DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Monday, 09 October, 2023.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1480

Compasses Inn

5 Mar 2023

(Name to)

Sole Street

Crundale

01227 700300

http://www.thecompassescrundale.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/compasses-inn

Above photo taken from their web site.

Compasses Inn 2011

Above photo 2011 by Oast House Archives Creative Commons Licence.

Compasses Inn 2014

Above photo 19 May 2014, by Adam Swain from http://www.flickr.com.

Compasses inside 2012

Photo 6 October 2012, from http://www.flickr.com by Jelltex.

Compasses Inn Rob and Donna Taylor 2019

Above photo showing licensees Rob and Donna Taylor 2019.

Compasses 2022

Above photo 2022, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Compasses Inn sign 2011Compasses sign 2012

Above sign left 2011. Sign right, 2012.

Compasses Inn sign 2016

Above sign 2016.

With thanks from Roger Pester www.innsignsociety.com

 

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 28 July 1894. Price 1d.

CRUNDALE. FATAL ACCIDENT TO AN AGRICULTURAL LABOURER.

The East Kent Coroner (R. M. Mercer, Esq.) held an inquest on Monday at the “Compasses,” Crundale, on the body of John Thomas Barham, an agricultural labourer, aged 33.

It appeared that deceased and some other men came to Canterbury with two wagons and a cart, and went to the S.E.R. Station and loaded up with coal. They went out to Thanington and stopped at the “Hop Poles” a little while and then went on. When just past Mr. Finn's grounds the deceased challenged one of the men to a fight. William Lawrence. This Lawrence would not do, but said he would have a wrestle with deceased. They both soon fell on the ground with their heads on the footpath. They got up and neither of them was quarrelsome. Lawrence went on to Milton with his wagon, but the deceased went on to Buckholt by Thruxted and Penny Pot. When they left the “Hop Poles” at Canterbury they all had had enough to drink. When in penny Pot Wood the deceased tried to get up into the cart, and he fell down and the wheels of the cart passed over his legs. A man named Ernest Croucher, who was with the deceased at the time, took him to his house in the wagon, to Crundale. From the injuries received the deceased died at Crundale.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”

 

From the Whitstable Times, 6 January 1900. Price 1½d.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO AN AGRICULTURAL LABOURER

The East Kent Coroner (R. M. Mercer Esq.) held an inquest on Monday at the “Compasses,” Crundale, on the body of John Thomas Barham, an agricultural labourer, aged 33.

It appeared that deceased and some other men came to Canterbury with two Wagons and a cart. And went to the S.E.R. Station and loaded up with coal. They went out to Thanington and stopped at the “Hop Poles” a little while and then went on. When just past Mr. Finn's grounds the deceased challenged one of the men to fight – William Lawrence. This Lawrence would not do, but said he would have to wrestle with deceased. They both soon fell on the ground with their heads on the footpath. They got up and neither of them was quarrelsome. Lawrence went on to Milton with his wagon, but the deceased went on to Buckholt by Thruxted and Penny Pot. When they left the “Hop Poles” in Canterbury they all had had enough to drink. When in Penny Pot Wood the deceased tried to get up into the cart, and he fell down and the wheels of the cart passed over his legs. A man named Ernest Croucher, who was with the deceased at the time took him to his home in the wagon, to Crundale. From the injuries received the deceased died at Crundale.
The Jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

 

Edward Harvey's son William ran the "Ship" at Boughton Under Blean, and died at that pub in 1911.

I have also seen this addressed as being in East Ashford.

Local knowledge, further pictures, and licensee information would be appreciated.

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.

 

 Information from Rory Kehoe in December 2021 says the following:- The tenants left a few months ago, to run a restaurant in Tunbridge Wells and the pub has been boarded up/on the market. Sheps have found a new lessee, who is a Michelin Starred restaurateur from Thanet. The word is that he'll run the Compasses free of tie and wants to set up his own microbrewery on site.

Latest information accessed from their web on 2 February 2023 indicates they are now only open between Friday to Sunday inclusive.

 

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By liver Leonard, 24 January 2023.

Landlord of award-winning Kent pub The Compasses Inn in Crundale to call last orders.

The landlord of a pub once recognised in the prestigious Michelin Guide is calling last orders as he says the hospitality industry is in a "scary state".

