From http://www.snodlandhistory.org.uk

The Rising Sun

Ted Gowers has kindly given the Society deed dated November 1858.

It recites that Walter Coulson of 18, Great Queen St., Westminster, at the request of Ambrose Gowar of Birling, yeoman, and Richard Gowar of Birling, yeoman, lends £700 to Ambrose Gowar with interest, to be repaid on May 1859. By an indenture dated 14 December 1855, the property stands settled to Richard Gowar for life. Richard Gowar and Ambrose Gowar grant to Walter Coulson 'all and singular the messuage and hereditaments, situate at Holborough... lately in the occupation of the said Richard Gowar and now in the occupation of Henry Hawks as tenant to the said Richard Gowar' which by indenture dated 12 February 1855 were conveyed to use of Richard Gowar and Fanny, then his wife, their heirs and assigns, described as:-

'All those two messuages tenements or cottages, with the buildings, gardens and premises there unto belonging, situate at Snodland... late in the respective occupations of the widow Huggins, and one Hewitt, and since of Robert Campion and Henry Harris, except the scite whereon blacksmith's forge, now pulled down, formerly stood, and over which scite, the Turnpike Road form Town Mailing to Strood, now passes.'

The two cottages were converted into the "Rising Sun" and Henry Hawks, who had married Eliza Ann Gowar (Richard's niece) in 1851, gave up his former job as wheelwright and carpenter to become the first publican there. He was succeeded by his son Henry (d. 1929)

From http://www.hadleighhistory.org.uk

National School 1855-1924 By Chris Worpole

...... The next school master was Alfred Hawks who was to remain at the school until December 1918, becoming the longest serving master at the school. Alfred was born in 1854 at Snodland in Kent, where his father Henry was the licensed victualler at ‘The Rising Sun'. In 1871, at the age of 17, Alfred was working as a pupil teacher at Snodland. In 1875 he married Sarah Dulton, whose occupation in 1871 was also as a teacher at Snodland. Alfred and Sarah moved to Hadleigh in 1875, where they brought up their family of five daughters and three sons. At least three of the daughters ~ Alice, Minnie and Kate worked as assistant school teachers at their father's school. Alfred retired in 1918, at the age of 64, dying in Kent in 1943.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser 05 September 1864.

WEST MALLING PETTY SESSIONS.

The applications for spirit licenses were four in number, namely:- From Henry Hawks, landlord of the "Rising Sun," Snodland; Mrs. Webb, landlady of the "White Horse," West Malling; George Jarrett, landlord of the "Woodman," East Mailing; and Nicholas Paramore, landlord of the "Good Intent," West Farleigh. Mr. W. South Norton appeared in support of the two first-named houses, and Mr. Goodwin was instructed for Messrs. Paramore and Jarrett. The Bench granted the license to the "Rising Sun," Snodland, and refused the other applications.

From the Maidstone and Kentish Journal, 3 October, 1895.

SNODLAND STRANGE DEATH.

On Thursday morning, a man named John Hayes died at the "Rising Sun Inn," Snodland, under strange circumstances.

On Wednesday evening, Hayes a Snodland man, who separated from his wife, and has for some years led a wandering life, entering the "Rising Sun," where were a lime-worker name Lambert, and several other men. Hayes began to trouble Lambert, who, it is alleged, gave him a blow, knocking him in the road, at the foot of the three steps which lead into the room. No further notice was taken of the occurrence, and later in the evening Hayes was seen lying against the wall of a house apparently sleep, with his bag under his head. It was thought that he was sleeping of his liquor, and no attention was paid to him. Early on Thursday morning he was seen in the same place by several persons, but there seemed nothing unusual in his appearance. Between 6 and 7 o'clock Mr. Hawkes, landlord of the inn, on opening the his house, saw Hayes, and observing some blood around his nose, tried to rouse him, but without success, although he was breathing naturally. The police and a medical man was called, but Hayes died before anything could be done for him.

A post mortem then was made on the body by Dr. Freeland and Dr. Smith but no marks of violence could be found which could by any means account for Death. A clot of blood was found at the base of the skull, and the medical evidence went to show that deceased's method of living and general neglect of himself had brought on a fit of apoplexy.

At the inquest the jury, in accordance with this evidence brought in a verdict of "Death from natural causes."