Halfway Road
Minster on Sea (Sheppey)
https://whatpub.com/halfway-house
The above "Halfway House" preceded the one there today and was on the
opposite side of the road. Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by
Debi Birkin. |
Above photo, date unknown. By kind permission of Trevor Edwards. |
Above photo, showing the "Oddfellows Arms" on the left and the "Halfway
House" on the right, date unknown, kindly sent by Patrick O'Grady. |
Above photo showing the above blown up. |
Above image from Google, July 2009, showing the site of the original
"Halfway House." |
Above photo showing the new "Halfway House" date unknown, kindly sent by
Debi Birkin. |
Above photo February 2009. By Trevor Edwards. |
From the Kentish Gazette, Friday 9 November, 1792.
Thomas Goodwin from Sheerness begs leave to acquaint the Ladies and
Gentlemen in the Isle of Sheppey and the public in general, that he has
taken the "Halfway House Inn," in the parish of Minster, and humbly
solicits their favours, ensuring them every attention to ensure their
approbation; and they may depend upon being accommodated with the best
of wines and all other liquors.
Ladies and Gentlemen travelling into the Isle of Sheppey, will find it a
comfortable lodging house, as every attention will be paid to the
neatest and well airing of beds.
The "Halfway House" is two miles from Sheerness two from Minster and one
from Queensborough.
N.B. Good saddle horses and chaise to let.
Minster, October 29th, 1792.
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Kentish Gazette, 16 June 1820.
DEATH.
June 6, Mrs. Dye, wife of Mr. Robert Dye, landlord of the "Half-way
House," Minster.
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Kentish Gazette, 11 May, 1821.
Mr. Dye, at the "Halfway House," in the parish of Minster, in
Sheppey, at this time possesses an ewe sheep, dropped with three
legs only, which has produced nine lambs within the first five
years, and has now thirty-seven of its own progeny running in the
same field with her.
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Southeastern Gazette, 5 July 1853.
Stealing Money at Sheppy.
Ebenezer Turner, 21, shoemaker, was charged with stealing a
half-crown, three shillings, and a sixpence, the money of Charles
Jenkins, from his person, at Minster in Sheppy.
It appeared that the son of prosecutor, a lad of fourteen years of
age, agreed to go "primrosing" with the prisoner, and they went to
the "Halfway House" between Minster and Sheerness, where they had
two pennyworth of bread and cheese, for which the lad (who had then
the money named in the indictment in his pocket) paid, and also for
a pennyworth of milk. They then went into a field, and Jenkins,
after counting his money, said he had 6s. 3d. left. Prisoner said he
did not believe he had, and on Jenkins taking it out to show him he
took 6s., saying it was his, and refused to give it up. The lad
afterwards told a young man named Harris of the robbery, who
overtook prisoner, and questioned him about it, when he admitted
taking the money, but said the lad’s mother owed it to him, and he
meant to "stick to it." He was very violent and threatened to knock
the young man down, but on a constable (Pratton) making his
appearance, he offered the lad 3s. 6d. of the money, which Harp
prevented his taking, and he was then taken into custody.
The prisoner put in a written statement, in which he admitted taking
the money, but denied having any intention of stealing it, and
stated that he afterwards offered the whole of the money to the lad.
The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
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Kentish Gazette, 28 February 1854.
Eliza Hills, of the "Half-way House Inn," in the parish of Minster, was
fined 10s. and 18s. 6d. costs, for keeping her house open, and suffering
persons to be drinking therein, during the hours of divine service, in
the forenoon of Sunday, the 12th inst.
The two case was brought forward by the newly appointed superintending
constable of that division, Mr. Green.
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Maidstone journal and Kentish Advertiser, Saturday 4th July 1857.
Sheppey and Sheerness.
A match of cricket was played on Thursday in a field at the "Halfway
House," between 11 Gentlemen of the Royal Artillery and 11 Gentlemen of
Her Majesty's Ship Edinburgh. The play on both sides was excellent, the
latter gentlemen winning by 4 wickets. The day being fine, very many
ladies of the town honoured them with their presence. A luncheon was
afterwards provided by the landlady, which gave general satisfaction.
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From the Kentish Chronicle, Saturday 2 August, 1862.
MURDER IN THE ISLE OF SHEPPY.
