Above postcard, circa 1904.

Above photo circa 1905.

Above postcard circa 1906, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. In 1906, the Ship was within the tied estate of Henry Dampier's Frindsbury Brewery, Strood, which was acquired by Woodham's Troy Town Brewery, Rochester, that same year.

Above postcard, circa 1908, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, 1910, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, 1915, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, circa 1920.

Above postcard, circa 1937, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Like a good many Kentish pubs in the first half of the 20th century, the Ship found itself popular with the local signwriters, as it kept changing hands and the new owners wanted their names on the pub signage. The Ship greeted the new century as a tied house, within the estate of H.L. Dampier's Frindsbury Brewery, Strood, which was acquired by Woodhams' Troy Town Brewery, Rochester, in October 1906. On Frank Woodhams' death in 1916, his brewery was put up for sale and was snapped up by Style & Winch's Medway Brewery, Maidstone. However, the Ship appears to have been acquired, at some point, by Russell's Gravesend Brewery, as a circa 1920 photograph shows the pub selling their Shrimp Brand Beers. In 1930, Russell's was taken over by Truman Hanbury & Buxton's Black Eagle Brewery, London E1 and the Ship remained one of their tied houses until the brewery closed in 1989.

Above photo 2013 by Nigel Chadwick Creative Commons Licence.

Above photo 2013 by Nigel Chadwick Creative Commons Licence.

Above photos, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe, to keep your small change in, presumably 1d's for the toilet charges, issued circa 1930.

Freeman's Journal. Monday 4 September 1843.

Dreadful murder and suspected parricide at Cobham.

(From The Morning Herald of yesterday.)

Cobham, August 31st, on Tuesday morning, as Mr. Abraham Lyster, a butcher, of Rochester, with his nephew, Mr. Charles Lyster, was driving a one-horse chaise through Cobham park, on the road for Wrotham cattle market, they discovered, just before entering the village of Cobham, a gentlemanly looking man lying in the park, on his face, with his arms extended over his head, and without his hat; they stopped their gig, and Mr. C. Lyster proceeded to the spot to ascertain whether the person was asleep, as they considered it strange that the person of respectable appearance should be lying in such a situation.

On examination it was seen that the man was dead, and covered with blood, and, on turning the body over, they found a deep wound in the neck, and also some extensive wounds on the left breast. In the deceased's pockets were three Sovereign's and a gold watch. The two Lysters immediately gave information in the village of the murder, and the body was removed to a wheeler's shop in the neighbourhood, where it was soon recognised as that of Mr. Robert Dadd, late a chemist, of Chatham, but residing in Suffolk Street, Pall Mall East, as carver and gilder, and by appointment, gilder to her Majesty. The deceased, it is supposed, was about 56 years of age and had come from London with his son Richard, an artist of considerable talent, to witness the siege operations at Chatham, and arrived at the "Ship" public house, Cobham, on Monday night, where they intended sleeping for the night; the waiter, however, knowing Mr. Dadd, procured a private lodging. About nine o'clock the deceased, with his son, left the "Ship," saying they should go for a walk. They went out, but did not return again. The son of deceased has not been heard of, although every search has been made for him. A clasp knife and a razor were found near the deceased body; his hat was at some distance. Every search has been made for the son, but up to this evening (Thursday) at 6 o'clock, no clue to his retreat has yet been ascertained. This extraordinary murder has caused a great sensation in Rochester, Chatham, and surrounding neighbourhood.

A Coroners inquest was held on the body, when the jury returned a verdict of "wilful murder" against some person or person's unknown.

The decease's son, who is suspected of having committed this horrible crime, is supposed to have destroyed himself in the woods.
It has since been ascertained, we regret to say, beyond a doubt, that the murderer of the unfortunate gentleman is no other than his third son, Richard Dadd, a fine young man, 24 years of age, and that he committed the act whilst labouring under aberration of intellect. He was an artist of some celebrity, and has gained several prizes at the Royal Academy for his superior productions.

(Further particulars.) Cobham, Friday, 7 p.m.

The excitement produced by the late shocking murder of Mr. Robert Dadd by his son, on Monday night, and Cobham Park, the seat of the Earl of Darnley, has not in the least diminished, and the village ever since, and its adjacent retreats, have presented a most animated scene, from the crowds which flocked from all parts of the country in order to inspect that part of this most beautiful park where the horrid tragedy was performed, and also to make inquiries as to whether the unhappy murderer had been captured. Respecting the latter, not remotest tidings have been obtained, and the general supposition that he has destroyed himself in some of the neighbouring woods gains credence.

From subsequent circumstances it is very evident that he premeditated the murder of his father, as a knife and razor were quite new. During Sunday nothing was observed strange and his demeanour; but on Monday he insisted upon his father accompanying him to Cobham. It was the wish of the father to go to the Rosherville Gardens Gravesend, but his answer was, "No, we will go to Cobham," and it is said he would disburden his mind to him. They left London by the 1 o'clock Gravesend steamboat, and landed at the Town Pier, when they walked up High Street to the stand where they engaged a fly.