DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Ashford, October, 2021.

Page Updated Ashford:- Monday, 18 October, 2021.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1867-

Old English Gentleman

Feb 1912

30 Park Street

Ashford

 

Only found the one instance of this beer-house at present, and to date no address other than in Ashford.

Further research has found this also referred to as the "Old English Gentleman" in the census of 1891 and 1901 and addressed at 30 Park Street.

 

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 5 October 1867. Price 1d.

PETTY SESSIONS. Saturday

(Before G. E. Sayer, Esq., chairman; Colonel Groves, E. C. Dering, H. Tufton, E. H. K. Hugessen, M.P., and P. D. N. Oxenden, Esqrs.)

Adcock, landlord of the "Old Gentleman" beerhouse, Ashford, was brought up on a warrant, charged with leaving his wife chargeable to the parish of Ashford.

Mr. Minter appeared for the defendant.

Mr. Dongley, relieving officer, and Mr. Jones, governor of the West Ashford Union, proved the chargeability, the woman then being an inmate of the workhouse.

The answer to the charge was that the woman had been guilty of adultery. Witnesses were called to prove but before the whole of them had been examined, the magistrates dismissed the case, and the plaintiff his solicitor retired. Subsequently it appeared that the Bench were not unanimous in this decision, and it was thought that a son of the defendant who would have been called by Mr. Minter should have been heard.

The Bench retired to consult together, and ultimately decided not to re-open the case.

 

Kentish Gazette, 11 January 1876.

SECOND COURT. STEALING FOWLS.

Before C. J. Plumptry, Esq., (in the chair); Captain Hilton, J. J. Harvey, K. W. Wilkie, and F. W. Curteis, Esqs.

Edward Swaffer, alias "Navvy" Swaffer, and Walter Swaffer, labourers, were charged with stealing fourteen live tame fowls, value £10, the property of Owen Russell and Charles Edward Andrews, at Kingsnorth, on the 14th November.

Mr. Deering prosecuted, and Mr. Ormerod defended.

Owen Russell, one of the prosecutors deposed that he and his brother-in-law (the other prosecutor) kept fowls in a lodge at Kingsnorth. On Sunday, 14th November, there were 23 fowls in the lodge. They were then safe, and the lodge was secured with a padlock. On the following morning when he visited the lodge, he discovered that it had been broken open, and there were fourteen birds missing. The police showed him twelve fowls and he identified several of them. He was certain four out of the game cocks were his.

Charles Cooms stated that he was a labourer and employed by the last witness's brother-in-law (the prosecutor Andrews). The two prosecutors kept fowls in a lodge at Kingsnorth and he attended to them. When he went to the lodge on Monday morning, the 15th November, he found that there were several missing. The padlock had been broken off and was lying on the ground. He was shown several fowls at the police-court and identified five or six of them as belonging to the prosecutors.

Felix Giles, landlord of the "British Volunteer Inn," Ashford, said that on Sunday evening, the 14th November, the two prisoners came into his house. The prisoner Walter asked witness if he bought fowls, and he replied that he did not. He then asked him (witness) if he would give him 12s. for twelve fowls, which he declined to do; prisoner then offered them to him for 10s. 6d., and which offer he also declined. Both prisoners had a bag in their hands, and he noticed that they looked rather bulky. The other prisoner (Edward) did not say anything. The prisoner Walter asked the way out the back, and he showed both prisoners into his yard.

John Bird, plumber, living at Ashford, gave evidence to the effect that he was in the "Old English Gentleman" public house at Ashford, on the Sunday evening. he was standing at the bar and the prisoner Walter beckoned him to come into a room. He went and the prisoner then took a white fowl out of a bag and showed it to witness. He was looking at it when a policeman came in and took possession of it.

Thomas Mills deposed that he was a police-constable residing at Ashford. On the evening of the 14th inst. (Sunday) he went into the "Old English Gentleman" public house; he was the prisoner Walter sitting on a seat in the front room/The last witness was standing near the prisoner and had a fowl in his hand. There was a bag lying on the seat near the prisoner, in which he found a fowl which the prisoner said was his property. he told the prisoner he did not believe him, and should take him into custody on a charge of stealing them. On taking him to the police station the prisoner said he bought the fowls of a man up the street. On Monday, the 15th November, he went into the garden at the back of the "British Volunteer" public house, and found a bag containing either fowls near a faggot stack. The fowls were the same that had been identified by the witness Cooms and Russell. On the same day he visited the lodge at Kingsnorth, and noticed footprints on the ground leading to and from the lodge.

Police constable Lane, of Ashford, proved going to the prosecutors' premises on the 15h November, and discovering some footprints near the lodge, he obtained the prisoner Walter's boots, and upon comparing the shoes with the footprints found them to correspond. He cut out the footprints, but they had since fallen to pieces. He also corroborated the last witness as to finding the bag at the back of the "British Volunteer."

Mr. Ormerod, in an able address for the prisoners, contended that there was not the slightest evidence against Edward Swaffer, and argued that although the evidence was stronger against the other prisoner it was not sufficient to convict upon.

The Jury, after some consultation acquitted Edward Swaffer, and found the prisoner Walter, "Guilty."

A sentence of six months' had labour was inflicted.

 

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 10 February 1912.

LICENSING.

At the annual licensing sessions for the Ashford petty sessional division held on Tuesday Superintendent Jones submitted his report which showed that there had been a decrease of two ale-houses mid two sweet licences. Twenty-five persons had been proceeded against on charges of drunkenness, a decrease of nine persons (eight residents, and one non-resident), as compared with the last twelve months. The Chairman (Captain Down) said all the licences would be renewed with the exception of the "Royal Oak," Ashford, the "OId English Gentleman," Ashford, and the "White Horse," Egerton, on the grounds of redundancy.

 

 

LICENSEE LIST

ADCOCK Mr 1867+ Whitstable Times

WILES Thomas 1871+ (age 49 in 1871Census)

SETTERFIELD Thomas & Mary 1881 (age 38 & 39 in 1881Census)

Last pub licensee had SHARP Thomas 1891-1901+ (age 68 in 1901Census)

BATT Alfred 1911+ (age 35 in 1911Census)

https://pubwiki.co.uk/OldEnglishGentleman.shtml

 

Whitstable TimesWhitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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