the Ripper of the Whitechapple Murders committed the series of murders between 3 April 1888 and 13 February 1891.

 

As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will be shown here.

Thanks for your co-operation. Every email is answered and all information referenced to the supplier.

This page will be updated as soon as further information is found.

 

LICENSEE LIST

KING George 1824-28+ Pigot's Directory 1828-29

LAMB James Augustus to June/1840 (1841 age 49Census South Eastern Gazette

WIDDRINGTON Oswald Overton 1840+

LAMB James Augustus 1840+

GOULD Mr 1846

DIXON John 1855+

GATES Robert 1858-74+ (also carpenter age 30 in 1861Census)

WENBORN George Noel 1878-82+ (age 42 in 1881Census)

DENNIS Charles John 1891+

JUNIPER George William 1901-03+ (age 35 in 1901Census) Kelly's 1903

REID James R 1913+

REID Elizabeth 1922+

BRAMBLE John (Jack) C 1938+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/PopesHead.shtml

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/popeshead2.html

 

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

South Eastern GazetteSouth Eastern Gazette

CensusCensus

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

 

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

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