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28 London Road
Rainham Mark
Above photo, date unknown, showing the Rt. Hon Leslie Hore Belisha
standing under the sign. |
Above postcard, circa 1964, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, date unknown. |
Above drawing, date unknown. |
Above sign, 1973.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com.
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Above aluminium card issued 1950. Sign series 2 number 2. |
The licence was transferred from the "Crown"
in Wood Street, Brompton on 23 May 1938, although the name change was not
confirmed until 15th August 1938, so it may have briefly been the Crown at
Rainham Mark. The Pub was owned by Frederick Leney & Sons Limited,
Wateringbury.
Leslie Hore Belisha was created a baron in 1954, and it was he who
introduced the pedestrian crossing enabling people to cross the roads more
safely than before.
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Lincolnshire Echo, Monday 15 August 1938.
Mr. Hore-Belisha Blesses "Belisha Beacon Inn."
Chatham magistrates today gave approval for a new public house at
Gillingham to be named the "Belisha Beacon."
It was built to replace an old house which stood at the gates of Chatham
Barracks, and which had been acquired by the War Office for military
extensions.
In a letter read to the court. Mr. Hore-Belisha, the Secretary for War,
gave approval for the new title, stating. "I wish the inn much good
fortune and great happiness to all who enter it. May its fame, if not
its name, be widespread.
The new house stands immediately opposite a pedestrian crossing.
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Kent & Sussex Courier 19 August 1938.
MINISTER'S GOOD WISHES FOR PUBLIC HOUSE.
"The Belisha Beacon" is the name given to a new public house at Rainham
Mark, Kent. It was built to take the place of the old "Crown Inn" which
stood at the gates of the Brompton Barracks, Gillingham, nearby. Its
site has often been considered for an extension to the barracks, and now
this has come about, and in its place barracks of the most modern type
will be erected.
In keeping with tradition, the name of the new inn will record its
history, and Mr Hore-Belisha has expressed his appreciation in the
following letter to Whitbread and Co.:- "I am much refreshed by your
proposal and I wish the inn much good fortune and great happiness to all
who enter it. May its fame, if not its name, be widespread. It is
appropriate for the Phoenix Brewery to raise a new edifice from the
ashes of the old."
By coincidence "The Belisha Beacon" stands immediately opposite a
pedestrian crossing, a fact of which the artist. Miss Kathleen M.
Claxton, has made use in designing a sign.
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Chatham News 07 April 1939.
Darts Team's Fine Record.
The "Crown" darts
team, winners of the Rainham Darts League, visited the "Belisha Beacon"
on Thursday of last week, and, ably led by their darts’ dictator, W.
Gransden, thoroughly beat the "Beacon" by four legs to one. The result
was not surprising, as no other team in the Medway district has ever
beaten the "Crown" team.
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LICENSEE LIST
STANLEY Charles Henry 7/Feb/1938-4/July/38
WELLS Percy Stanley 4/July/1938-55+ (age 39 in 1939)    
HARRINGTON A E 1957+
ODHAMS Christopher 1971-74+
   
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1939
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1948
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1951
From the Kelly's Directory 1953
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1955
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1957
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1971
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1972
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1973
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1974
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