On Wednesday the body of a man dressed in very mean apparel, was found
in a wheat field, near Barrow Hill, in the parish of Minster, Sheppy,
not far from the road side, quite dead, and apparently murdered from the
number of gun-shot wounds on his person. From enquiries in the
neighbourhood, we learnt that the name of the deceased was Elliott, that
he was a labourer in the Dockyard at Sheerness, but resided or lodged
with a brother at Queenborough, and that it was his practice to take a
walk after having his supper.
On Tuesday evening, deceased had his supper about half-past eight
o'clock, and afterwards went out for his accustomed walk, he was met a
little before nine o’clock, near the spot where the body was found by a
boy who bade him “good night.” About half-past nine some persona living
near the same place heard the report of two gun-shots, and thought that
some depredator was shooting rabbits.
The body was found in the morning by some men going to their work, who
raised an alarm, and on the body being examined by a surgeon, about 120
gun shot wounds were found on the chest and face, and on one hand. There
was not any weapon found, and from the nature of the wounds it is
thought that the deceased could not have committed suicide The affair is
involved in mystery.
An inquest was held on Thursday of the body. The first witness called
was John Cheeseman, who identified the body as that of William Elliott,
a labourer in Sheerness Dockyard. Edward Stride, surgeon, was next
called, and stated that he had made a careful examination of the body.
He found external marks of gunshot wounds on the right side of the
chest, also on the left side, on the forehead, and the whole of the
face. On opening the body, he found that the shot from the right side,
with a few exceptions, had entered the lung, and lodged in the
substance; these on the left had not penetrated so much. Most of the
shots on face were severe, one haying knocked away one of the top front
teeth and one shot entered the right eye. Most of them had gone in a
direct line. He considered the injuries to be the effect of one charge
only. The cause of death was haemorrhage of the lungs. T. M. Green,
superintendent Kent county constabulary, deposed, from information
received about 7.30 a.m., he went to a field called Pheasants-field
about one mile from the “Halfway House,” and found the body of a man
lying on its back, with one hand by its side, the other Slightly folded
on the abdomen. The coroner adjourned the inquiry till the 11th of
August, to enable the police to prosecute their inquiries with the view
of discovering the perpetrator of the murder.
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From the Maidstone and Kentish Journal, 2 September 1862.
QUEENBOROUGH. THE LATE MYSTERIOUS MURDER — REAPPREHENSION OF THE TWO JOHNSONS.
The Sittingbourne Police Court was crowded on Wednesday, in consequence
of the re-apprehension of William and Edward Johnson, charged with the
murder of William Elliot, at Sheerness. The magistrates on the Bench
were the Rev. G. B. Moore, and E. Twopeny, Esq, Mr. Johnson, of
Faversham, defended the prisoners. The additional evidence was somewhat
singular in its nature. It was given by Thomas Gurnett, who deposed:- I
am a schoolmaster at Queenborough National School. Have known the
prisoners fifteen years. On Monday, August 18, I was coming from
Minster, and hearing a cart near, asked them to give me a ride. One of
them said, "No; I cannot" I recognised it to be William Johnson's voice,
and said, “Oh, it's Mr. Johnson;” who replied. “Halloo, is it you, Tom?”
I then said, “I do not want to ride” but he said. “Get up, get up.” I
got up, and soon after said. “I hope and believe you are innocent.” He
said, “What do people say?” I replied, “Some say guilty, others not.”
After a little more conversation the elder prisoner said, with much
emotion. “The man I shot I never saw!” I said “Hold your tongue, hold
your tongue.” Johnson was about to make another observation, when the
younger Johnson said. “For God's sake, father, hold your tongue.” Other
conversation ensued, but nothing material. When we got to the turning to
Sheerness I left them, and went home. I told my wife that my opinion of
Johnson was altered, and that I believed him guilty, or words to that
effect. I mentioned to a policeman that I knew a little, but declined to
tell him what till Monday last, when Sergeant Noakes called on me. I
then told him what I have now stated. In cross-examination the witness
explained the reason of his saying “I do not want to ride” after asking
for one, that to be seen the company with suspected persons was not
pleasant. John Mackerell deposed:- On the evening of the 29th July I was
going from “Halfway House” to Neat’s Court, across Thirteen-acre-field,
when about forty yards from the entrance to the field I saw the flash
and heard the report of a gun, in the direction of where the body was
found; the time I judge to be about ten minutes after nine.