Ben Duckworth will pour his last pint at the award-winning Compasses Inn, in the rural village of Crundale between Ashford and Canterbury, on March 5.

He has announced the sad news to his customers, revealing that despite the best efforts of him and his team it is "time to accept defeat".

"The time has unfortunately come to write the post that we never wanted to write," Mr Duckworth said.

"Despite all our efforts and hopes that we could make this business work, sadly it's not meant to be."

Mr Duckworth took over the pub in 2021 with renowned chef Ben Crittenden, who runs the Michelin-starred Stark restaurant in Broadstairs, but the pair parted ways shortly after.

The Compasses Inn was previously owned by Rob and Donna Taylor, who received a Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide during their time in charge.

Mr Duckworth - the co-founder of South London’s Affinity Brew Co - says the company has struggled with challenges brought about by the cost-of-living crisis.

He added: "The cumulative effect of the multiple let downs we've suffered over the past year, together with the huge increases in energy and suppliers' costs, has in the end simply been too much to absorb.

"This is an unprecedented time for the hospitality sector, it's genuinely scary to see the state it's in, and the businesses and people within it desperately need your support and understanding right now.

"The understandable downturn in people's spending as an inevitable side effect of the cost of living crisis has completed this perfect storm.

"We'd like to extend our thanks to everyone who's made us feel so welcome during our year in Sole Street. We hope we've made some lifelong friends and we truly hope that whoever takes over is able to continue to offer you the pub experience you so badly desired.

"A huge thanks also to Shepherd Neame, who have given us every chance to succeed and supported us when we most needed it.

"We've tried and tried so many different things, but our best efforts haven't been good enough and it's time to reluctantly accept defeat."

The Compasses Inn has a 4.5 rating on Tripadvisor and was previously ranked number eight in a list of Britain's top 50 gastropubs.

In 2019 it also placed 19th in the UK's 50 best Sunday Roasts – the only place in Kent to feature on that list.

Compasses calendar 2007

Rosie Baur, landlady Lisa Smart and Lorna Blatchford pose for the Compasses' 2007 charity calendar which was started to raise money for cancer charities in memory of former regular Ian Parrott.

Compasses calendar 2007

Compasses former landlady Lisa Smart, left, is joined by Rosie Baur to promote the pub's charity calendar.

The pub was threatened by closure in 2003 but was saved by Shepherd Neame and reopened after a £50,000 refurbishment under new landlady Lisa Smart, who had served behind the bar for the previous three years.

The 15th century pub has seen a long history and has hosted various community events over the years.

Staff and regulars stripped off for a series of nude calendars to raise money for cancer charities in memory of former punter Ian Parrott, who died in 2005, aged 49.

The following year, strongman Colin Anderson boosted funds to support cancer charities when he lifted a 100kg log over his head 12 times in just 75 seconds.

Mr Duckworth is determined to make the final weeks of his time at the pub memorable.

Compasses strong man 2006

Colin Anderson lifts a 100kg log as many times as possible in 75 seconds to raise money for charity in 2006.

"Our last day of trading at The Compasses will be Sunday, March 5, which is also the last day of our annual beer festival, Cask 23," he said.

"We ask you to please support us and spread the word to help us to sell out the festival and have a farewell party to remember."

Customers have already started to react to the announcement, expressing their sadness about the closure.

One person commented: "Really sorry to hear this but the problem is the current conditions, not you or your efforts. All the very best for the future."

Another said: "Absolutely gutted to read this. We are really sad for you as we know how immensely hard you have worked."

 

Well, this one did cease serving on the 5th March 2023 but reopened again in September 2023 by the former operators of the "Timber Batts" in Bodsham, and I believe with it the new name of "Timber Batts @ The Compasses."

 

LICENSEE LIST

LEGGETT John 1861+ (age 34 in 1861Census)

JARVIS Stephen 1891+ (age 59 in 1891Census)

HARVEY Edward 1898-1908 (age 64 in 1901Census)

Last pub licensee had DANIELS John Dilnot 1911+

SADLER Ernest 1939+ (age 24 in 1939)

TAYLOR Rob & Donna 2012-19+

DUCKWORTH Ben 2022-Dec/2023

Last pub licensee had BERRY Ross & Sarah Sept/2023 Next pub licensee had

 

CensusCensus

 

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

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