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7-7a Godmersham Park
Godmersham
Above Google image, August 2018. |
The pub was opened in 1833, probably taking advantage of the 1830 beer
act, but no mention can be found in the 20th century so probably closed
before 1900.
The name probably arose from Jane Austen's (1775-1817) brother Edward
(1768-1852) who was adopted by the very wealthy but childless Thomas and
Catherine Knight of Godmersham Park in Kent. Thomas Knight was the son of
Thomas Brodnax (c1701 - 1781.) Brodnax changed his name to May in order to
inherit from his mother's cousin and then to Knight in order to inherit
Chawton from his father's cousin, Elizabeth Knight. It required a private
Act of Parliament each time, allegedly prompting one MP to propose a general
bill 'to enable that gentleman to take what name he pleased.' Thomas Brodnax/May/Knight's
wife Jane Monk was a second cousin of Jane's father, George Austen. (Jane
Monk's grandmother was the sister of George Austen's grandfather.)
Although I don't have any names yet, it was probably owned and run by the
same family and closed upon their deaths.
The property is now known as No 7 & 7a, Godmersham Park, and it is one of
the buildings that was relocated from inside the Park's walls to the "new"
village in the 1800s by Edward Knight (née Austen). The plaque over the door
has the initials EK (Edward Knight) and the date. In more recent years, at
the beginning of the 20th century it served as the village Post Office,
before the PO moved to the white house on the opposite side of the road.
Very little information on the pub survives aside from its name and the
legend that it was closed by Mr. Knight when parishioners were regularly
found to be still worse for wear on Sunday morning when they should have
been attending church.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 20 May 1845.
GODMERSHAM.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, by Messrs HAYLEY and REEVE,
AT the "KNIGHT ARMS," GODMERSHAM, on FRIDAY, the 6th of JUNE, 1845,
at Three o'clock in the Afternoon, in one Lot:-
All that MESSUAGE or TENEMENT with the barn, outbuildings, Garden,
and four pieces or parcels of ARABLE and PASTURE LAND, containing
4a. 2r. 2p., more or less, situate at BILTING, in the parish of
GODMERSHAM, in the county of Kent, in the occupation of Mrs. Sarah
Newport, and Daniel Tuff, abutting to the proposed Railway from
Ashford to Canterbury, and adjoining the lands of Edward Knight, Esq
, and J. S. W. S. E. Drax, Esq., M.P.
For further particulars apply to Mr. William Newport, High Street,
Canterbury; Messrs. Furleys and Mercer, Solicitors, or the
Auctioneers, Ashford.
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Kentish Gazette, 8 June 1847.
The Godmersham Friendly Benefit Society attended divine service at
Godmersham church on Whit Tuesday, when an admirable
sermon was preached by the Rev. T. H. Dale, A.M., after which the
members sat down to a good dinner at the "Knight Arms,"
provided by the Host, Mr. Elvy. Subscriptions were announced from E.
Knight, Esq., of Godmersham Park, and Mr. James Hayward,
towards defraying the expenses of the next year. The evening was
spent in harmony and good fellowship.
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Kentish Gazette, 30 January 1849.
Accidental Drowning.
The same day, at Godmersham, on the body of James Beeney, who was
found drowned the previous Tuesday in the river. It appeared that
the deceased had, with others, been drinking at the "Knight's Arms"
till a late hour on the Monday and left for home with one of his
companions, George Crow, parting on arriving at the latter's house,
the deceased living at Shottenden. Another companion, it appeared,
had been overcome by liquor at an earlier hour in the evening,
through which he fell asleep in the back yard. On awakening and
proceeding home, he had occasion to cross the suspension bridge, on
which he found deceased's hat; and obtaining the aid of William
Dodd, searched for deceased, whose body was not found till some
hours after, quite dead. It was stated by the witness who
accompanied the deceased part the way home, that he was quite sober
and in good spirits, that he had arranged to meet the witness next
day at Ashford market, and that it was not a very dark night. There
also appeared the mark of a person having slipped from the bridge,
it having been a frosty night.
Verdict:- "Accidental death." |
LICENSEE LIST
COOK Thomas 1851+ (age 61 in 1851 )
Census
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