|
Sidcup
Above postcard 1924. |
Above photo 1930s. |
Above photo 1935. Kindly sent by Matt Minch. |
Above photo, 1935. Kindly sent by Matt Minch. |
Above photo 1973. |
Above photo, 1974. |
The building was purposely built for the Sidcup station which was
opened in October 1866 near to the entrance to the goods yard.
The Station Hotel was built by local developer G Hawkins at a cost of
£2,500, opened in July 1879. It was well placed to serve this function and
had the endorsement of the railway company, a status enhanced by the alleged
unsuitability of the "Old
Black Horse" and the "Alma."
Despite this, and large scale housing developments nearby (financed by
Hawkins on land owned by Mr Malcolm of Lamorbey), it had great difficulty in
obtaining a licence. The application was opposed by nearby residents some of
whom had been induced to sign a petition stating that 'the house would be a
resort of pigeon shooters and loose characters'.
The licence was granted in 1880 and William Thompson Wyatt, the tenant,
quickly sold his lease in 1881 to Beasleys of Plumstead.
This fine hotel was demolished and a new pub opened on 31st October 1976
by constituency MP Sir Edward Heath. In plans of 1972 the new pub was
originally destined to be called The "Horse Brass" but the alternative metal
and name of the "Iron Horse" was agreed on; a much more appropriate name for
a pub adjacent to a railway. The new pub had a name change during the 90s to
the "Metro Bar," but
that was short lived and reverted back to the "Iron Horse".
In the 1930s this premises was supplied by Beasley's Ales, and advertised
a Private Dance Hall.
The hotel was demolished in 1975.
|
From the Daily Gazette for Middlesborough, Wednesday 27 August, 1879.
OVER SANGUINE.
At Dartford on Saturday Mr Besley, barrister, on behalf of Mr George
Hawkins, builder, applied for a full license for the "Station Hotel,"
Sidcup. Applicant had erected about 150 handsome villas near the Sidcup
railway station of the South-Eastern Railway, and, acting on the
representations of Mr Malcolm, the lord of the manor of Lamorby,
constructed a spacious and commodious hotel, with stables, coachhouses,
&c., close to the railway station, at a cost of upwards of £2,000; in
full anticipation of the license following as a matter of course, and
the South-Eastern Company had permitted the cutting away of a portion of
the embankment to give access to the hotel. The application was opposed
by the local clergy and others, and the Bench refused to grant the
license, on the ground that there was no need of further accommodation
for the present.
|
|
From the Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers'
Gazette Saturday 29 October 1898.
SIDCUP STATION HOTEL LICENCE. THE APPEAL ALLOWED.
An important appeal came before the Right Hon. J. G. Talbot, M.P., and
other magistrates at the West Kent Quarter sessions, Maidstone, on
Thursday. Mr. Ford, landlord of the "Station Hotel," Sidcup, appealed
against the refusal of the Justices of the Dartford division to renew to
him the licence of that house. The grounds for the refusal were that Mr.
Ford had been convicted for drunkenness. It was however, pointed out by
the appellant that the offence took place, not on his licensed premises,
but at Greenwich, and that his house had been well conducted. The police
of the district, stated that it was the best conducted house in the
neighbourhood.
Mr. Candy, Q.C., and Mr. Fooks represented the appellant; Mr. Dickens,
Q.C., and Mr. Hohler were for Mr. Beasley, brewer, holder of a 99 years’
lease on the hotel; while Mr. Morton Smith appeared on behalf of the
Dartford justices.
Mr. Candy explained that if the court would allow the appeal, Mr. Ford
would simply retain possession of the house until the first special
session of the division in January, when he would apply for its transfer
to a successor.
Mr. Dickens said his clients did not wish to lose the licence of the
house, and were willing to do whatever the justices thought proper.
Mr. Morton Smith declared that there was no wish on the part of the
Dartford justices to take away the licence for good; all they wished was
that it might be in capable hands.
The Bench allowed the appeal.
|
LICENSEE LIST
WYATT William Thompson 1880+
SIMPSON Mr Feb/1891+
GADD Frederick Arthur 1914-25
PERUGIA E Mrs 1930s
???? Henri mid 1960s
Kentish Mercury
|
