WALNUT TREE Pub of Yalding

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 28 August, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest ????

Walnut Tree

Closed 2024

Yalding Hill

Yalding

https://whatpub.com/walnut-tree

Above photo, date unknown.

Above showing the "Walnut Tree" when it was still two cottages. The tree is actually a Chestnut tree.

As seen above the tree fell into the road, date unknown.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above postcard, 1986, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe, and hopefully I'll be able to find a better image of this one day.

Above matchbox, circa 1989, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photos, 27 March 2006, taken by Eric Hartland.

Photos taken on 16 May, 2007 from http://www.flickr.com by John Law.

The pub sign (2014) reflects the year 1492, depicting a sail boat, and is an original piece of artwork by a renowned South American artist.

Above photo 2018.

Above photo, 2024.

Above photo 2024.

Built in 1492, the year Christopher Columbus sailed to America, the Walnut Tree was originally a tudor 4 bay Kentish yeomans house. The timber framed house features many curved braces between posts and wall plates, with exposed timbers throughout. It is now a celebrated public house but started life as a nineteenth century beer-house, until about 1930. The restaurant area, was originally two cottages, that when Albert and then Edwin Latter were beer retailers here at the start of the 20th century, were called Latter's Cottages.

For most of the 19th century the house was kept by Edward and Mary Ann English, who in 1841 were aged 54 and 48 respectively, and were still there until the 1860's. Edward had been born in the village to parents John and Mary. Following them the business was conducted by a Harriet Mitchell, and later at the turn of the century as stated above, was run by Albert Latter who like many of that family was also a bricklayer. Further into the last century the names of Frederick Gainsford, Fred Swift, and Fred Strand are on record as publicans.

From Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 29 September 1922.

DEATH. NICHOLLS.

On September 23rd, at West Kent General Hospital, Lois, the beloved wife of James Nicholls (late Sergt. 1-5th Royal Sussex Regiment (B.E.F.), "Walnut Tree," Yalding, aged 54.

Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 06 October 1922.

THE LATE MRS. NICHOLLS.

The funeral took place on Thursday week of the late Mrs. Nicholls, wife of Mr. J. Nicholls, of the "Walnut Tree Inn," Yalding, late Sergeant of the 15th Royal Sussex and formerly of Ticehurst. Mrs. Nicholls passed away at the West Kent General Hospital, Maidstone, at the age of 54. The funeral was conducted by the Rev. H. T. Southgate, and the mourners were:- Mr. J. Nicholls, Sergt. Nicholls, R.A.F. (son) Mr. and Mrs. Stiller (sister and brother-in-law), Mrs. Goldsmith (sister) and Miss Nicholls (sister). There were numerous floral tributes, including from Yalding Village Football Club, Yalding Village Working Men's Club and the Yalding Angling Society. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. E. Latter, of Yalding.

From Kent & Sussex Courier 05 February 1937.

YALDING WINE LICENSE REFUSED.

Frederick Gainsford applied for a wine license for the "Walnut Tree," Yaldlng.

Mr. P. Harries, of Gainsford, said that owing to the rise in the standard of living there had been a considerable change in the taste for refreshments. There had been a growth in the demand for wines, such as port and sherry. He contended that the granting of a wine license to a beer-house did a considerable amount to improve the general standard of the house.

Frederick Gainsford said that during the twelve months he had been in the house there had been a big demand for wines. A Buffalo Lodge met at his premises once a week and averaged about 40 persons.

He produced a petition signed by his customers asking that a wine license should be granted to the house. The name at the top of the list was that of the Vicar of Yaldlng (the Rev. J. R. Hale).

Mr. L. Monckton opposed on behalf of Messrs. Style and Winch, the owners of the "George," and Messrs. Fremlins, owners of the "Bull." He pointed out that Yaldlng was a purely rural district and It was not a case where the licensee could say that there was considerable building going on around him and that the neighbourhood was being turned Into a residential area. The people who required wines were amply catered for in Yalding.

The application was refused.

Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 8 August 1975.

Couple leave pub — for a rest.

MORE THAN nine months without a day off — let alone a holiday — proved too much for Arnold and Marie Chew, who gave up the tenancy of the "Walnut Tree" public house, Yalding, on Tuesday.

Arnold and Marie Chew, who left the "Walnut Tree" pub, Yalding, on Tursday.

Arnold, 48, and Marie came to the village from Skipton, Yorkshire, five years ago and have been popular figures in Yalding ever since.

On Monday evening they were given a rousing send-of by regulars, who presented them with a cut-glass bowl and even washed the glasses and cleared up the debris of the Chews last nigh at the pub.

The Chews had been publicans for more than 20 years — Arnolds father and grand-father were in the trade—but now they have left to live at Minnis Bay, Birchington.

"We want a rest", said Marie, "but we've no idea what we are going to do".

The new tenants at the "Walnut Tree" are Mr. and Mrs. R. Goodall, who once managed a free house, and who worked in the motor trade before coming to Yalding.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Keith Hunt, 24 August 2018.

Scaffolder Louis Taylor cleared of assault after alleged brick and poker attack.

An angry customer who hurled a brick through a pub window after being refused a drink has been cleared of assaulting the landlord.

Louis Taylor was alleged to have attacked Barry Jenner with a brick and a poker, causing a wound to his head.

But the 24-year-old trainee scaffolder was acquitted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm and two offences of possessing an offensive weapon.

Louis Taylor was acquitted of assault.

Taylor, who claimed he acted in self-defence, had admitted criminal damage and was fined £100 with £100 costs and ordered to pay £180 compensation for the broken window.

The jury was out for over six-and-a-half hours before returning the verdicts.

After Taylor’s family left court whooping and celebrating, Judge Heather Baucher said: “Shame the jury didn’t hear what just went on outside.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard Taylor had drunk four or five pints of beer at The Walnut Tree in Yalding during the evening of June 29 last year.

He asked for another drink, but barman Michael Welbourne had called “time!” and told him he could have the pint that had been bought for him next time.

Taylor became angry and left. He then threw a brick through the window.

Mr Jenner had just returned from a quiz night at his other pub in Ightham. His partner Debbie Wilding and Mr Welbourne went outside to look for Taylor.

When she did not return quickly Mr Jenner went to look for her.

“I wasn’t so worried about Michael as he is a tough looking rugby type and can handle himself,” he said in evidence.

“I got about 80 yards down the road. The next thing I can remember is being struck on the back of the head by what I assumed was a rock or brick. It knocked me over.

“I was struck or kicked or pummelled a number of times. I felt something sharp on my back. At one stage I was feeling pretty desperate. I thought that’s it.

“I somehow managed to get away. When I came round I was almost under a car in a driveway. A neighbour came out. There was a lot of screaming. Michael was pinning Louis on the ground.

“The police and an ambulance arrived. I was feeling OK but I was completely covered in blood.”

Mr Jenner was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital and treated for a wound to the back of his head, a broken finger and bruising.

Chetna Patel, defending, called the criminal damage “an unpleasant act”. Taylor, she said, had taken steps to address his alcoholism and drug addiction.

The pub was still serving in 2014 but by 2019 it had closed its doors. However, it open again on 5 April 2019.

Just heard in August 2024 that the pub had closed again.

LICENSEE LIST

ENGLISH Edward 1841-61+ (age 74 in 1861)