I knew the time by the Sheerness gun. Heard a cart stop before the gun
fired, and it sounded to be at the same place. Could not see the cart;
it was too dark. Heard another cart; did not see either. After the shot
had been fired about five minutes, the cart, that seemed to have stopped
near the place went on towards the “Halfway House.” I told the bailiff
what I had heard, but no one else till the 6th instant, when I mentioned
it at a public house in Queensborough. Superintendent Green applied for
a remand, and the solicitor for the defence said he should reserve his
remarks until the evidence closed. They were then remanded until
Wednesday next. It is said that witnesses will be found next Wednesday
to prove that Johnson attempted to get them to swear falsely as to his
whereabouts on the night of the murder.
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From the Kentish Gazette, Saturday, 21 March, 1863.
THE QUEENBOROUGH MURDER.
The Grand Jury have ignored the bill against the two prisoners charged
with the murder at Queenborough.
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From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 12 January, 1867. Price 1d.
Henry Harwood Williams, landlord of the “Halfway House,” Minster, was
charged with drawing liquor during prohibited hours on Sunday, 16th
December last.
The case was dearly proved by P.C. Gillett and P.C. Harman, who found
the house open as if on a week day. Over 40 persons were in the house,
and several pots of beer were standing about.
Mr. Hayward, on the part of the defendant, endeavoured to show that the
persons in the house were travellers, but the Bench held they were not
so.
Fined £5 19s. 8d. including costs.
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Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 01 April 1876.
MARRIAGE. SHEPPY.
March 25th, at Minster Church, Sheppy, Mr. Thomas Gest, of Woolwich, to
Lydia, the fifth and youngest daughter of Mr. John Ward, of the "Halfway
House," Minster-Road, formerly of the "Coal Exchange," Faversham.
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From the
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/ 30 June 2011 by Gemma Constable.
HALFWAY HOUSE BLAZE DRAMA
Firefighters tackling the blaze at the Halfway House pub
A popular pub's kitchen was destroyed after it was engulfed in flames
today.
It is thought the blaze started in cooking equipment in the ground floor
kitchen at the "Halfway House" pub at about 3pm.
Fire crews from Sheppey and Sittingbourne were on the scene within
minutes and managed to stop flames spreading to the rest of the
building.
The main pub area has been slightly damaged by smoke.
Queenborough Road was closed to traffic while the three crews fought the
blaze wearing breathing apparatus.
Witnesses described seeing smoke
pouring from the roof and front of the building and fire-fighters worked
to remove the tiles from the roof to tackle it.
There had been people in the pub, which is also home to the Attic's
Spice restaurant, but they managed to evacuate before it really took
hold.
The fire was under control by about 4pm and fire-fighters were able to
reopen the road shortly afterwards.
Halfway resident Linda Brinklow said she was alerted to the fire when
she smelt the smoke and went to investigate.
"I got closer, the smoke was getting thicker and thicker and people were
coming out onto the streets to watch," she said.
Watch manager Andy Bridger-Smart said after tackling the blaze initially
they turned their attention to stopping it spreading to the rest of the
pub.
He said: "After the extremely hard work of the crews, damaged has been
limited to the kitchen and extension roof.
"The cause is under investigation but it is believed to have started in
cooking equipment.
"It's not being treated as suspicious."
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This pub is one in the list of my "Project 2014."
As such I have found a picture of the pub, but to date have no other
information. 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.
LICENSEE LIST
DYE Robert 1820+
HILL Walter 1851+ (age 42 in 1851)
HILLS Eliza 1854-62+ (widow age 49 in 1861)
WILLIAMS Henry Harwood 1867+
SHRUBSOLE Joseph William 1874+
WARD John 1876+
BAKER Walker 1881+ (age 48 in 1881)
HAWES James 1891+ (age 39 in 1891)
COPPENS George 1901+ (age 55 in 1911)
GRANT Louis 1903-13+
DOBINSON J B 1922+
LUTMAN Robert H 1930-38+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/HalfwayHouse.shtml
Whitstable Times
and Herne Bay Herald
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
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