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PUBLIC HOUSES OF THE WEALD by Tessa Leeds.
The Weald, like many other villages, once boasted more Public
Houses that it does in the present day. The reason for there being
so many in the first place was due to the Government passing The
Beer Shop Act of 1830. This Act enabled virtually any householder to
produce beer on his/her own premises for sale, providing that an
annual excise fee was paid.
THE PLOUGH. Church Road.
Now known as Everest Farm, this beer shop was owned by a branch of
the Paige family. It is thought to have been built c.1838, but it is
not known when it opened for the sale of beer and cider. There was
no bar, but the front room, entered via the front door, was used.
Eli Paige supplied quoits and clay pigeon shooting on the ground to
the rear, which also contained grass tennis courts. Eli had other
occupations besides brewing and farming as he was also the local
coal merchant.
After the death of her father, Miss Dorothy Paige took over both the
coal business and The Plough. Known affectionately by the local lads
as Dolly, but never to her face, she could be coaxed, by application
of a free drink, to give a rendition of 'Sucking Cider Through a
Straw'. As this was the Saturday evening high spot, the fire often
left unlit and the wooden tables and chairs lacking comfort, the
clientele gradually diminished. At Christmas Dolly held a compulsory
raffle. Anyone entering the house had to buy a ticket before they
were allowed to leave. The prize would be a cockerel. However, on
winning, the lucky person would be told to catch their own prize. As
it was invariably dark the prize often lasted more than one raffle.
In 1949, due to the death of Tom, her horse, Miss Paige gave up the
coal business which was taken over by the firm of Marchants. She
continued to run The Plough until early 1963.
Further notes.
The Plough Church Road was always a beer shop owned by the Paige
Family who also ran the coal business until their horse died around
the time of WW2 when they gave the coal business to Marchants. Dolly
Paige sold beer and cider from a hatch in the front room and would
sing 'sucking cider through a straw' if bought a drink. My Gt gt
Grandfather Pretty Boy Sceal and his brother occupied a seat either
side of the fireplace for many a night and my uncle Rosie (Frank)
was also a regular. Dolly kept a cockerel and chicken and had a
dilapidated grass tennis court she also had three residential
caravans (not owned by her) in the field. Miss Con Gullick, an
artist lived in one for many years for several years in the 1950 -
60, when she was very old she moved to Brighton and lived well into
her 90's. Philip Moysey lived in a gypsy caravan whose original
owners family called many years to ask to burn it, he had been a pal
of Brendan Behan the Irish poet. After the war he had bought the van
and lived in Teynham in Swale where the locals were not friendly.
One of Alice, my grandmother, brothers (Frank Sceal who married Lily
Levens from Ide Hill and whose wedding photos I have) was the
blacksmith there and told him to come to the Weald where people were
more friendly. He travelled the country a couple of times bringing
his younger wife, Gillian, to live in the village. He lived in the
village in the 1960's and then moved into a house in Church road
until his death. Shirley and John Partington Smith moved into the
spot where the Moyeys had been in showman wagons. The third caravan
was at one time occupied by Peter and Pauline Sargent until they
moved to Gilchirst Cottages. Dollies cockerel was the same one used
each year in her Christmas raffle, the winner was told it was out in
the yard and they would need to go and catch the vicious beast on a
dark night when the raffle was called, no one ever did. After Dolly
the Sedgewicks bought and renovated the property which originally
had four fields but not all of them belonged to Dolly, some were her
siblings. Sedgewicks got half of one of the fields. Salmons
directory of 1936 has Mrs Paige as the Coal Merchant and David
Marchant said he thought it was so until 1949 (he ran Marchants Coal
Office so should know).
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From
https://themovemarket.com accessed 12 April 2021. Everest
Farm, Church Road is a 6 bedroom freehold detached house - it is
ranked as the most expensive property in TN14 6LU, with a valuation
of £1,657,000.
Since it last sold in January 2002 for £665,000, its value has
increased by £992,000.
Above photo 2021.
Above photo 2021.
Above photo 2021.
Above photo 2021.
Above photo 2021.
Above photo 2021.
Above photo 2021.
Above photo 2021. |
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