Above photo date unknown. Kindly supplied by Norman and Janet Webster.

Above photo, circa 1970. Note the sign half way up the sign board pole referring to the dolls on display in the bar area.

It was the tenants main draw card and for which the Padwell was locally famous. I regret I am unable to furnish there names but I think they were there for quite a few years.

Kindly supplied by Norman and Janet Webster.

Above photo date unknown. Kindly supplied by Norman and Janet Webster.

Above photo showing Janet (left) and Norm pulling the pint, circa 1970s.

Above photo 2006. Depicts the restaurant area added at the rear of the bar and a large addition to the bar area and private quarters upstairs. The frontal area started at approximate left of the roof drainpipe. Another two improvements made by us show up in this photo .Firstly the walled in patio was added and in this I was just the brickies labourer assisting my father in law who was a master bricklayer and who also laid the concrete tiles. Secondly and as profits diminished debt to the bank we cut two thirds off the garden and laid a sealed car park. Both, I think have paid off handsomely over the years. Kindly supplied by Norman and Janet Webster.

Photos taken on 18 May, 2007 from http://www.flickr.com by John Law.

Above sign left, date unknown, sign right, November 2000.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

From the Morning Advertiser, 16 January 1971.

Norman takes the Padwell.

After a three-month closure, the "Padwell" public-house at Stone Street, near Sevenoaks. has reopened with one of the youngest licensees in the district behind the bar.

He is 32-year-old Mr. Norman Webster, who is no stranger to the Sevenoaks area, for he used to run the "Crown," at Ide Hill for two years from 1965.

Mr. Webster moved into the Stone Street. "free house" in the latter i months of last year, and since then has carried out a complete £1,000 refit, with redecorations in both the bars and the living quarters.

In the next few months he hopes I to build up the trade at the house—mid-way between Seal and Ivy Hatch—and by the summer will have introduced a snack bar.

For the past two and a half years, Mr. Webster and his wife, Janet, have been running the "Bear," at Burwash, Sussex, but prefer "life in Kent." They have two daughters. Karen, age seven, and Hayley (3). Completing the “family”, are two Alsatians Lana and Katie.

A keen sportsman and gardener, Mr. Webster, before entering the Trade was employed as a foreman sheet metal worker, and lived at Charlton, South London.

He moved to Borough Green and served as a part-time barman for 11 months at the "Bullfinch," Riverhead, before taking over the Crown, Ide Hill.

From the Sevenoaks News, 20 January 1971.

Padwell re-opens to trade.

The Padwell public house at Stone Street, which used to be better known as The Doll’s House, has had a complete facelift, and reopened after three months closure.

Now it can boast one of the youngest landlords in the district, 32-year-old Mr. Norman Webster, who ran the "Crown" at Ide Hill for two years from 1965.

Mr. Webster moved into the Stone Street “free house” in the latter months of last year, and since then has carried out a complete £1,000 re-fit,

In the next few months be hopes to build up the trade at the house—mid-way between Seal and Ivy Hatch—and by the summer will have introduced a snack bar.

For the past two and a half years, Mr. Webster and his wife Janet have been running the "Bear," at Burwash, Sussex, but prefer "life in Kent.” They have two daughters, Karen, aged seven, and Hayley (3). Completing the “family” are two Alsatian dogs.

Mr. Norman Webster, new landlord of the Padwell, Stone Street, which has been closed for three months, with his wife, Janet, and their two Alsatians, Lana and Katie.

A keen sportsman and gardener, Mr. Webster was employed as a foreman sheet metal worker before entering the licensed trade and lived at Charlton, South London.

He moved to Borough Green and served as a part-time barman for 15 months at The Bullfinch, Kiverhead, before taking over the "Crown," Ide Hill.

From the ????

Norman is Kiwi bound with his Padwell profits.

WHEN Mr. Norman Webster bought the "Padwell" at Stone Street, near Ivy Hatch, for a modest £7,000 he thought he might have a bargain.

And how right he proved to be. For just two years later he has sold the pub for £35,000.

Mr. Webster, who is 34, said this week that this success story was not quite what it seemed.

“I have spent about £7,000 on improving the pub and in view of the massive increase in property prices, the price is not quite so fantastic as it seems, at first,” he said.

Mr. Webster, his wife Jan and their two children Karen, aged nine, and Hailey, five, will be leaving the "Padwell" at the end of February.

TOO EXPENSIVE.

The family will then live with relations in Dymchurch while Mr. Webster finalises his plans for emigrating to New Zealand.

Why is he going?

“I feel it is best for the kids and it is a chance at last to get them away from the pub trade. The answer why I didn’t do it before is that I couldn’t afford it.

“I can certainly convert my capital to better benefit in New Zealand. I love the Sevenoaks area and I would like to stay here, but I just can’t afford it.

“In Sevenoaks, my money would only buy me a three bedroom detached house, but over there I can get the same sort of property for around £10,000.”

Mr. Webster, who was born in London, trained as a sheet metal worker but has been in the pub trade for some time.

He was landlord at the "Crown," Ide Hill, and was then known as the youngest publican in the district.

“I love Ide Hill,” he said. “If I met an Ide Hillian in the middle of Canterbury Plains in New Zealand, I would know where he came from.”

In New Zealand, Mr. Webster plans to revert to his old trade. “But if it is at all possible. I will be the only professional golfer out there with a 24 handicap.”

ALL SET for New Zealand. Mr. Norman Webster, his wife Jan, daughters Karen, aged nine, and Hailey, five—and of course the family dogs.