WINDSOR CASTLE Pub of Maidstone

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Maidstone, September, 2024.

Page Updated Maidstone:- Monday, 09 September, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1839-

(Name from)

Windsor Castle

Latest 1903+

72 Week Street

Maidstone

Above Google image, May 2019, showing 72 Week Street being the relatively new William Hill building. It stands next to to Cashino Gaming building whish has a plaque on it saying Lombard House 1888.

Above flagon circa 1861.

Previously known as the "Anchor and Hope."

Southeastern Gazette, 5 July 1853.

Friday. (Before the Mayor, and T. Franklyn, Esq.)

William Freed, labourer, charged with being drunk and disorderly on Tuesday week, and breaking some squares of glass at the "Windsor Castle" public-house, was discharged with a caution as to his future conduct, no one appearing against him to press the charge.

South Eastern Gazette, 14 February, 1860.

Transfer of Licenses.

At the Maidstone Police Court, on Saturday, before the Mayor (J. C. Stephens, Esq.), and C. Ellis, Esq., the following transfers of licenses were made.

An application was also made for the transfer of the license of the "Windsor Castle," Week-street, from William Fenner to Alfred Stroud; but the applicant having been in occupation for a fortnight, and the house during that time having been conducted in a very disorderly manner, the magistrates did not feel justified in granting the transfer, which was accordingly refused.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 18 February, 1860.

TRANSFER OF LICENSES

Alfred Stroud, the present occupier of the "Windsor Castle", also applied for the transfer of that license to him. The license was refused in consequence of a report given in by Superintendent Blundell and Inspector Fancett, that the house was conducted in a very disorderly manner.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 25 February 1860. Price 1d.

MAIDSTONE PETTY SESSION.

An application was made on behalf of the “Windsor Castle” public-house, by Mr. Morgan, who appeared on the part of the occupant, while Mr. Beale attended for Messrs. Brenchley and Stacey, the landlords of the house.

The application was that the license (which was refused to Mr. Strood, the occupier of the house, on the previous Saturday week) might be endorsed until the next transfer day, or otherwise it would not only injure the property of Messrs. Brenchley and Stacey, but the person who had advanced a sum of money to Mr. Stroud to enable him to take the house. If the Magistrates would but grant this request a fit and proper person might in the interval be selected for a landlord.

The magistrates were of opinion that as the Mayor and C. Ellis, Esq., were on the bench on the previous occasion, and the case was decided by them, if an application was to be made on the part of Messrs. Brenchley and Stacey, or for the occupier, it should be made to those gentlemen. They did not feel inclined to reverse the decision already made.

The application was consequently postponed.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 3 March, 1860. Price 1d.

MAIDSTONE PETTY SESSIONS

The application for an endorsement of the license of the “Windsor Castle,” to Alfred Stroud, was again made. Mr. Morgan appearing for Stroud, and Mr. Beale for the landlords of the house, Messrs. Brenchley and Stacey.

The case has been twice before our readers, and was fully reported in our last Saturday's edition. After hearing the learned gentlemen, the magistrates retired to their private room. On their return his worship said they had decided on not granting the license to the applicant Stroud.

South Eastern Gazette, 24 July, 1860.

Innkeepers’ Licenses.

The following transfer of public-house licenses were also granted last week.

The "Windsor Castle," Week-street, from Wm. Fenner to Wm. Stray.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 23 February 1861.

Maidstone Petty Sessions.

Before the Mayor (C. Ellis, Esq.), and R. Cooper, Esq.

Sarah Walker was charged with assaulting Ann Hills, and damaging her clothes to the amount of 9s.

It appeared that on the morning of the 9th inst., complainant and defendant, two unfortunates, were at the "Windsor Castle" public house, where they quarrelled and fought. During the scuffle complainant alleged that a bonnet and cloak was spoilt by the defendant.

There were faults on both sides, and his worship dismissed the case.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 14 September 1861.

Maidstone Petty Sessions. Saturday.

Before C. Ellis. Esq., (Moyor), H. W. Joy, Esq., and R. Cooper, Esq.

William Wing, a quarryman, residing in Stone Street, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Week Street, early on the morning of the 6th inst.

