KENTISH RIFLEMAN Pub of Dunks Green

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Saturday, 30 August, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1851-

(Name from)

Kentish Rifleman

Open 2020+

Roughway Lane

Dunks Green

01732 810727

http://www.thekentishrifleman.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/kentish-rifleman

Above photo, circa 1910.

The old Leney's signage suggests to this being a pre-WW1 image.

Above postcard circa 1919, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Showing the pub as a tied house, within the estate of Frederick Leney's Phoenix Brewery, Wateringbury.

Above photo, circa 1930.

Above photo, circa 1930.

Above photo showing unknown group circa 1949. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, August 2000, kindly sent by Philip Dymott.

Above photo from https://www.boroughgreen.gov.uk

Above photo by Paul Bailey, 2012.

Above photo by Paul Bailey, 2012.

Above sign left 2012 sign right, pre 2015.

Above card issued March 1953. Sign series 4 number 17.

Originally built in about 1550, the pub was called the "Red Lion" and by 1861 it was going under the name of the "Oxenhoath Yeoman" but by 1867 this had changed to the "Kentish Rifleman."

The "Kentish Rifleman" on their 1987 sign was actually an old Home Guard soldier.

Following information from their web site, accessed 1 May 2016.

Mr Dunk was a local merchant who made his money in the early 16th Century, building his family home, now called the Roses, in about 1550. When the hamlet became “Dunk’s Green" is not clear, but the pub was built just a few years later, and, unusually, has been an ale-house and tavern from the outset.

It was called the "Red Lion" (still today the most popular pub name in the country) until 1867 when it was changed to the "Kentish Rifleman," probably to boost its image as a militia recruitment post. Dunk’s Green is in the parish of Shipbourne, and both are classified as areas of outstanding beauty; the walks and the views are both plentiful and exceptional. The famous Battle of Dunk's Green... if you want to find out more, you'll have to visit the pub!

From the Southeastern Gazette, 10 April 1866.

Edward Dines was charged with stealing a quantity of potatoes, value 10s,, the property of Mr. John Jury, of the “Kentish Rifleman” public-house, Dunk's-green, Staplehurst. On the previous Saturday afternoon the prosecutor had a quantity of potatoes in three sacks in his coachhouse, and on the following morning one sack, containing three bushels, had been carried away. He gave information to the police, and King, K.C.C., stationed himself about six in the evening to watch the premises, and about midnight he saw the prisoner getting over a hedge which led in the direction of his house, which was close to the prosecutor’s, but on seeing the constable he turned back, and entered his own house from another direction, about three-quarters of an hour later. Prisoner’s house was searched on the following day, and there were no potatoes there, but in an oasthouse close by, which was partly occupied by the prisoner, a quantity of potatoes, corresponding with those stolen from Mr. Jury’s, was found. On the application of Supt. Dance the prisoner was remanded.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 17 April 1866.

Edward Dynes was also further charged with assaulting George Cork, at Dunk’s-green, Shipbourne, on the 4th inst. The complainant was at the “Kentish Rifleman” public-house, when Dynes came up to him, slapped him in the face, and knocked his hat off.

Fined 5s. and costs; a week’s imprisonment in default.

Dynes was also charged with stealing a sack of potatoes, value 5s., on the 3lst March last, the property of Mr. John Jury, of the “Kentish Rifleman.” Mr. Palmer defended the prisoner, but the only evidence against him being that a quantity of potatoes found in an oast-house to which he had access corresponded with the potatoes belonging to the prosecutor, the magistrates dismissed the case.

From the Kent and Sussex Courier, Friday 11 January 1878.

Shipbourne. Keeping open during prohibited hours.

At the Tonbridge Petty sessions on Tuesday last, Jonathan Jury, of the "Kentish Rifleman," Dunk's Green, was summoned for unlawfully keeping open his licensed premises for the sale of intoxicating liquors at Shipbourne, on the 22nd December last.

The defendant pleaded guilty.

Instructing Constable Spriggett, of Wrotham, said that on the night of 22nd December last at about twenty minutes to eleven o'clock, he visited the defendant's house, and their found three men in the bar named Hayes, Baker, and Barton, in front of a table, on which was a pint pot, about half full of beer. he drew the landlord's attention to the time, as he should have closed at 10 o'clock. The landlord said he thought that last pint would do it. Hayes said, "I have not had a drink yet, shall I drink this?" The landlord said "Oh yes, drink it up, it won't make it any worse than it is."

The Chairman. (Mr Hankey) Have you any complaint to make against Mr. Jury's house?

Superintendent Kewell said the witness was a constable of the adjoining division, and knew very little of the house. The defendant had admitted that he had allowed gambling in his house.

Sir. David Solomons:- Have you any proof of any?

Superintendent Kewell:- There was a boy, 14 years of age, who defendant admitted her gambled.

