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179 Capstone Road (Waggon Lane)
Luton
Chatham
01634 400800
http://www.waggonathale.com/
https://whatpub.com/waggon-at-hale
Above postcard, circa 1909, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, date unknown. |
Above picture taken from Google maps, may 2012. |
Above photo taken from their web site, showing the pub February 2013. |
Above photo, circa 2024. |
John Thomas Langridge's other daughter Lizzie and her Husband Stephen
Weaver, leased the "Wagon at Hale"
in Gillingham circa 1901 before passing the lease on to Stephens brother in
circa 1910. Stephen and Lizzie then took over the "Rose
Inn" in Rochester circa 1911?. Stephen died in 1921.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 24 December 1844.
DREADFUL OCCURRENCE.
Chatham. Monday Night, Dec. 10.
On Saturday night a melancholy accident occurred at Larland, in which
three young men, servants of Mr. J. Oakley, lost their lives. It appears
that four of the farm servants slept in a room near the bailiff's
cottage , and as they had complained of its being damp, and the weather
cold, Mrs. Chaplyn, the bailiffs wile, had been induced to light some
charcoal, and place it in a watering-pot in the room, in which there was
no fireplace, and the ventilation in consequence was imperfect. The
persons who have thus lost their lives are George Wright, aged 22, John
Stedman, 21, and Thomas Webb, 17. The fourth man, Thomas Bosely, had
fortunately left to see his friends. The discovery of the fatal event
did not take place till Sunday morning, when the bailiff went to call
the men, and found them all dead. Death must have taken place almost
instantaneously. It appears that John Stedman left the bailiffs cottage
about eight o’clock to go to bed, and it seems had just commenced
undressing, when he fell back on his bed and died: the other two retired
to rest about an hour afterwards, when Thomas Webb, after untying his
shoes,
appears to have died in a similar manner, but Wright must have fallen
directly he entered the room, being found behind the door with all his
clothes on. On Monday an inquest was held before Mr. J. Hinde, coroner,
at the “Wagon” public house, a short distance from the scene of the
melancholy event, when the following evidence was adduced:—
John Chaplyn, bailiff to Mr. J. Oakley, of Darland, stated that the
deceased Thomas Webb was in the employ of Mr. Oakley, acting as
wagoner’s third boy John Stedman was also in Mr. Oakley’s employ, and
there was also another man who usually slept there, but was not there
that night. The men had spoken several times to witness about the room
being damp. On Saturday night Stedman left the house about eight
o’clock, and the other two at nine, to go to bed. On the following
morning, about seven o’clock, being told that they had not come into the
yard, he went to the bedroom door and lifted up the latch and called
“George” several times. Not receiving any answer, he opened the door,
and putting his hand behind it felt one of them lying there. He called
again and shook him, and then procured a light and got a wagoner to go
into the room with him, where he found them all three dead. He did not
observe any particular smell in the room. He had been in Mr. Oakley's
employ 15 years. When the fire was lit in the room he stood over it for
some minutes. He did not think there was any danger in using the
charcoal. Did not feel any inconvenience in breathing whilst standing
over it.
Amelia Chaplyn, wife of the last witness, corroborated her husband's
evidence, and said she went into the room about half an hour after she
had lit the fire, which was composed of wood ashes and charcoal, and it
was burning up brightly. She remained in the room a short time, and did
not shut the door. She had never heard before that charcoal would have
any bad effects — had never seen any used before.
The Coroner expressed a hope that it would be a lesson to her not to use
charcoal again, and observed that it was her duty to have mentioned it
to Mr. Oakley before she lit the fire, as the unfortunate circumstance
would not then have happened.
Thomas Bosely said, that he and the three deceased had often asked the
bailiff and his wife to light a fire in the room.
Mr. Benjamin Tribe, surgeon, of Chatham, stated that he was called up
between seven and eight o'clock on Sunday morning to attend at Mr.
Oakley’s. On arriving there he was shown into the bedroom, where he
found the bodies of the three men; they were quite dead and their limbs
stiff. He examined the bodies; there were no marks of violence on them.
