London Road (17 High Street 1881)
Sevenoaks
Above photo, circa 1880s, also showing the "Dorset
Arms" to the right of gentleman in white. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by Debi Birkin. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by Debi Birkin. |
Above postcard, date unknown, kindly submitted by Mark Jennings. |
Above photo showing staff at doorway, date unknown. |
Above photo, date unknown. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above photo showing demolition, date unknown. Told to make way for a
new cinema. |
Above Google image, August 2023. |
Above photo, date unknown showing the gardens, kindly sent by Debi Birkin. |
Above engraving appeared inside a seasons greetings card, date unknown,
kindly sent by Denialpro in South Westerlo N.Y. |
Not sure when it gained it's Royal name, but this was referred to as just
the "Crown" in Pigot's Directory of 1828 and also from a list of
pubs serving in the first 25 years of the 18th century.
A popular old staging post, the "Royal Crown", is no more. Until the
Great War it was the social hub of the town, hosting banquets, ballroom
dancing and even auctions, but was sold after the conflict to make way for
the Odeon Cinema. I have however also heard it said that it became the site
of the Stag Theatre rather than the cinema.
It was situated at the junction of London Road and South Park and on the
site now (2018) is the Pizza outside the Post Office.
Kentish Gazette, 7 December 1768.
To be sold by auction, at the "Crown Inn" in Sevenoaks, in Kent, on
Saturday the 31st day of December, inst. Between the hours of 3 and 6
o'clock in the afternoon, on the conditions to be produced at the time
of sale. A Messuage, Farm, and Lands, with a large Malthouse there on,
situated in the Parish of Ightham in Kent, known by the name of Old
Berry Farm, containing upwards of 60 Acres of Land, Arable, Meadow,
Pasture and Wood, with a considerable quantity of young Timba growing
theiron, the whole being let to John Jull, at the yearly rent of £42.
but capable of considerable advancement in the Rent. For further
particulars enquire of Mr. John Nash of Sevenoaks aforesaid, or of Mr
John Jull, who will show the Premises.
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Kentish Gazette, 17 March 1857.
ROBBERY IN A DWELLING.
James Jenner, 24, labourer, for entering the dwelling house of
William Hoath, and stealing two sovereigns, his money, at Sevenoaks.
The prosecutor kept his money in a box in his bedroom, and the box
was locked. The prisoner was in the habit of going to his house. He
missed his money on the 29th November. The prisoner was there on the
previous day. When the prisoner went there, the prosecutor, his
daughter-in-law, and three children were in the house. The prisoner
remained in the house after the prosecutor and his wife went out.
One of the little girls heard some one up-stairs, and saw the
prisoner come down. On the 26th November, the prisoner went to the
"Crown tap," and had a pint of beer, which he paid for with a
sovereign. On the 28th or 29th of November, he changed another
sovereign at the "Dorset Arms." The prisoner was apprehended by
Superintendent Handler, in Maidstone, on the 24th of January, he
said he had heard that Mr. Hoath did not wish to hurt him for what
he had done.
The prisoner said the money he had changed was his own. He had saved
up £1, and knew nothing of the prosecutors money.
Six months’ hard labour.
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From the Maidstone Gazette and West Kent Courier, 9 January, 1827.
Sevenoaks turnpike Road.
Notice is hereby given, that the tools arising at the Toll Gates on the
Turnpike Road leading from Farnborough, in the county of Kent, to
Riverhill, in the Parish of Sevenoaks, in the same County, called or
known by the names of Pratts Bottom, and Dunton Green Gates, will be
late by auction, to the best bidder, at the house of John Harris, known
by the sign of the "Crown Inn," at Sevenoaks, on Monday the 22nd day of
January next, between the hours of 12 and 2, in the mannor directed by
the acts passed in 3rd and 4th years of the reign of his present
majesty, for regulating Turnpike Roads, for the term of 1 year,
commencing from the 5th day of February next, which Tolls produced the
last Year, above the expense of collecting the same, the following Sums,
viz.
Pratts Bottom Gate £645 2s. 0d.
