19 High Street
Brompton
https://whatpub.com/two-sawyers
From
www.Flickr.com by lassow.vamp
Planks for wooden ships were cut in
a saw pit with a cross-cut saw requiring two sawyers, so this is almost
certainly a pub named in connection with the Dockyard.
One of the longest serving landlords was John Baird, who retired as
landlord in 1888 after 57 years, although he retained ownership of the
pub until his death in 1901.
Baird led the movement for a Public Hall in Gillingham High Street,
was High Constable of Gillingham for two years and founded the Brompton
Water Company after the wells failed when the digging of the dockyard
basins had cut through the springs that fed the wells.
The building was destroyed by fire in 1902 as the water company Baird
had founded had turned the water supply off overnight, and it was over
an hour before it got turned on. The pub was rebuilt and is still there
today although it did close for a few years in the 1990s.
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Bell's New Weekly Messenger, Sunday 28 May 1843.
Military Outrage.
On Friday se'nnight five or six soldiers of the 58th regiment, suddenly
entered the "Two Sawyers" public house, Brompton, and taking up the pots
of some persons who were drinking their, without the slightest
provocation, beat them about the head with the pots in a most brutal
manner. One man, Robert Taylor, was so injured that he was taken to the
union-house, where he now lies in very great danger. Walker, the
Brompton constable, was quickly sent for, but the affair was over, and
the men gone within three minutes of the time of their entering. One of
the leaders, named John Smith, was recognised, and has since been
committed for re-examination, to await the fate of Taylor.
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Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette, Saturday 12 July 1902.
CHATHAM HOTEL BURNT DOWN.
The "Two Sawyers," a well-known hotel at Old Brompton, next Chatham,
was totally destroyed by fire early on Wednesday last. The adjoining
business premises also sustained considerable damage. |
Above map of 1866 showing the "Golden Lion," "Two Sawyers" and
"Bricklayer's Arms." |
Above photo by Jenis, date unknown.
Possibly an outing from the factory in Westcourt Street that locals
called "The Collar Factory." |
Traced as early as 1756 and at that time just called the "Sawyers".
Renumbering of the street has also seen this listed at 10 High Street. The
premised closed as a pub for a few years in the 1990s but is believed to be
open again (2014). Local knowledge required here.
Ben Levick tells me the pub was closed for a while in the 1990s, reopened
in early 2000s, 'temporarily' closed again in 2016 and is still closed today
(2019).
From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 27 April, 1901.
SHEERNESS. SALE OF LICENSED HOUSES.
“The Two Sawyers ” hotel, Old Brompton, offered for sale by Mr. W. E. R.
Randall by public auction, was bought by Mr. W. J. Palmer, of Sheerness,
for £4,450. Mr. Palmer also bought the "New Inn," Ordnance Place,
Chatham, for £2,050. The sale was a great success, all the other
property offered being also disposed of.
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LICENSEE LIST
JONES & Son 1828+
BAIRD John 1832-82+
(age 71 in 1881)
WISDOM J 1891+
PELLEGRINE Ralph 1911-22+ (age 49 in 1911)
HAYES Samuel 1930+
BARTLETT Frank 1938+
TRICE George M 1955+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/TwoSawyers.shtml
From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
Census
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