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Maidstone Road
Blue Bell Hill
Above photo circa 1980. Taken by Gary Parkin. |
Above photo showing the garage that stood opposite the pub circa 1980.
Taken by Gary Parkin. |
Above photo circa 1980. Taken by Gary Parkin. |
Above photo showing Ann Mingay, circa 1980. Taken by Gary Parkin. |
Licensee Roy Gibbons, 1980s-90s. Kindly sent by Tony Pope. |
Above photo, February 2009, showing the location of the pub. |
Above image from Google, 2013, showing what is believed to be the
site of the "Bridgewood Cottage." Just behind the sign by the tree.
Above photo showing the site of the now demolished pub. |
Above sign 1964. |
 
Above sign left, 1980s. Sign right, August 1986.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com. |
I haven't found much information regarding this pub at present, but the
following information has been put together from a discussion on a blog site
on the pub.
... In the late 80s it was managed by an old couple who kept the place
looking like their front room. They did a roaring trade when the roads were
being improved and then it shut and was bulldozed soon afterwards, I guess
1989 or 1990..... Knew the pub well the garden wall is still there now Shep
& Neame I think, used to have a long bench seat made from bus seats don't
recall a fire there but possibly vandalism after closing..... I do remember
the pub very well, it was one of the more eccentric ones in Chatham. In my
recollection there were bus seats in the Public bar and coach seats in the
Saloon. It was run by a woman, who, as I recall, had the place until it
closed. As is usually the case, once the pub closed there was a convenient
fire which rendered the property unsafe. How many pubs has that happened
to?..... It was nicknamed 'The Busman's' because one of the seats in the bar
appeared to have been taken straight out of an Maidstone and District bus
(probably a 101 that went between Medway and Maidstone).
Gary Parkin goes on to say:- Most people only seem to remember the Bus
Seats, and not the wonderful array of characters that used to frequent it,
and as for not being very busy is total rubbish, on a Friday Night you could
hardly move, and Tuesdays was Darts Night which always had a good turnout.
Most of the bus seats were ousted when the pub underwent a refurbishment
in 1975 (if memory serves) there was just one old seat left, which was next
to the Dart Board, No one ever sat in it, I can’t imagine why.
Further information found says that the pub closed in June or July 1989
and shortly afterward was damaged in a fire caused by squatters. The pub was
finally demolished about 2000.
One time a Mason's tied house, but the brewery was bought out by Shepherd
Neame in 1956 and the brewery was subsequently closed and has been
demolished.
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From the South Eastern Gazette 1883.
Sale of freehold residence, Orchard, Beerhouse, and Dwelling Houses.
Mr. Alfred T. Randall has received instructions from the trustees of
the late Mr. Solomon Cordingley to sell by auction, at the "Mitre Hotel,"
Chatham, on Tuesday, May 22nd, 1883 at 6 for 7 o'clock, the following freehold
property.
Lot 1 the desirable detached residence known as Bridge Wood
House, Maidstone Road, about 3 1/2 miles from Chatham, containing 4
bedrooms, drawing and dining rooms, kitchen, pantry, scullery, wash
house, conservatory, stable and coach house, out-buildings and offices,
large and well stocked flower and kitchen gardens. Also orchard in rear,
containing 2 acres 24 1/2 perches, of the annual value of £50, to be
sold with possession.
Lot 2. A capital Beerhouse known as "Bridge Wood
Cottage," Maidstone Road, containing two bedrooms, parlour, tap room, bar
and kitchen, with stable and outbuildings in the rear. Let to Mr. D.
Grant, respectable tenant, at a low rental of £20 per annum.
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Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 15 April 1892.
By order of the Trustees of the late Solomon Cordingly Esq. Blue Bell
Hill, Burham. Midway between Chatham and Maidstone.
