23 Havelock Lane

Maidstone

01622 691789

https://www.royalalbionmaidstone.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/royal-albion

Above photo, date unknown, by kind permission of Eric Hartland.

Above photos by Roy Moore, 16 April 2014.

Above photo 2008 by David Anstiss Creative Commons Licence.

Above sign left, September 1986, sign right, October 1991. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com. Above sign left, March 1994, sign right, 2010.

Painting, date unknown by Eddie Tucker.

The "Royal Albion" has the honour of being the oldest building in Maidstone - it is at least 500 years old and is a typical Kentish white weatherboarded property situated in the town centre next to the Fremlin Walk shopping centre, and close to the county museum and shops.

At this inn, General Fairfax took the surrender of the local Royalist troops in June 1648, with the last battle was in Havock Lane. The Royal Albion exhibits ghostly manifestations. these include ‘Haughty Ann’, the beautiful daughter of the proprietor who was courted by many. However, she spurned them all. She said she would remain a virgin rather than marry. Ann died of a fever and her ghost has returned looking for an eligible young man. It is also haunted by Martin Shotwood, who made another proprietor’s daughter, Sarah Oake, pregnant. He took flight from the "Royal Albion," leaving her distraught. She drowned herself, and he later hanged himself in remorse when he discovered what unhappy course she had taken. When Shotwood manifests, observers describe him as wearing a dark grey suit, with tears coursing down his cheeks.

One time a Mason's tied house, but the brewery was bought out by Shepherd Neame in 1956 and the brewery was subsequently closed and the brewery demolished.

Local knowledge, further pictures, and licensee information would be appreciated.

I will be adding the historical information when I find or are sent it, but this project is a very big one, and I do not know when or where the information will come from.

All emails are answered.

LICENSEE LIST

FRY Thomas 1867+

HAWKS Henry 1882-1902 dec'd

HAWKS Emma (widow) 1902-31 dec'd (age 65 in 1911)

CHITTENDEN Charles William 1938+

WARDELL Sharon 2006-23

https://pubwiki.co.uk/RoyalAlbion.shtml

From the Post Office Directory 1867