DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Tuesday, 11 July, 2023.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1870-

Three Post Boys

Closed 2009

Old London Road/The Square

Wrotham

Three Post Boys 1904

Above photo 1904.

Three Post Boys 1911

Above photo, circa 1911, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Three Post Boys

Above postcard, date unknown, showing the "Three Post Boys" on the left.

Three Post Boys 2005

Above photo 2005 by Dennis Smith Creative Commons Licence.

Three Post Boys 2008

Above photo 2008.

Three Post Boys sign 1980sThree Post Boys sign 2008

Above sign left, 1980s, sign right, 2008.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

 

The building gained a Grade II listing on 30 May 1984.

 

Maidstone Telegraph, Saturday 12 November 1870.

Alleged assault by constables at Wrotham.

Police sergeant George Harman and police constable Edward Dalby were summoned for assaulting Joseph Dutnall at Wrotham, on the 15th October.

Mr. Palmer, of Tonbridge, appeared for the defendant's.

Prosecuted deposed that he kept the beer house at Wrotham. On the night of the 15th of October, he closed his house at 11 o'clock and went down to the "George and Dragon Inn." He returned from there between 12 and 1 o'clock. He had then been in conversation with two men named Edward Taylor and Robert Smith when the constable Dalby came up and order him home. He refused to go, when police constable Dalby took hold of him by the arm, and called upon police sergeant Harman to assist him. They then both took hold of him and dragged him to his house.

Cross examined by Mr. Palmer:- I was not drunk, I had a little liquor. I did ask the landlord of the "George and Dragon" for a quart of brandy, but only for a lark, I had no intention of drinking it. He did not refuse me the brandy because I was drunk. My mother does live close by. I don't know that she asked Dalby to look after me. I don't know that she went to the next morning to Dalby to ask him to look over it. I was not singing or making a noise. Two men named Taylor and Bennett did endeavour to persuade me to go home. Dalby did not persuade me quietly. I "squatted" down when the constables took hold of me. Dalby told me on the following morning that the sergeant Harman was going to summon me for being disorderly. I took out the summons on Monday against both defendants. That was after what Dalby had said. I had solicited both Mr. Norton and Mr. Young, solicitors, to appear for me. They are neither here as they did not think it was necessary.

Robert Smith was called by defendant and stated that the constables asked complainant to go home, but he refused and sat down on the ground. The constables then took hold of him. He (witness) asked defendant to go in doors. He thought that was the best place for him. Complainant was neither making a noise nor a disturbance, nor was he drunk but very quiet. Complainant ought to have known whether he went to his house head first or legs first.

Mr. Palmer then addressed the bench for the defendants and alleged that complaint was making a great noise in the street and all the constables did was to take him home quietly. They behaved in the kindest manner to complainant by taking him home instead of locking him up. It was a mere trick of complainant when he took out his summons, because he knew he was to be summoned for being drunk and disorderly. He could call witnesses, which complainant refused to call, to prove that the policeman did their duty to the man in the kindest possible manner.

The Bench thought one witness would be sufficient.

William Bennett then entered the witness box, and said that he was with complainant at the time of the occurrence. Complainant was not drunk, but sensible. The witness Smith asked complainant to go home. Taylor told complainant to go home as the police were coming, when complaining replied that he did not care for any ______ police constable.. Dutnal refused to go home and sat down, when both of constables took hold of him and "skidded" him along. He never saw any other violence. The constables did not ask him (witness) to go home. He could not tell the reason they did not ask him.

The Bench thereupon discharged the constables as the only did their duty, and made an order for complainant to pay £1 1s. for the attorney's fee, and all the costs of three witnesses.

In reply to Mr. Palmer, the Bench said that there was not the slightest stain against the character of the constables.

 

I am informed (2018) that the premises has now been converted into a private residence.

I have just added this pub to that list but your help is definitely needed regarding it's history.

As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will be shown here.

Thanks for your co-operation.

 

LICENSEE LIST

DUTNALL Edward Joseph 1870-71+ (age 36 in 1871, "Post Boys." Census)

SCOTT Edward David 1901-11+ (age 50 in 1901Census)

DENN Herbert John 1922-30+

DENN Ernest G 1938+

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

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/threepostboys.html

 

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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