The Street

Shorne

The original building on this plot was constructed during the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509), the foundations are believed to be part of which still stands today.

For many years the premises was used as as a bakery but was originally a private dwelling house, part of an estate.

In 1601, the estate was sold and the land divided up. The house at the time underwent extensive alterations.

In 1730, the house was purchased by a man called French. It was he who turned it into what was known then as an "Ale House".

The ale was brewed locally with hops from Cobham and Faversham. By 1736 the house had fallen into a state of dilapidation and was partly demolished, save for the foundations and the "Olde Bakery" and rebuilt.

French still owned the property and continued to trade under the auspices of a licensee, though there is no evidence of a licence ever being granted at the time.

The house became known as "Ye Olde Billett" and a sign was duly erected.

In 1740 a licence was granted and the Inn became a registered public house, with Mr French the licensee. IN 1744 French tried to sell the Inn to a man called Little, a bricklayer of the parish.

Little was a man of ill-repute and in 1741 had purchased another man's wife, a woman called Benning, and they set up house together.

Although legal articles were drawn up between Little and the man called Benning, the Vicar of Shorne (1733-1770) the Reverend Caleb Parfect, who at the time lived opposite the Inn, thought the pair undesirable and wrote to the Justices of the Peace at Chatham and objected strongly.

Little was refused a licence and shortly after French sold to another buyer and the name was changed to the "Crooked Billett". Then in 1812 the name was changed again to the "Rose and Crown" and the present sign hung.

LICENSEE LIST

FRENCH 1730-44+