He inquired, and found charcoal had been burnt previous to their going
to bed; their deaths were caused by inhaling carbonic acid gas, arising
from the burning of charcoal and causing suffocation.
The jury having heard the whole of the evidence, and the opinion of the
Coroner that Chaplyn and his wife were entirely ignorant of the
deleterious effects of charcoal, returned a verdict of “Accidentally
suffocated by charcoal being burnt in their bedroom.”
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From the Southeastern Gazette, 5 June 1866.
Henry Cheeseman was charged with assaulting William Apps.
The complainant was driving a horse and cart near the “Waggon-at-Hale,”
Luton, when some words arose between him and the defendant, the latter
calling him a thief. During the quarrel the defendant appeared to have
assaulted the complainant in a very unprovoked manner.
Fined 20s. and costs.
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From the
https://www.kentlive.news By Stela Gineva, 19 July 2019.
The Waggon at Hale - a family friendly Chatham pub with its own petting zoo.
"Who doesn't like a cuddle with a pig when they've had a bit of a bad day?"
A pub with a large beer garden and play area sounds like the perfect
family day out.
Even more so when you throw in a small petting zoo.
Emma Pearson, 38, has been running The Waggon at Hale in Chatham with
her dad, Eric Pearson, 59, for nine years now, and the animal farm
filled with adorable goats, chickens, pigs, rabbits, and dogs is one of
the main attractions.
Children love playing with Hugo, Custard, and Cream, the three goats
which currently reside on the farm.
Children can feed and pet the goats at the animal farm (Image: The Waggon at Hale)
Emma said: "We have bags of food so they can feed the animals. We do
need to pre-warn the kids that the goats are greedy."
Sometimes they take the animals out on leads so the children can pet
them as well.
Emma added: "Sometimes when we don't want to let them out, they let
themselves out. They're very mischievous."
Emma said that many of her regulars visit more often than they would
precisely because of the animal farm. She said: "You do get the kids
nagging the parents for the animals and the play area."
The petting zoo is also a favourite with children with special needs.
Emma said: "It's become part of their pattern. It calms the child down,
keeps a bit of their routine.
"Who doesn't like a cuddle with a pig when they've had a bit of a bad
day?"
Onions, Sage, Chilli, and Pepper are the rescue dogs that reside on the
farm. Sage is the youngest member of the family, and can be a little
wary around customers.
Emma added: "She was skin and bones when she was rescued. She was badly
beaten."
Sage finds it difficult to trust men and spends her days sitting on a
chair from where she can look down on everyone. Emma added: "She's now
spoiled beyond belief."
The animals are cared for by two full time animal carers. They make sure
they're fed and take them out on walks.
This is how Emma ensures that enough time is devoted to her pets while
she runs the pub.
Dog owners are welcome to bring their pets to the pub as well.
They're allowed in the beer garden and the pub, but not the dining area
where patrons can enjoy home-cooked meals prepared with local produce.
The pub also offers at least one Kent Ale at all times as part of their
drinks selection.
How it all got started.
Emma and her father decided to adopt a teacup pig a few years ago.
"To be honest, it was one of them random nights and we started talking
about a pig, a teacup pig, " Emma said.
A week later, they went to pick her up. They named her Crackling.
She came in a little cat box, wrapped in a blanket. Emma remembers her
father joking "I love pigs in blankets."
They soon discovered there was no such thing as a teacup pig.
When she was little, she had her own bed in Emma's bedroom. But then she
grew so big, she took the toilet off the wall.
Crackling had to be taken outside.
An area of the pub was sectioned off to make room for Crackling's new
home, and this has now become the small animal farm.
Emma said: "I've always loved animals and always loved rescuing them."
Over the years, the animal farm has accumulated four pigs, four dogs,
and three goats, as well as many chickens and rabbits.
Although there are currently no plans to adopt any more animals, this is
only because the small farm is already bursting at the seams with
adorable animals willing to give pub patrons a cuddle.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Charlotte Phillips, 7 May 2025.
