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Kingsdown Estate
West Kingsdown
Above photo, 1930s, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above photo, 1930s, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above photo, 1930s, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above photo, 1930s, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above photo showing the back of the house, 1930s, kindly sent by
Andrew Crawford. |
Above postcard, 1930s showing the Manor House garden. |
Above photo, 1930s, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above photo showing the opening of the pool, 1933. Kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above photo, 1933, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above photo, 1935, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above postcard, 1935, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford.
A summertime aerial view of the Manor House complex between 1933 and
1934 with swimming in progress and afternoon teas being served on the
back lawns. Courtesy of Major General R. J. Ephraums.
1. One of the many steam-driven lorries which used the main road.
This one probably like many others had taken on fresh water from the
pond at the "Horse and Groom."
2. A splendid collection of modern motorcars belonging to the
visitors.
3. The Regency crosswing to the older part of the house.
4. The owner, Mr H. C. Ephraums, whose 'Star' motor car has a rear
wheel puncture. He is in the white shirt assisted by his two sons.
5. An old wooden stable convened into the Ladies' Changing Rooms!
6. New Gentlemen's Changing Rooms.
7. An old building, of date unknown used to house the filtration
plant for the swimming pool and the electrical generating engine for the
house and grounds in use until mains arrived in time for Christmas 1937.
8. Garages and outbuildings.
9. The vegetable gardens.
10. The flower gardens.
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Above postcard, circa 1936 showing the tea rooms. The bus coming into
view is passing the Beacon Filling Station, whilst the single lorrycalls
at the "Portobello." The Manor House and grounds welcome what travellers
are abroad. Courtesy of Mrs. I. J. Mellish. |
Above postcard, circa 1965, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above postcard, circa 1965, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above postcard, circa 1965, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above postcard, circa 1965, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Above postcard, circa 1965, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
Old 16th century building named the Manor House and originally a the
feudal centre for the area where people at one level of society receive land
to live and work on from those higher than them in rank, and in return have
to work for them and fight for them if necessary, sometimes also giving them
some of the food they produce. Later converted into a public house.
Unfortunately destroyed by a fire in February 1967.
Unknown source tells me the following:- "Back in
around 1964 I lived at a pub in West Kingsdown called I think the "Manor
House." It was the Maidstone side of the "Portobello" with just a field
between them. It was a lovely old building maybe 16th century but had a new
wing built on we called the Teenage Bar as it contained a Juke box and very
modern.
The original building had a massive fireplace in the Snug as you entered
in which dad kept going a huge welcoming fire. The main bar was low timbered
ceilings. In the grounds was a swimming pool, a boating lake and a dance
hall built without planning permission so never used.
It was a very popular pub, especially on Brands Hatch racing days.
It was set back from the road with a large car park out front. The open
air swimming pool and cafe were open only in the summer. When we were there
we didn't open the boating pool as the boats were a bit dodgy.
Oh we thought it had a ghost too.
Dad managed it for a year or so but when we were tipped off that the
owner was probably a London gangster we moved away.
It burnt down a year or so after we left I believe.
Andrew Crawford tells me the following:- There was a ghost! - My mother,
Joan, Hugh and Elsie’s daughter, as down to earth and pragmatic as they
come, did say she saw a woman float through the outside wall of her bedroom
- which was on the first floor at the far left end of the house. It was
later discovered that there had been an external staircase up to that
room...
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“THE MANOR HOUSE” (Dave and Vi Clarke).
ON THE A.20 AT WEST KINGSDOWN, KENT. WEST KINGSDOWN 329.
This is a fully-licensed free house of great character and charm lying
on the main road to Maidstone, after Farningham but before Wrotham as
one drives from London. It lies on your left and at night the large car
park is strikingly floodlit.
Entering one turns left into the small 16th century Tudor Bar where you
are greeted by one of two very attractive lady bartenders, surrounded by
an awe-inspiring profusion of genuine oak beams, a marimba, a
leather-gauntleted wooden two-pronged fork (used to speed unwelcome
guests on their way?), Chianti bottles, horse-brasses, a kris, copper
and brass warming pans, a post horn, a brass pikehead, soft background
music (mostly Latino-Americano!), daggers, a hunting horn, two fruit
machines, various coloured lanterns, a brick-built fireplace, a
gun-powder horn, leather upholstered straight-back chairs on a red
fitted carpet, one helluva lot of atmosphere and (wait for it!) ... an
electric Steadyhand Testing Machine, which always deflates my ego by
ringing the bell!!
Drinkwise, take your choice, Beer Guzzler, of Charrington’s Toby Keg,
draught Bass, Flower's Keg, Whitbread Tankard, Watney's Red Barrel, and
draught Guinness (later followed by a deep sleep, a king-size hangover,
black coffee, an Underberg, a “Hair-of-the-Dog-that-bit-you" . . . and
off you go again!!) Lovers of lager will select either a Schous or Skol
from the refrigerated counter-tray.