Mr. W. E. R. Randall is favoured with instructions to sell by auction on
Tuesday 19th April, 1892, at the "Mitre Hotel," Chatham, at 7 o'clock
precisely, in one lot, 5 brick-built freehold cottages having a frontage
to the main road, leaving from Chatham to Maidstone, (adjoining the "Bridgewood
Beerhouse"), in the occupation of Messrs., Greenfield, Marshal,
Broomfield and Tring, weekly tenants, producing £32 10s. per annum,
together with a small piece of woodland adjoining.
The proprieties may be viewed by permission of the respective tenants.
Particulars and Conditions of Sale to be obtained by of the Solicitors,
Messrs. Prall and Son, High Street, Rochester; at the place of sale; or
of the auctioneer, 10, Railway Street, Chatham.
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Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, 12 December 1901.
BURHAM. Licensing prosecution.
At the Malling Sessions on Monday, Robert H. Baker, of the "Bridge Wood
Cottage" beer house, was summoned for selling liquor during prohibited
hours, on Sunday, November 3rd, and Sunday, November 17th.
Mr Ellis defended.
Sergeant Thompson deposed that on November 17th he secreted himself, and
watched the defendant's house from 10.30 till 11.30 a.m. He saw 43
people enter the house, all with one exception, coming from the
direction of Chatham. At 11.30 the witness visited the house, and found
25 men drinking and smoking. Ten of them were in the bar with quart and
pint pots containing beer before them. In the tap room they were 5 men
with pots containing beer, while there were 10 men in the parlour with
pots of beer before them.
Witness told a corporal to take the names of those present, and said
that he would take proceedings against the defendant. Defendant asked if
he had to shut the house on Sundays. Witness told him he ought to know
what to do. Defendant let the men out of the house.
By Mr Ellis:- Chatham, and Rochester and Maidstone for more than three
miles from the defendant's house. From where witness was hid he could
not hear if the men represented themselves as bona fide travellers.
Defendant did not ask if he was to close his house on Sundays to
travellers. All that was done was done openly. None of those in the
house lived in the locality, as far as he knew they might come from
Rochester and Chatham.
Corporal Golding stated that while he took the names he asked six of the
men if they were not present when he called on the premises Sunday and
they said they were.
By Mr Ellis:- Each man gave an address more than three miles from my
house. In answer to the bench, Mr. Ellis said that a person who went for
a stroll, and had a glass of beer was a bona fide traveller, but if beer
was the object of the walk, he was not the bona fide traveller. Suppose
one of these men had not been a working man but an eminent author. He
had one on his mind who would stroll out, and go to the "Leather
Bottle."
The Clerk:- That was before 1872.
Defendant's wife stated that all the men said they were bona fide
travellers.
The Bench were of opinion that a proportion of the men but not bona fide
travellers, and that that was known to the defendant. As it was the
first case against the defendant, a nominal fine of £1. 11s. costs, was
imposed.
The case of November 3rd was not proceeded with, defendant paying the
cost.
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From an email received 14 April 2016.
I am 55 and my
Aunty Lilly and Uncle Ken lived in Bridgewood during the 60's, I used to
play with my Cousins in the Builders yard opposite the pub that was
owned by Mr Lewis, he always used to shout get out my sand.
In the pub was a glass bell jar that contained chocolates and sweets,
I used to go in as a 5 year old unaccompanied child and if I had a penny
or two get something. Paul Arnold lived just a few doors down on the
same side of the road as the pub.
Further up the road at the junction with Robin Hood lane there used
to be a BP petrol station. The road was the main one over bluebell hill
and the pub backed onto a roundabout that had slips onto the M2. I can
remember in later years riding a chopper and nearly killing myself under
a lorry against the back wall of the pub.
Her house was bought under a compulsory purchase order and they got
well below market value for it.
Clive Percy. |
LICENSEE LIST
GRANT D Mr 1883+
JARRATT Stephen 1891+
GIBBONS Roy 1962-66+
BARKING ???? 1967-70
GIBBONS Roy 1980s-90s
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