Landlady of the Waggon at Hale in Chatham defends animal neglect claims.
A pub landlady has defended herself after being accused of animal
neglect, saying the allegations simply aren’t true.
Emma Pearson, who runs the Waggon at Hale in Chatham, says she was
“heartbroken” after seeing a post on Friday claiming the pub was keeping
its animals in unsuitable conditions.
To make matters worse, one of her goats, Custard, died after allegedly
being poisoned on Sunday.
Pictures posted by Emily Purcell sparked outrage on social media, with
many claiming the animals were being kept in poor conditions.
The images show several farmyard animals in their enclosures in the pub
garden.
Emily says she was “shocked” after seeing the conditions they were being
kept in, explaining: “The garden is quite small and they’re in very
tight.
“They're in a very little area and there’s really no enrichment –
they've got no grass, and the flooring they're on has deteriorated.
“It's just really not nice to look at. I was shocked to say the least”.
The pictures were posted at the start of April, but on Friday were
shared in another group, which she says “kind of just blew up
everywhere.”
She added: “These animals are being kept in really bad conditions, and
obviously a lot of people do agree, and a lot of people who have gone
there have had the same opinion.”
Speaking to KentOnline yesterday (Tuesday), Emma, who has run the pub
for the past 14 years, says the allegations are wrong and that her
animals are “very well-loved”.
She explained: “I think it's very much about the angle at which the
photos were taken.
“The animals are not skinny, they are fed and given water twice a day
and they have regular vet visits.
“They also get taken for a walk around the garden.
These animals have had my time and attention. All of them are rescued,
and they would have had to have been put down if we hadn’t taken them
on.
“The enclosure is a lot bigger than it looks in the photos.
“They don't live on grass. Admittedly, they were living on wooden
pallets because the RSPCA wanted them on hard standing
“We took the pallets out this morning, and put down hard stone.
“They have access to hay nets and when we have gardeners come, they get
branches to nibble on, and they nibble on the trees while out for
walks.”
Emma Pearson has denied allegations of animal neglect.
She says that allegations that the animals are not regularly fed and
given water are “completely untrue”.
She explained: “Our staff member spends a good hour-and-a-half to two
hours out there every morning making sure all their water bowls are
clean and that they're fed.
“I buy them all salad leaves, including spinach.
“We have a supplier that gives us broccoli and stuff that you can't sell
but is edible.”
To add to the heartbreak over the allegations, she says that over the
weekend, one of her goats, Custard, was found dead.
After checking CCTV, she says a person can be seen walking onto the
premises in the early hours of Sunday morning, but it was not clear what
they were doing.
A vet later confirmed that all three of the goats at the site had been
poisoned.
“I just broke down into a flood of absolute tears”, she said.
She has since put up floodlights above the enclosures as a deterrent and
has reported the incident to the police.
There are goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, and guinea pigs at the pub.
She says that since the post was made, she has been “constantly
shaking”.
She said: “It's been a very upsetting and stressful weekend for me, to
the point where I don't feel safe in my own home.
“It’s heartbreaking. I hate to use the word mental health, because I
think I'm normally quite a strong person.
“But at the moment, I dread answering the phone, I dread opening my
emails. I’m constantly shaking.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “We are aware of this but unfortunately
we’re unable to discuss specific complaints and what action may have
been taken for legal reasons.
“We know this is frustrating but we must comply with the law at all
times.
“However, we appreciate everyone who reports animal welfare concerns to
us and would like to reassure the public that we will look into, and if
necessary, investigate reports made to us.” |
LICENSEE LIST
OLIVER Caroline 1881+ (widow age 64 in 1881 )
KITE Abraham 1891+ (age 65 in 1891)
WEAVER Stephen 1903-22+
GOUT William 1930-38+
HUMPHREY Arthur William 1955+
PEARSON Eric & Emma (daughter) 2010-19+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/WagonatHale.shtml
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/waggonathale.html
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
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