DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 04 August, 2021.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1828-

Wheatsheaf Inn

Latest 1972+

Vicarage Street

St. Peter's

Wheatsheaf 1900

Above photo, circa 1900, kindly sent by Michael Mirams.

From the Early Broadstairs & St Peters in old photographs collected by Barrie Wootton.

Wheatsheaf 1920

The Wheatsheaf public house, 1920. The Wheatsheaf was the first public house you saw if you entered St. Peter’s from Margate. Owned by Cobb’s, the Margate brewers, the Wheatsheaf is now a restaurant. In 1841 the landlord was Charles Silk. In 1879, another landlord of the Wheatsheaf was ordered to close his drinking-water well as it was deemed unhealthy and fresh water was available from the Broadstairs Water Company founded in 1859 by Thomas Crampton.

Former Wheatsheaf

Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by Michael Mirams.

Former Wheatsheaf 2019

Above Google image, June 2019.

Former Wheatsheaf 2019

Above Google image, June 2019.

 

 Situated in Vicarage Street and traced back to 1839, perhaps earlier.

 

Kentish Gazette, 7 May 1844.

ST. PETER’S FARMERS’ CLUB.

On Tuesday se’nnight the St. Peter’s Farmers’ Club held their annual meeting. A substantial dinner was provided by Mr. Silks at the "Wheat Sheaf Inn," St. Peter’s, at which forty gentlemen sat down. Mr. Manser, of Dumpton, presided. The usual loyal toasts were duly honoured, and several excellent speeches were made. T. Mayhew, Esq. expatiated upon the merits of the conservative ministry, and proposed the health of the members for the eastern division of the county. The report was read in the course of the evening, and warmly received. It denounced, in no measured terms, the evil doctrines of the Anti-Corn-Law League, and imparted some acceptable knowledge as to the best method of destroying the wire worm, the value of sea weed as a manure, and the proper time and method of sowing wheat.

 

Kentish Gazette, 13 May 1851.

On Saturday week, an inquest was held at the "Red Lion Inn," St. Peter's, Thanet, before G. T. Thompson, Esq., coroner, and a very respectable jury, with Mr. Ballard, of Broadstairs, as foreman, on the bodies of Maria Harlow, 29 years of age, with her infant five weeks old, whose existence was terminated by throwing herself with her child down a well, on the premises of her father, Mr. Charles Silk, landlord of the "Wheatsheaf Inn," at St. Peter’s.

George Tanson, sworn, said:— I am a labourer, and living at Margate. Yesterday morning about half past nine o'clock, I, with others. was standing against St. Peter's churchyard wall, when Mr. Silk came running from his house towards us, and said "for God's sake come this way." I and the others followed him to the back of his house; on gelling there, I saw Miss Harlow, deceased sister-in-law,who told us she thought Maria was down the well. Mr. Goodwin and another person fastened the rope round me, and lowered me down the well; when I went to the well both flaps were open. I went down, on getting to the water, which was 24 fathoms, I saw a child's cap and a pair of woman's shoes. I called for a grapple, which was lowered. I cast it into the water; at about 17 feet deep the grapple caught her clothes, which brought up with it the body of Maria Harlow, the deceased. I made her clothes fast to the grapple, and I was drawn up, and deceased was drawn u-p afterwards. I did not go down a second time; the infant was caught by the grapple, and by it drawn out of the well by Mr. Warren; it was the infant child of Maria Harlow; they were both dressed, the mother had on a black silk gown, and the infant white long clothes. Maria Harlow is the wife of William John Harlow, carpenter, living at St. Peter's. Both were dead when I came to them in the well.

Susanna Harlow sworn, said:- I am sister-in-law to deceased. I am a spinster, and live at my father's. My brother's name is William John Harlow, and his wife, Maria Harlow, is 29 years of age. Yesterday morning I went to her; I was with her in her room about 20 minutes, at her father's house, the "Wheatsheaf Inn." I went to finish a dress of hers. At this time she was in her bedroom, with her infant in her arms; her mother, Mrs. Silk, was also in the room. Deceased laid the baby on the bed, but took it up again almost immediately and wrapped it up in some flannel. As she was going out of the room I asked her where she was going; she said she was going to take it down to the taproom fire to warm it. I saw her take something out of
her box previous to leaving the room, but what it was I cannot say, because it was small and dark. I thought it was a purse; she kept her money in this box. Her mother went downstairs about 5 minutes after her daughter, through hearing someone come into the house. This person stayed about 5 minutes, when Mrs. Silk called from the bottom of the stairs, and said Maria was gone out, and have got nothing on her; she said she thought she was gone to Miss Busbridge's. In about 5 minutes after I heard Mrs. Silk leave the house, and on her return call to me again upstairs, saying, "I cannot think where Maria has gone, as Miss Busbridge's door is locked. I from that ran downstairs into the taproom. I saw a flannel petticoat laying on a chair near the door that leads from the taproom into the kitchen. I then thought all was not right. I went to the kitchen door, and saw the well lid open; I then thought she had gone down the well. I went to the well and listened, but could not hear anything. I ran to Mr. Silk, who was in the garden and said, "Oh, Mr. Silk, I fear Maria is down the well. Mr. Silk left the garden and ran for assistance. I was in the yard when Mr. Silk returned with assistance. I and Mrs. Silk went in doors I do not know how long it is since they were married; I think it is more than a month since. The marriage have given no offence to any member of either family. I have known deceased from a child; she was very reserved and quiet in a manner; she has told me if you could not rally. I was with her on Sunday night last about 10 minutes; she appeared very dull at that time. On Thursday last I was with her all day; she was more low spirited that day then on Sunday. She was attended by a medical man, Mr. Water, up to this time, who saw her on Thursday last in the afternoon. My brother (her husband) said she had told him she was afraid she should go out of her mind; she has said the same to me. Yesterday morning she appeared to be very low in spirits. No letter or paper has been left by deceased. The infants was baptised, and named James. I have seen the certificates of her marriage. I knew her money was in the box, as I put it there myself by her order before her confinement. I and my sister have searched her box, but could not find her money. I think there might have been from £10 to £12 in her purse. Deceased and her husband lived very happily together, and were greatly attached to each other.

