Hersden

Above photo, circa 1953, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, March 1963, kindly sent by Clive Bowley.

Above photo, March 1963, kindly sent by Clive Bowley.

Above photo, March 1963, kindly sent by Clive Bowley.

Above photo, March 1963, kindly sent by Clive Bowley.

Above photo, March 1963, kindly sent by Clive Bowley.

Above photograph, circa 1980, kindly taken and sent by Rory Kehoe, showing Ken Cox, one of the three business partners running the pub.

Above photo showing the former "Shrew Beshrewed".

Above sign, February 1981. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above card issued April 1955. Sign series 5 number 40.

After Whitbread's bought Jude, Hanbury & Co (Dane John Brewery, Canterbury) the company then had access to considerable funds to invest in new business opportunities. With Shepherd Neame bagging the prime, central Hersden, site for the "Black Horse," Jude Hanbury decided, in 1930, to build on land a mile away which they'd acquired in 1927, prior to the Whitbread buy out. In 1931 the Westbere Social Club & Institute opened up but within 6 months Jude Hanbury sold the premises to a specially formed club committee.

The "Westbere Social Club & Institute" was not a financial success and it closed in 1939. The successors to Jude Hanbury (Mackeson's Hythe Brewery) were owed roughly £1500 and retained ownership of the site. The building was derelict for about 12 years and it wasn't until the early 1950s, when holiday/day trip traffic was using the A28 en route to Thanet, that the idea of re-opening appeared viable. The club building was redesigned and the "Shrew Beshrewed" was opened on 30th July 1952 with Mr. H W Neale as licensee. His daughter unveiled the sign, which had been painted by Violet Rutter. The "Shrew Beshrewed" did well, all the time Chislet Colliery was operating but in 1969 the pit was deemed uneconomic and closed. With day trips to Margate giving way to package holidays on the Costa Brava, the pub's slow decline set in. Whitbread's sold the pub in 1980 and since 1988 the building has housed a garage, a car showroom and is now a lawn mower centre.

The pub name refers to the aftermath of the ducking chairs that used  to place nagging or scolding women in and ducking them in the river!

There was, until quite recently, an example of a "ducking chair" in the nearby Town of Fordwich which was how the name was derived.

There is also an example of another chair over the River Stour in Canterbury which can be seen from the King's Bridge.

In the declining years of the "Shrew Beshrewed" this was very much the place to go to for stag parties, featuring "exotic dancing" and the like. This was very popular with mining/colliery welfare club outings. I think (and Rory Kehow says "I have no first-hand knowledge!") a young lady called Lola did a rather saucy turn with an obliging (and presumably well-lubricated?) python which ermm... partially disappeared!

The building became a second-hand car showroom, before its current use (2022) as a lawn mower sales/servicing centre.

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

NEALE H W 30/July/1952+

COX Ken 1980s+