Southeastern Gazette, 6 September 1853.

CRANBROOK. Petty Sessions.

Thursday. (Before T. L. Hodges, Esq., C. T. Pattenson, Esq., G. R. Stevenson, Esq., the Rev. F. Barrow, and the Rev. J. Deedes).

Richard Body, of Fosten-Green, Biddenden, through Mr. Shepherd, applied for a spirit license; Mr. Shepherd stating that Mr. Body had occupied the premises for twenty-two years and had lately laid out nearly £200 to make the premises suitable for carrying on the business, the house being situate on the high road from Cranbrook to Tenterden, and on the main road from Wittersham and the Marsh. Mr. Body's certificate was numerously and respectably signed, but in consequence of their being already a licensed house on the same road not more than half a mile distant, the application was refused. (I believe this is "Castleton's Oak." Paul Skelton.)

Mrs. Elizabeth Harris, of Biddenden, made a similar application through Mr. Case, of Maidstone. Mr. Shepherd opposed the application, and as it appeared that the back of the premises seeking a license adjoined those of the "Red Lion Inn," the application was refused. (I believe this is the "Rose Inn." Paul Skelton.)

Kentish Gazette, 1 February, 1870.

BIDDENDEN.

Found Dead.

On Wednesday morning last as a man was proceeding along the turnpike road to his work he saw the form of a person crouched in a ditch alongside the toad near Dashmarden gate, in the pariah. On going up to him, he ascertained that it was the body of a man named William Barden, a resident of this place.

He was dead, and his face was dreadfully bruised and besmeared with blood and dirt. On the arrival of Mr. Haviland, Surgeon, he pronounced life to have been extinct several hours. Traces of blood were found along the road for many rods from where the body was found. A post mortem examination was made and an inquest held at the “Rose Inn.”