The Chairman:- The Bench are of opinion that this is really a very serious case. It is impossible that they can pass over it, and they determine that you should be fined 20s. and costs, and that your licence shall be indorsed. Had the licence not been indorsed, the fine would have been much heavier. You hold a position in the parish with which I am well acquainted, and it is a very serious evil, that you, who ought to know better, and ought to keep a respectable house, should allow anything of an improper character to go on. They hope it will be a warning to you, or your licence will certainly be refused on the next licensing day.

Defendant:- I was not aware that this thing they call "Honest Ben" was gambling.

Superintendent Keywell:- You are not charged with that to day.

The Chairman:- You are charged with keeping open your house at unlicensed hours for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and that you know is an offence against the law.

Defendant:- I know it was after ten o'clock, but I did not know it was so late.

The Chairman:- The Bench feel bound to take notice of it, as they mean to do in all cases where similar offences are committed.

George Hayes, George Baker, and George Barton pleaded guilty of being in the house at the time, and they were each fined 2s. 6d. and costs.

Kent & Sussex Courier 03 May 1878.

SHIPBOURNE. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY.

At the Tonbridge Petty Sessions, on Tuesday, temporary authority was granted to Joseph Daniels to carry on the "Kentish Rifleman" public-house, at Shipbourne, until next transfer day.

Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 30 August 1878.

Our public houses.

The following report was laid before the Justice's on Tuesday by Superintendent Kewell:- Kent County Constabulary, Tunbridge division, 27th August, 1878.

The "Kentish Rifleman" Ale House, Shipbourne, which on 22nd December, 1877, was kept by Jonathan Jewry, who was fined £1 and costs, and conviction endorsed on licence. This licence has since been transferred to Joseph Daniel's, who has conducted it well.

Kent & Sussex Courier 15 August 1879.

SHIPBOURNE. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY.

At the Tonbridge Petty Sessions, on Tuesday last, temporary authority was granted to William Smith to carry on the business of the "Kentish Rifleman," at Shipbourne, till transfer day.

From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 11 January, 1878.

SHIPB0URNE.

Keeping open during Prohibited Hours.

At the Tonbridge Petty Sessions on Tuesday last, Jonathan Jury, of the "Kentish Rifleman," Dunk's Green, was summoned for unlawfully keeping open his licensed premises for the sale of intoxicating liquors at Shipbourne, on the 22nd December last.

The defendant pleaded guilty.

Instructing Constable Spriggett, of Wrotham, said that on the night of 22nd December last at about twenty minutes to eleven o'clock, he visited the defendant's house, and there found three men in the bar named Hayes, Baker, and Barton, in front of a table, on which was a pint pot, about half full of beer. He drew the landlords attention to the time, as he should have closed at ten o'clock. The landlord said he thought that last pint would do it. Hayes said, "I have not had a drink yet, Shall I drink this? The landlord said “ Oh yes. drink it up, it won't make it any the worse than it is.”

The Chairman: (Mr Hankey) Have you any complaint to make against Mr Jury's house?

Supt. Kewell said the witness was a constable of the adjoining division, and knew very little of the house. The defendant had admitted that he had allowed gambling in his house.

Sir. David Salomons: Have you proof of any?

Supt. Kewell: There was a boy, fourteen years of age, who defendant admitted had gambled.

The Chairman: The Bench are of opinion that this is really a very serious case. It is impossible that they can pass over it, and they determine that you should be fined 20s. and costs, and that your license shall be endorsed. Had the license not been endorsed, the fine would have been much heavier. You hold a position in the parish with which I am well acquainted, and it is a very serious evil, that you, who ought to know better, and ought to keep a respectable house, should allow anything of an improper character to go on. They hope it will be a warning to you, or your license will certainly be refused on the next licensing day.

Defendant: I was not aware that this thing they call “Honest Ben" was gambling.

Supt. Kewell: You are not charged with that to day.

The Chairman: You are charged with keeping open your house at unlicensed hours for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and that you know is an offence against the law.

Defendant: I know it was after ten o'clock, but I did not know it was so late.

The Chairman: The Bench feel bound to take notice of it, as they mean to do in all cases where similar offences are committed.

George Hayes, George Baker, and George Barton pleaded guilty to being in the house at the time, and they were each fined 2s. 6d. and costs.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser – Tuesday 10 September 1889

THE HOPPER BRIGADE.

Wm. Barton and Henry Larner were charged with being drunk and disorderly, at Shipbourne, on the 2nd September.

P.C. Potter, about nine o’clock in the evening, was summoned to the “Rifleman,” Dunk’s Green. There he found the prisoners, and twenty other people, drunk, wanting to fight, and using very disgusting language. He heard Barton make use of threats, and one of the men said he would set fire to the house if he was not supplied with drink. Witness requested them to leave, but they refused to do so, and he had to eject them. On getting outside, Barton struck him in the chest, the effects of which he had felt ever since. He endeavoured to persuade them to go away, whereupon Jones hit him on the shoulder, and Larner caught hold of his arm, pulled him round, and struck him. Barton spat in his face, and in a scuffle witnesses’ tunic was torn or cut. The constable went for assistance and on his return found the prisoners and several of their friends had decamped and he subsequently found them in the “Papermaker’s Arms,” at Plaxtol. From here he ejected them, and as they continued obstreperous and would not go away, took them into custody.