Dunton Green Gate £558 8s 5d.
The above Gates will be put up separately or together, at the Sum or
Sums as the said Trustees at the said Meeting shall think fit.
Whoever appears to be the best Bidder or Bidders must at the same time
pay Three Months in advance of the Rent at which such Tolls may be Let,
and give Security, with sufficient Sureties, to the satisfaction of the
Trustees of the said Turnpike Road, for payment of the remainder of the
Rent, at such times as shall be then agreed upon.
Austin and Claridge.
Clerks to the trustees.
Sevenoaks, 22nd December, 1820.
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Kentish Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Tuesday 22 October 1844.
The Auctioneer begs particularly to remind those gentlemen who wish to
improve their stocks, that this is an opportunity
which seldom occurs in this part of the country, and that Vouchers will
be put into the hands of the purchases of each Lot,
and the pedigree of each animal will be given in catalogues to be had at
the "Star Inn," Maidstone; "Crown," Sevenoaks;
"Kentish Hotel," Tunbridge Wells; "White Hart," Ashford; "George,"
Folkestone; "Star," Lewes; "George," Robertsbridge;
"White Hart," Reigate; "Greyhound," Croydon; also of Mr. Stidolph,
Dartford, and at the office of the Auctioneer, High Street
Tonbridge.
The stock and effects maybe viewed any day previous to the sale.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 4 January 1846.
Westerham.
A meeting was held at Kidder’s hotel, Westerham,
("King's
Arms Hotel") on Wednesday last, at
which a very large assemblage of
the gentlemen, farmers, &c., of the neighbourhood, attended to ascertain
the views of the vicinity as to
starting a coach from this place to Croydon and back. Dr. Thompson
having been called to the chair, Mr. P.
Pawley, of the "Royal Hotel," Sevenoaks, explained to the company, that
he, amongst others, had been
called upon by a number of gentlemen in the neighbourhood of Westerham,
seeing that every coach was
off the road, to place them in something like a position to be able to
reach the metropolis. He had great
pleasure in saying that the call had been responded to, and he now stood
before them as the contractor for
such a conveyance. Two coaches started on the 24th, one from Sevenoaks
in the morning, and one from
Croydon Railway Station, each performing a double journey. He felt
assured they should meet with
encouragement; he had been over the ground, and certainly if ever there
was a conveyance wanted it was
here. Westerham, Brasted, and Sundridge, required something like
accommodation, to say nothing of
Sevenoaks. Mr. Pawley made several other apposite observations, and it
was ultimately arranged that these
conveyances should be recommended to general support.
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Kentish Gazette, 7 August 1849.
SEVENOAKS.
On Monday, Mr. John Cooling, the celebrated fancy soap manufacturer,
accompanied by his wife, started from Mr. Pawley's, "Crown Hotel," in a
horse and gig, on his way to Tonbridge Wells. When about at the "White
Hart," Sevenoaks Common, the horse, which had been restive from
starting, dashed off at fearful speed, going down River-hill at a
tremendous rate. The man at the turnpike seeing them coming, closed the
gate; the horse, however, made no pull up, but dashed through it as
though were a cobweb, breaking it in the middle, - one half of the gate
flying one way and the other in the opposite direction; and strange to
say the animal continued his mad career with undiminished speed till
within a short distance of Tonbridge, when he pulled up, and commenced
kicking at a fearful rate, knocking the dashing iron off. Assistance,
however, was obtained, and the affrighted passengers were enabled to
alight — miraculously, unhurt.
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From the South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 3 December, 1861.
SEVENOAKS. MR. BASIL YOUNG'S ENTERTAINMENT.
On Wednesday evening Mr. Young gave his new musical, mimical, and voice
entertainment, entitled "Shadows on the Wall," at the "Crown Hotel." That
gentleman having visited the town before, and gained well merited
laurels, the room was well filled by an audience, who had formed great
expectations themselves were laughter-provoking, but the inimitable
manner in which they were carried out keep the room in one continued
roar of laughter, and the entertainment was brought to a close with
bursts of applause. Mr. W. Beale, who presided at the pianoforte, also
took an important part in the evening's proceedings, and ably seconded
the exertions of Mr. Young.