It appears that the prisoner was drunk and asleep, lying on a form at the "Windsor Castle." The landlord not being able to get him out of the house, sent for the police. Police Constable Brooks persuaded the prisoner to leave the house, but as soon as he came into the street he lay down on the pavement and refused to go any further. The Constable tried to get him up, when he seized hold of him and was so violent that assistance was obliged to be obtained to take him to the station house.

The prisoner had nothing to say in his defence. He was sorry for what had occurred but was drunk, and did not remember anything about it.

The Bench said it was fortunate for him he had not been charged with a more heinous offence of assaulting the police, or he would have been more severely dealt with. As it was, nothing being known against him previously, he would be fined in the mitigating penalty of 5s. with 6s. costs.

Kent Times, 22 February 1862.

Police Court, Tuesday. Present: the Mayor (W. Haynes, Esq.) and E. Stacey, and T. Allen, Esqrs.

A Somnolent burglar.

John Baker, a sturdy looking fellow, dressed as a mason’s labourer, was placed in the dock charged with a burglary in the house of John Brinkley, Union-street, and stealing therein a rolling pin and other articles, the property of the said John Brinkley.

It was stated in evidence that the wife and daughter of the prosecutor went to bed about half-past twelve o'clock on the night of Saturday, the 15th inst., having previously fastened up the house. The back window of the wash-house was closed, but the inside shutter was not put up. This was a sliding window, one half sliding in a kind of grove behind the other. To prevent its being slided back some bricks had been placed. There was nothing, however, to hinder its being pushed backwards and then taken bodily out. Mrs. Binkley and her daughter were awoke about two o’clock on Sunday morning by hearing the rattling of a roasting jack, a rolling pin, and other articles, which had been placed against the inner door, leading from the kitchen to the wash-house, as a kind of alarm. The daughter called out that some one was in the house, and Mrs. Binkley at once opened the window and gave the alarm to the police, two of whom were near the spot. One of the officers placed himself at the back of the house (having to follow the same route that had been previously taken by the burglar) namely, to get over the wall separating the yards of the "Windsor Castle Inn" and Binkley’s home — and the other obtained admittance through the front door, which had been opened to him by Mrs. Binkley. On proceeding, to the wash-house Baker was found lying down with his head upon a flag basket, and by his side were a brass roasting jack, a chopping board, and a rolling pin, all which articles he had taken from the wash-house door. When charged by the officers he said he thought he was at his own house.

Prisoner now set up an ingenious defence. He said he had been drinking at the "Windsor Castle," on Saturday evening, with a few of his mates. They had some gin and beer, and as he was not accustomed to it, it took effect upon him. He went (over the wall) to the back door of Binkleys house, thinking all the while that he was at his own home, and having tried the door he went to the window to feel for the key to let himself in. The window opened very easily, and as he could not find the key he concluded that he must have dropped it, and he got through the window and went to the wash house door to go through to his room, but as he could not open it he laid down, and he knew no more about it till the policeman came.

The magistrates feeling it desirable that prisoner should have an opportunity of stating his case to a jury, committed him for trial.

Kent Times, 12 April 1862.

MAIDSTONE. Supposed Suicide of a Publican.

On Friday an inquest was held at the "George Inn," Aylesford, before J. N. Dudlow, Esq., on the body of William Stray, 29, which had been found in the river Medway. Deceased, who was a healthy, robust man, was landlord of the "Windsor Castle," Week-street, Maidstone, which he had occupied for the past two years. On the 14th March he Suddenly left his home, and about 7 o’clock in the evening of the same to the "Gibraltar Inn," where he drank half-a-quartern of rum. At that time he was observed to look very pale and excited, and nothing more was Seen or heard of him until Friday 4th inst., when a bargeman named Garnham found his lifeless body in a state of decomposition floating in the river Medway, near the Borstal, Aylesford. In deceased’s pocket, 1s. 6d. was found, also a pin in his scarf. The body was conveyed to the "George Inn," Aylesford, to await the inquest. The jury returned the following verdict, "Found dead in the river, but there was no evidence to show how the deceased came there."

It is stated that Stray, who has left a widow and three children, was in pecuniary embarrassment, and there is little doubt that he committed suicide.

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

FEATHERSTONE William 1839-41+ (age 42 in 1841)