|
104 Seal Road (Greatness 1876)
Sevenoaks
https://whatpub.com/elephants-head
|
Information taken from
https://www.sevenoakssociety.co.uk accessed 15 October 2020.
Elephants’ Heads and Tales.
Probably in 1867 (the earliest reference traced) a public house was
built on Seal Road, Greatness, on land neighbouring Camden’s Wildernesse
estate, and was named The Elephant’s Head in deference to the Camden
family. (In fact the estate’s latest owner, George Charles Pratt, 2nd
Marquess Camden, had died in 1866 and it was leased to Charles Mills
{later Lord Hillingdon} who bought it in 1885).
The remarkable picture below (used courtesy of the Ed Thompson
collection) was taken by local photographer Mr Fielder. The identity of
the elephant is not known for certain, but it has been suggested that
this more unusual visitor is Lizzie. Her tale is a sad one. Lizzie and
the pony – her constant companion, Dannie – were owned by Tom Fossett
who ran a circus which had its winter quarters in Lenham in Kent. At the
start of the war in 1939, the circus stopped touring and the pair were
sold to Sir Arthur Tyrwhitt-Drake, owner of Maidstone Zoo. When the
circus came off the road it was in Wales and so the elephant, pony and
keeper made the walk from Wales to Maidstone – pausing, appropriately,
at The "Elephant’s Head."
(Sevenoaks.) However the trek was too much for Lizzie. Little
more than twelve months later she suffered a massive heart attack and
died.
 A notice of auction of February 1868 stated that the pub was also an
inn, with “a capital supply of good water”, four bedrooms, and stabling
for three horses. The pub also hired out ponies, flys, traps and chaises
– perhaps for the influx of visitors arriving by the new railroad at Bat
and Ball station.
The pub closed in 2009 and the building is now a veterinary practice.
Above Google image, July 2016.
|
|
From Kentish Chronicle 19 January 1867.
WANTED.
A Thorough good General Servant. Must understand plain cooking, washing,
and ironing, and have a good character. Age about 22. Apply to Mrs.
Rutter,
"Elephant's Head," Greatness, Sevenoaks.
|
|
From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 5 June 1874.
Sevenoaks Petty Sessions. Public House Cases.
Charles Checkland, landlord of the "Elephant's Head," was summoned for
allowing beer to be drunk on the premises, during prohibited hours, on
26th April.
Mr. Dennis defended.
P.C. Holland, K.C.C., said that on the 1st inst., at about 12 o'clock,
he visited the defendant's house, and in a stable at the rear he found
two men. He saw one of them put something behind a basket, and on
looking he found it was a quart pot full half full of beer. He asked
them their names, and they refused to give them for some time.
In reply to Mr. Dennis, the constable said that it was the 1st May.
Mr. Dennis said that the policemen had sworn to a wrong date, and the
Chairman said that was so, and the objections would be fatal.
The case was dismissed.
|
|
From Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 17 June 1881.
Pony and Chaise to be let on hire on Moderate Terms.
Apply,- "Elephant's Head," Greatness, Sevenoaks.
|
|
From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 17 January 1941.
KENT COUNTY SPITFIRE FUND.
Donations were previously received to the amount totalling £29,060 0s. 4d.
Amounts included the following:-
£8 1s. 6d. The "Elephant Inn," Sevenoaks per Mr. J H. Styles.
TOTAL £29,284 15s. 10d
|
The pub was closed between 2008 and 2018 and was then turned into the Sevenoaks
Veterinary Practice.
LICENSEE LIST
CHECKLAND Charles 1871-74+ (age 50 in 1871 )
RUTTER Mrs 1876+
PEARCE George 1881+ (age 38 in 1881)
OWEN Emily T 1901+ (widow age 32 in 1901)
MASON Alice Mrs 1922+
STYLES John H 1930-41+
VAIA B 1988-90+
WELLS Emily to June/1902
WELLS James June/1902+
NOAKES Lewis William to Apr/1913
MASON Herbert Apr/1913+
MOODY ???? 1949-51
https://pubwiki.co.uk/ElephantsHead.shtml
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/elephantshead.html
Census
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser
Kent
and Sussex Courier
|
