DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Maidstone, December, 2023.

Page Updated Maidstone:- Sunday, 10 December, 2023.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1850-

Bower Inn

Open 2020+

66 Tonbridge Road

Maidstone

01622 764926

https://whatpub.com/bower-inn

https://youtu.be/ObulgEHcWis

Bower Inn 2009

Above photo 2009 by David Anstiss Creative Commons Licence.

Bower Inn 2010

Above photo 2010 by Oast House Archives Creative Commons Licence.

Bower Inn

Above photos by Roy Moore, 18 May 2014.

Bower Inn

Above photos by Roy Moore, 18 May 2014.

Bower Inn sign 1992Bower Inn sign 2010

Above sign left, June 1992, sign right, 2010.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Bower Inn sign 2018

Above sign 2018.

With thanks from Roger Pester www.innsignsociety.com.

 

Mentioned as being in Bower Road this establishment was both an Inn and also Grocers in 1855.

In 1869-70 the pub was part of a consortium who were advertising their goods of selling tea in response to grocers' selling beer and wine. (Click for further details.)

 

The pub used to be Shepherd Neame but changed to a free-house sometime between 2009 and 2010, keeping its old colours.

 

I will be adding the historical information when I find or are sent it, but this project is a very big one, and I do not know when or where the information will come from.

All emails are answered.

 

Kentish Gazette, 19 March 1850.

Inquest.

An inquest was held on Monday last, at the "Bower Inn," Maidstone, before F. F. Dally, Esq., coroner, on the body of a child named Charles Day, three years of age, son of Mr. Day, of Half Yoke, near East Farleigh, who died suddenly on the previous Sunday morning. Mr. Hoar, surgeon, who had made a post mortem examination of the body, said it appeared that deceased died of congestion of the brain, causing congestive apoplexy, which in so young a child was extremely remarkable.

 

Kentish Gazette, 28 October 1851.

Inquest. Sudden Death.

An inquest was held on Monday afternoon, at the "Bower Inn," on the Tunbridge-road, before F. F. Dally, Esq., coroner, on the body of H. Dove Esq.., R.N. who died suddenly on Friday last, at his residence, Fant-Road, in the 76th year of his age. Deceased had for one or two days before his death complained of a pain in his chest, but had not been under any medical treatment. On Friday afternoon he returned home some time after twelve o'clock, and then again repeated the complaint about his chest. About two o'clock Mr. Whatman, surgeon, was sent for, and attended. Deceased was then in bed, perfectly rational, and apparently labouring from spasms in the chest. Mr. Whatman prescribed, and a draught was administered to deceased, who died very shortly afterwards. From the evidence of the servant it appeared that after administering the medicine she left the room, but about two or three minutes afterwards, hearing her mistress both call and ring for her, she returned and then saw deceased lying partially out of bed, his face lying either upon or near a table which was by the side of the bed. Blood was at the time flowing from the bridge of his nose, from a recently inflicted blow, apparently caused by his face coming in contact with the edge of the table. She assisted her mistress in laying deceased on his back, and then immediately went for the assistance of their next-door neighbour, Mr. Laker, who fetched Mr. Watson, surgeon, and that gentleman pronounced life to be quite extinct. Mr. Whatman expressed his decided opinion that deceased had died from valvular disease of the heart, at the same time saying that when he left deceased he had not apprehended any immediate danger.

Verdict:— "Died from disease of the heart."

 

Southeastern Gazette, 5 April 1853.

Friday. (Before H. W. Joy, Esq., Mayor, and H. Argles, Esq.)
John Danells, landlord of the "Bower Inn," was charged by a young woman named Susanna Weston, with unlawfully assaulting and beating her.

The complainant deposed that she lived at Barming, and on Saturday week went into defendant’s house for some refreshment. On going away she forgot to take her basket, which contained various articles, and on Monday night she again went into the house and asked defendant civilly for the basket, when he directly began to "bully" her, pushed her into the road, knocked her down, tore her clothes, and hurt her knee very much. She soon afterwards saw a policeman, and told him the circumstances.

Police-constable Sunnucks said that the complainant came up to him shortly before eleven o’clock on Monday night, in a very excited state, and stated to him that she had been grossly assaulted by Danells. Her clothes were torn, and she had been down in the dirt.

The defendant denied having struck the complainant. She had, he said, been into his house three times during the last fortnight, complaining about an overcharge, and accusing him of having her basket, of which he knew nothing, coming on two occasions at eleven o'clock at night. She came in about that time on Monday night, and being very abusive, he merely took hold of her shawl and put her out of the house, and while doing so she fell down. She afterwards stood in the road and continued to abuse him.

He called Samuel Sisley, who stated that hearing a noise he looked out of his window, and heard some altercation between the defendant and complainant, the latter of whom came down the steps rather "sharpish." She then called defendant a "----- old rascal," used other abusive language, and went down the road, saying she would get a policeman to take him in charge.

Complainant:— I only called him a rogue and a "willin."

The evidence of the complainant as to the commission of the assault was uncorroborated, and the magistrates dismissed the case.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 14 February, 1860.

Transfer of Licenses.

At the Maidstone Police Court, on Saturday, before the Mayor (J. C. Stephens, Esq.), and C. Ellis, Esq., the following transfers of licenses were made.

The "Bower Inn," from Geo. Vaughan, to Frederick Edmund Wyborn.

 

 

LICENSEE LIST

DANELLS John 1851-55+ (age 49 in 1851Census)

EPPS Timothy to 22/Nov/1856

HODGSON Albert 22/Nov/1856-58+

VAUGHAN George to Feb/1860 Next pub licensee had Maidstone Telegraph

WYBOURN Frederick Edmund Feb/1860-67+ (age 33 in 1861Census) Maidstone TelegraphPost Office Directory 1867

BANKS John 1874-91+ (age 49 in 1881Census)

KLOCKENBUSCH Henry 1903+ Kelly's 1903

BARNS Harry 1911-13+ (age 50 in 1911Census)

CHANTLER James C 1918-30+

CHANTLER Gilbert Charles 1938-39+ (age 46 in 1939)

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

 

Maidstone TelegraphMaidstone Telegraph

CensusCensus

Post Office Directory 1867From the Post Office Directory 1867

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:-

TOP Valid CSS Valid XTHML

 

LINK to http://www.kentphotoarchive.com/