8 Highcross Road

Westwood

Betsham

https://whatpub.com/wheatsheaf

Above photo, date unknown.

Above postcard, date unknown. From Barclay, Perkin's Anchor Magazine. Vol. XIII, No.9 - September 1933. Our picture shews the "Wheatsheaf," Westwood, belonging to the Dartford Brewery Company Ltd. The house is 518 years old and is one the few remaining thatched alehouses. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe who says:- This sketch was drawn by the artist/illustrator, Llwyd Roberts (1875-1940) who specialised in largely monochrome works, depicting rural scenes in Kent and Sussex.

Above postcard, circa 1920, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, 1925, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, date 1943. Kindly sent by Garth Wyver.

Above photo circa 1958. Kindly sent by Michael Mirams.

Above photo 2010.

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

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo, kindly taken and sent by Ian Goodrick, August 2017.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo, 2024.

Above sign, August 1991. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above matchbox, circa 1980s, kindly sent by Debi Birkin.

Above matchbox, 1985, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

It is said that the thatched building dates from 1408 and traded as a pub from between 1783 until 2010. Originally known as the "Ship" until some time before 1862, causing some confusion as there is a pub called the "Ship" in Southfleet.

I also have reference to another "Wheatsheaf" addressed as Westwood, but this one is near Broadstairs miles away, but it does cause confusion.

The archive images suggest that The Wheatsheaf may have been part of the tied estate of the Dartford Brewery company around the turn of the 20th century, passing to Style & Winch and eventually Courage after a succession of takeovers.

The premises gained a Grade 2 listing on 17 March 1982.

According to the Gravesend historian Tony Larkin, although part of the building was original, most of it had been rebuilt in ‘rustic’ style in 1850. The building work was evidently not of the highest standard, as structural problems were cited as the main reason for its closure in 2010, when renovation was started.

I believe the function room was for sale in January 2013 for the asking price of £125,000 after it gained permission to be converted into a 1 bedroom character cottage, whilst the pub itself has planning permission for conversion to a 3-bedroom house and orangery.

LICENSEE LIST

HOLLOWAY Richard 1862-74+

HOLLOWAY Richard 1891+ (age 68 in 1891)

MARTIN James 1901-30+ (age 37 in 1901)

WALTERS Walter Sydney 1938+

COX Mr 2009+

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

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/wheatsheaf.html

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/wheatsheaf1.html

From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Census