— Walter. Esq., sworn said:— I am a surgeon, and live at St. Peter’s, and have attended deceased; did so at her confinement, and before that the confinement look place; three weeks since she was suffering from jaundice, and also from lowness of spirits; she had in a great measure recovered before her confinement. She had the jaundice again, from which she recovered about a week ago. I attended the child in consequence of its not being well; saw deceased occasionally on account of my attendance on the child. Last Thursday it was I saw her last alive; was with her about five minutes; she appeared well in health, but suffering from low spirits. I did not observe anything peculiar in her manner to cause me to believe her mind was affected. I advised change, and that she should walk out. I have always noticed that everybody about her was particularly kind to her, and they all appeared very happy.

William John Harlow sworn, said:— I am the husband of deceased Maria Harlow. On Friday morning last at about a quarter before six o’clock, I went to my work as a carpenter. I left her very low spirited, she said herself to me she was so; this was about five o’clock; before I got up she said that it appeared to her as if her brain was turned. I look no notice of this, as she had said the same to me a few days before. I have asked her what was the matter, and she has replied "her happiness was gone;" sometimes I have spoken to her and she has made me no reply, and she would also ramble from one subject to another when in course of conversation, as if she was in an unsound state of mind; she has expressed a fear to me that she would become the village talk, how often I cannot say; she has said she was afraid she should be short of money. I told her that there was no cause to fear that, as I was earning money. About two mornings back, without any cause, she said to me, "William, should I die you would have to bury me;" this was before I got up. I told her not to talk so. She said no more, but went to sleep again. We were married within these last two months. No ill words ensued when her father became acquainted with his daughter's situation.

The jury requested to be left by themselves to consider their verdict, when, after about an hour’s consultation, the following verdicts were returned viz.:— That Maria Harlow drowned herself while in a state of insanity; and the verdict on the infant was, that Maria Harlow drowned her own child while labouring under insanity.
 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 24 May, 1907. Price 1d.

A PUBLIC HOUSE WHERE SAWDUST IS NOT TIED

This morning an application was made to Messrs. J. L. Bradley and H. F. Edwin for temporary permission to transfer the “Wheatsheaf,” Broadstairs from Mr. Finn to Mr. Tolhurst, late of Tunbridge Wells.

The Chairman, after examining the agreement, asked if the tenant was not tied for everything he could supply.

The Brewers agent: Except sawdust. (Laughter.)

The Chairman: I do not think that anyone would want to put that down their throat. (Laughter.) he pointed out that the agreement also stated that no beverages were to be kept except those obtained from Messrs. Cobb and Co., and asked if that did not apply to tea and coffee.

The new tenant said that he had enquired on that point, and found that it did not, and the brewers' agent said they had no intention of including those.

The Chairman said that the agreement certainly included them, although it might be understood between the parties that they were not to be.

The transfer was granted.

 

Thanet Advertiser, 27 September 1940.

L.Vs. NEW SECRETARY.

At a meeting of the Thanet Licensed Retailers Protection Society at Margate on Thursday Mr. Alfred Finch of the "Powell Arms," Birchington, was elected secretary in succession to the late Alderman P. B. Osborne of Margate.

Councillor W. G. Love, of the "Woodman," Ramsgate, had also been nominated but Mr. Finch was elected by 16 votes to 9.

The post is to be an honorary one but an honorarium will be granted by the society at the end of the year.

Mr. F. Johnson of the "Wheatsheaf," St. Peter's, was appointed as trustee in place of Mr. Finch and Councillor Love was appointed auditor.

Paying tribute to Alderman Osborne. Mr. E. C. Nash, treasurer, said he had done everything possible to assist members to overcome their wartime problems. He had left everything in apple-pie order and even on the day of his death had written letters on behalf of the Society.

 

LICENSEE LIST

SILK Charles 1828-44+ (age 45 in 1841Census) Pigot's Directory 1828-29Pigot's Directory 1832-34

BAKER William Harmstone 1858-82+ (age 56 in 1881Census)

BRADLEY Matthew Henry 1891+

BEERLING Walter John 1899+

PEMBLE Thomas Alfred 1901-06+ Kelly's 1903

FINN Mr to May/1907

TOLHURST Mr May/1907+

CLAY William Henry 1913-22+

MASON Albert to Dec/1932 Dover Express

FOWELL Edgar Clarence Dec1932-34+ Dover Express

JOHNSON Frank W 1938-40+

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

 

Pigot's Directory 1828-29From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29

Pigot's Directory 1832-34From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Dover ExpressFrom the Dover Express

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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