Mrs. Jane Trice, wife of the landlord of the "Rifleman," corroborated the Constable’s evidence to a certain extent. The prisoners threatened her and after they were ejected said they would burn the house down.

Her husband had kept the house for eight years and these were the roughest lot that they had had to deal with.

Wm. Thomas, gardener, of Puttenden said he saw some of the prisoners with their shirts off, making a disturbance, and what the constable had to deal out was perfectly correct.

Superintendent Barnes said the men were down for the hopping but refused to work on Tuesday. They went from one public house to another to kick up a row, and their conduct was most disgraceful.

The Bench considered it a very bad case and sentenced each of the prisoners to 21 days’ hard labour without the option of a fine.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser – Tuesday 10 September 1889

ALL ABOUT A PAIL.

William Waterman and Frederick Noble were charged with stealing a pail, value 1s, the property of John Trice, of Shipbourne on the 3rd September.

Mrs Trice, the wife of the landlord of the “Kentish Rifleman” said that at noon on the day named, the prisoners came to the house and had some beer. Noble asked for a pail of water for his horse which she gave him. He took it outside and Waterman returned with the pail and asked for a pint of four ale in it for the horse. She served him with it and he took it and did not return nor leave the pail. She could not get out of the house for a few minutes and when she did, she could not see the pail, nor had she seen it since.

P. C. Potter said that he heard of the robbery and went to Mr. Pearson’s farm at Wrotham, and there saw Waterman and questioned him. Waterman said that he was at the “Rifleman” when Noble came up and got water in the pail for his horse. The animal would not drink so Waterman fetched some ale in the pail, which it would not drink either. The two men and some others got up into the trap with the pail and drank the beer as they were going along home. He thought the pail belonged to Noble.

Subsequently the constable and Waterman saw Noble at the Grange Farm, Hadlow, and the latter said he did not know what became of the pail.

The prisoners pleaded that they had no intention of stealing the pail, and the bench dismissed the case.

From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 26 March, 1880.

REFUSING TO QUIT LICENSED PREMISES.

At the Tonbridge Petty Sessions, on Tuesday, George Baker, butcher, of Roughway, was summoned by David Banfield, landlord of the "Kentish Rifleman," Shipbourne for being riotous, disorderly, and refusing to quit the licensed premises when requested to do so, on the 16 th inst.

Defendant pleaded guilty.

The complainant said he did not want to press the charge harshly against the defendant. The defendant, who was drunk, became quarrelsome, and then he requested him to leave he became very abusive and used obscene language.

Supt. Barnes said he had no idea the complainant desired to withdraw the case or he should have summoned the man himself, as he was very drunk and riotous in the road, and wanted to fight the constable.

P.C. Burton said he saw the landlord put the defendant out into the road. He (witness) picked the defendant up, and to him home. On the way he pulled off his coat and wanted to fight him.

The Bench said the defendant had been guilty of most disgraceful conduct and he would be fined 10s. and costs.

Kent & Sussex Courier 20 July 1934.

TICEHURST. DEATH OF MRS. ELLEN BOOTH.

The death occurred on Monday, at the age of 74 years, of Mrs Ellen Booth, of Spring Cottages, Burner's Hill. Mrs Booth was a native of Petworth, but after her marriage to the late Mr. Samuel Booth they went to the "Vine Inn," Cousley Wood, (East Sussex) of which Mr. Booth was the licensee, later, they were tenants of the "Kentish Rifleman," Dunks Green, Shipbourne, for nine years, where her husband died about 14 years ago. Mrs. Booth left Dunks Green and went to live at Ticehurst. She leaves three daughters and one son, and the funeral will take place today (Friday).

Kent & Sussex Courier 06 October 1950.

TONBRIDGE Late Mr. W. J. BOREHAM.

The funeral took place at Tonbridge Cemetery on Saturday of Mr. William John Boreham, of 274, Shipbourne-road, whose death occurred at the Kent and Sussex Hospital on Wednesday. Mr. Boreham, aged 77, was proprietor of "The Kentish Rifleman," Dunks Green, for eleven years, until in 1938 he took over a grocery business in London. He came to Tonbridge in 1942.

The census reports between 1851 and 1911 referred to the house simply as the "Rifleman." So, I am not totally sure regarding the name changes, and it makes me question whether it was actually previously the "Red Lion" and "Oxenhoath Yeoman."

LICENSEE LIST

MOORLEW Thomas 1851-61+ (also carpenter age 43 in 1861)