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From the Kent and Sussex Courier, Friday 9 January 1874.
NEW YEARS BALL.
This annual and fashionable re-union was held on New Year's Day, at the
"Crown Hotel." The ball-room was handsomely decorated, the corners being
filled with stone pedestals, on which were fine foliage and ornamental
plants, and hung on the walls at either side of the room were the arms
of the stewards, that of Colonel Northey bearing the motto "Steady", and
that of Robert Hodgeson, Esq., the motto, "Pax et Fides," on crimson
silk, with a border of white fringe, and the arms of the Corporation of
Sevenoaks, which are formed of seven acorns, on the same material. The
orchestra was also tastefully decorated, and the suggestive mistletoe
was placed all round the lower part, almost within reach of the
visitors. The death of the Countess Stanhope, however, considerably
damped the preparations, as the families of the Earl Amhurst and Sir C.
H. Mills, Bart., M.P., with the numerous relatives and friends they
generally entertain on these occasions, announced their intention of not
being present, so that a very small party, comparatively, was expected.
The stewards, however, were equal to the occasions, and their efforts
were crowned by the presence of about 115 visitors, all of whom
expressed themselves in the highest terms on the manner in which Mr. and
Mrs. Pawley had provided for the evening, which characterised the
proceedings. Mr. Whitehead's quadrille band was engaged and gave great
satisfaction by its excellent playing.
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From the Kent and Sussex Courier, Friday 13 March 1874.
Sevenoaks Petty Sessions. Stealing Hay.
Saturday, March 7th. Before Col. Northey.
Benjamin Fletcher, labourer, was charged with stealing a truss of hay,
the property of Mr. William Pawley, of the "Royal Crown Hotel," on the
previous Thursday. It appeared that the prisoner was employed with a man
named Humphrey in cutting out a stack of hay in a meadow near the town,
and as one load was being carried, the prisoner took away a trust to the
post-office yard, where a portion of it was afterwards found in a stable
in the occupation of the Tonbridge mail contractor, by Superintendent
Okill.
Remanded till Friday (today).
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From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 9 January, 1880.
ANNUAL SUPPER.
On Friday evening last, the employees at the “Royal Crown Hotel” had
their annual supper at the “Crown Tap”, which was provided in first rate
style by Host Barber. The supper was kindly given by Miss Morphey and
several tradesmen of the town. Several toasts were given during the
evening, and everything passed off very satisfactorily.
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From a local paper 1936ish.
THE LAST RESIDENT?
On Tuesday the last of the residents of the "Royal Crown Hotel,"
Sevenoaks — the future of which is still, at the time of writing, in the
balence — left the hotel.
The distinction of being the lest resident fell to Mrs. D. D. Mackinnon,
who has taken up residence at "Bryn," Pembroke-road.
Mr. Mackinnon had made the "Royal Crown" her home for a number of years,
and it vas with a pang of regret she left it for the last time on
Tuesday.
Our photograph, taken in the garden of the hotel, shows Mrs. Mackinnon
with one of her grandchildren, Dan Mackinnon, youngest son of
Rear-Admiral Lauchlan Mackinnon.
We end on a more cheerful note by wishing Mrs. Mackinnon "many happy
returns of the day" for Monday next, when she celebrates her 86th
birthday, a wish in which her very many friends in the district will
join. |
LICENSEE LIST
WIGGENS Thomas 1828+
HARRIS John 1827-32+
(Crown)
PAWLEY P Mr 1846-49+
PAWLEY Benjamin 1851+ (age 55 in 1851)
PAWLEY William 1874+
BARBER Frank R 1880-91+ fly-driver age 36 in 1881)
("Crown Tap")
MORPHEW Marion 1881-91+ (widow age 63 in 1891)
LAURD Gerald M C 1891+ (also solicitor age 24 in 1891)
MARSHALL George 1911-22+ (age 60 in 1911)
https://pubwiki.co.uk/RoyalCrown.shtml
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/royalcrown.html
From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
Census
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