From the Kentish Gazette, 8 August 1865

Petty Sessions. Saturday. (Before G. E. Sayer, Esq., Major Groves, and C. Hardy, Esq.)

Unlawful Sale of Beer.

David Stickells, landlord of a beer-shop at a locality in South Ashford which is generally known by the name of "The Dismal Swamp," was summoned for selling a certain quantity of beer before the termination of divine service, on Sunday morning, July 16th.

Police constables Henry Tomblin and Thomas Moore, deposed that they visited the defendant’s house at a quarter past ten on the morning in question, when they found three men within, and a pint pot and a glass on the table. Both vessels had had beer in them recently. The landlord said he only had a neighbour or two in his house, and he had drawn a pint of beer for them. He afterwards said he had given them the beer.

John Bate, said he lived near defendant's house, and being in ill health he was obliged to have a pint of stout per day. He went into the house to get it, but did not have it, one of the other two men giving him a little beer.

James Brown deposed that he came in with a man named Reeves who brought the landlord some potatoes, and that the landlord then gave them some beer, but none was purchased or drawn. They were only five minutes in the house.

Defendant said the beer was a portion of a quart which had been left stale from the night before, and that he did not draw any.

The Bench convicted, and fined defendant 50s., including costs.

From the Kentish Gazette, 5 September 1865.

Licensing Day.

The licenses of the public houses in the Ashford division were renewed. The following new licenses were applied for:-

David Stickells, of the "Bridge House Hotel" beershop, South Ashford, had also given the requisite notice of his intention to apply for a license; but it appeared he had since left the house.

The Bench retired to consider the implications, and on returning into court announced that they had decided to refuse all of them with the exception of that for the "Man of Kent," Ashford, kept by William Richard Brown, and for that house they had decided to grant a license.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 9 January 1866.

Petty sessions, Saturday.

(Before Sir N. J. Knatchbull, Bart., Chairman, G. E. Sayer, Esq., Major Groves, E. H. K. Hugessen. Esq., M.P., and Capt. Knatchbull).

Robert Hovenden, landlord of the “Castle Inn,” Ashford, and Robert Underdown Boodle, of the "Bridge House" beershop, Ashford, were fined 20s., for selling beer at unlawful hours at Christmas.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 1 May 1866.

TO LET, WITH IMMEDIATE POSSESSION,

THE “BRIDGE HOUSE” Free Beershop, South Ashford, in the immediate neighbourhood the South Eastern Factory.

Apply on the premises.