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Fosten Green
Biddenden
Above photo, circa 1900 kindly sent by John Hickmott. Peter Hodges on
the left. |
Above photo 2019, kindly sent by Debi Birkin. |
Above map 1913. |
The building on the Cranbrook Road at Forsten Green is now a private
house known as "Kingsmead." The house opposite is Fosten Green Cottage.
As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will
be shown here.
Thanks for your co-operation.
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Southeastern Gazette, 11 January 1853.
Petty Sessions, Thursday. (Before W. P. Croughton, Esq., chairman,
the Rev. F. Barrow, and M. Tweedie, Esq.)
The license of the "King’s Head," Fosten-green, Biddenden, was
transferred from Stephen Brooks to Mr. Ham Levett.
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From a local paper, circa 1904.
Death of Mr. Peter Hodges.
We regret to record the death of Mr. Peter Hodges, landlord of the
"Kings Head Inn," Fosten Green, who after a fortnight suffering
calmly passed away on Monday. Mr. Hodges who was 64 years of age and
kept the "Kings Head Inn," for close-up on 24 years.
The funeral took place at Frittenden on Thursday, where the remains
were interred in the parish churchyard by the rector, Rev. R. Inglis.
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South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 6th March, 1917.
Adjourned Licensing Sessions.
The adjourned licensing sessions for the Cranbrook Petty Sessional
Division were held on Thursday, before Mr. E. L. Tomlin (chairman),
Captain G. S. Hancock, Messrs. J. A. Drush, W. Nash, J. Hanmer, A.
Hardcastle, and E. E. Selmes. Superintendent Cheeseman opposed
renewal of the following licences on the grounds of redundancy.
"Kings Head Inn," Biddenden, owned by Isherwood and Co. Ltd., of Maidstone, and held
by Owen Hodges.
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Kent Messenger and Gravesend Telegraph, Saturday 28th July, 1917.
The licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910.
Notice as to Sending in Claims to be treated as Persons Interested
in Licensed Premises.
County of Kent, Western Division.
Notice is hereby given that the Compensation Authority for the above
area having decided at their Principal Meeting held on 12th day of
July, 1917, to refuse the Renewal of Licences of the premises
specified below, all persons claiming to be interested in the said
premises for the purpose of the payment of Compensation under the
said act other than the Licensees and the Registered owner of the
said premises are required to send to the Compensation Authority
notice of their claims before the 20th day of August, 1917, for the
purpose of enabling the Compensation Authority to ascertain in
manner provided by the Licensing Rules, 1910, the persons entitled
to Compensation on under the said Act in respect of the said
premises.
Notice of claims, giving particulars of the interests claimed,
should be sent to the Clerk of the Compensation Authority at this
Office at the Sessions House, Maidstone.
"King's Head," Biddenden, Publicans. Owen Hodges. Isherwood, Foster
& Stacey, Ltd., Maidstone.
W.B. Prosser, Clerk of the Compensation Authority, Sessions House,
Maidstone. Dated this 26th day of July, 1917.
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Maidstone Telegraph Saturday 17th November 1917.
West Kent Licensing Committee. Compensation appointments.
Mr. Coles Child presided, on Thursday, at a meeting of this
committee, at the Sessions House, Maidstone, the other members
present being: Colonel J. M. Rogers, Colonel Grubb, Messrs C. Tuff,
Joseph Barker, R Batchelor, P. Butt-Gow, S. Lee Smith, H. Hannem, W.
A. Smith-Masters, J. H. Hay Rudton, H. J. Wood and G. Naylor with
the Clerk (Mr. W. B. Prosser), and the Valuer (Mr. H. M. Cobb, of
Higham).
It was the "supplemental" meeting for the awarding of compensation
in respect of licences "referred" earlier in the year.
Arranged.
The Clerk announced that agreements had been arrived at in the
following cases:-
"King's Head," public house, Biddenden £711 - £521 for the owners
(Messrs. Isherwood, Foster and Stacey,) and £90 for the tenant (Mr.
Owen Hodges.)
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From an email received 10 August 2024. My family lived in this
house for over 50 years from the mid 40s to 2000.
First my mother's family (Knowles) then my Father's - (Shapland).
No plumbing or electricity when the arrived after the war.
Grandfather (maternal) built many out buildings which my my
father subsequently improved by providing brickwork, notably at the
bottom of the yard.
Grandfather, an RAF Sunderland flying boat engineer used a petrol
engine to provide electricity, also built a piggery that
fell apart from disuse.
His original idea was to be self-sufficient growing vegetables,
chickens, cows for milk. He sadly died in the mid 50s.
We had a riding stables for many years.
My grandmother owned a copy of the very same black and white
photograph, before the old place was pulled down. The oast house
hadn't changed much from then.
We often pointed out the iron reinforcement where the pup sign
hung.
The "half" French windows that lead out onto the front lawn have
been filled in since we left. The uneven brickwork betrays their
position, where customers could wander out and sit outside. There
were furthermore, 3 frosted/translucent windows in the inner walls
of the three front rooms, we screened one and left the other two. I
imagine they were for passing drinks etc.
Central heating was never installed, freezing upstairs in Winter.
A small coke boiler in the Kitchen provided hot water, the other
rooms had log fires.
Sadly in the last 20 years some of the very decorative chimney
pieces have been removed...walls knocked down, skylights installed.
Yours Sincerely,
Hugo Shapland. |
LICENSEE LIST
BROOKS Catherine 1832-41+ (age 70 in 1841 )
BROOKS Stephen 1851-Jan/53 (also farmer age 56 in 1851)
LEVETT Ham Jan/1853-61+ (also farmer age 62 in 1861)
LEVETT Alfred 1871+ (also farmer age 46 in 1871)
HODGES Peter 1881-12/Sept/1904 dec'd (also farmer age 64 at death)
HODGES Owen 1911-17 (also farmer age 45 in 1911)
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
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