No hot meals are served, although a really delicious chunky-cut fresh
ham or cheese sandwich is available at all times upon request, the bread
being ultra fresh and delicious.
To the right of the main entrance is a small unlicensed room especially
for your children who, on a pleasant day, will much prefer to romp on
the spacious lawns; take a canoe out on the sizeable Boating Lake; or
splash in the shallow end of the large open-air Swimming Pool! For that
matter so perhaps would you! There is also a rock garden and sunbathing
lawns upon which you may disport yourself . . . with decorum, of course!
(If sites got another boy-friend don't despair. Remember there are
plenty more boats on the lake!) Incidentally, the use of deckchairs,
changing rooms, sun-shades and car park is entirely free of charge,
Ices, confectionery and cigarettes are all sold at the outdoor Snack
Bar.
There is also another Bar, the Regency Room, adjoining the Tudor Lounge
and, at the time of writing, a large new building to be used for
weddings and other functions is in the process of completion.
Yessir! This quaint old-fashioned Country Inn has everything that this
modern world has to offer . . . are you coming in for a dip? Or, like
me, do you prefer getting wet inside? Take your pick!
The Inn appeared in a book titled "More Friendly Inns," date unknown. |
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From the Kentish Times, February 1967.
BIG BLAZE GUTS 15th CENTURY MANOR HOUSE.
Two dogs trapped.
WEST KINGSDOWN’S 550-year-old Manor House — once the local feudal
centre and now a public-house was reduced to a patchwork of
blackened timber and gaping windows in the early hours of Sunday
morning. The blaze spread from a first-floor room and engulfed the
entire building.
Firemen from Dartford, Swanley, Gravesend, Seven-oaks, Borough Green
and Strood were on the scene at about 1.45 a.m., and shot water from
the 90,000-gallon Manor House swimming pool on to the blazing
structure. Under the direction of Mr. W. Babington, Chief Fire
Officer, they had the blaze under control in just over an hour.
Two dogs, an Alsatian and a Labrador, belonging to the owner, Mr.
Dave Clarke, were trapped in the smoke-filled lower rooms for about
25 minutes before they were released by firemen. The dogs spent the
remainder of the night in the public-house social hall, where,
frenzied by their experience, they ripped down the curtains.
The firemen worked through the night and until lunch-time on Sunday,
leaving piles of wet, charred rubble beside the crusted shell of the
village’s historic landmark.
RECTOR’S "ALARM."
The alarm was given by a passenger in a passing motor-coach. just
before the Rev. R. L. McCulloch, whose Rectory overlooks the Manor
House, on the other side of the A20, also telephoned the fire
brigade.
"It was frightening in its intensity." Mr. McCulloch told the
Kentish Times. "I became aware of it just before the arrival of the
first fire engine. Within minutes the entire roof was an inferno,
and the bursting of glass and crackling timber could be heard a
quarter-of-a-mile away."
Awakened by the noise. Mrs. B. Phyall looked across to the Manor
House from her home several hundred yards away at 17, St.
Edmunds-cottages. "It was ablaze from end to end," she said.
"Bottles were popping and everything was breaking. I thought at
first that I was dreaming."
The cause of the fire is unknown. Mr. Clarke, who converted the
Manor House into a club in 1959 and into a public-house in 1962, was
in London with his wife and friends on Saturday night, and did not
hear the news until the morning.
"It is a tragedy," he said. "It couldn't have happened at a worse
time."
REBUILDING PLANS.
Now Mr. Clarke has plans for rebuilding the Manor House. "If I
restore it it will be on the same lines as before." he said. "People
liked the old world building. I have got to make the best out of
what I have left."
Mr. Clarke hopes to get permission from Dartford Rural Council to
resume business in his social hall. His application will be
considered by the Council on Tuesday, together with his second
application for planning permission to regularise the social hall,
following a directive from the Ministry of Housing.
Mr. Clarke commended the firemen on their efficiency in putting out
the blaze so speedily.
A show of baked walls and blackened rafters marks the remains of
West Kingdown’s 550-year-old Manor House after fire took hold of the
building on Sunday morning. Now the owner, Mr. Dave Clarke, wants to
build a replica.
(K.T. Photo No. JZ/9042.)
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Kent Messenger, February 3 1967.
Fire destroys the £20,000 Manor House.
APPLLANCES from eight districts spent 13 hours at a fire which
gutted the 16-room Manor House, West Kingsdown, a pub and club,
early on Sunday morning.
Damage is estimated at £20,000.
The house was unoccupied at the time.
Half the ground floor was damaged by fire and water, the first floor
and contents were severely damaged, and the roof of
the building was completely destroyed.
Mrs. E. Cranmer, London Road, West Kingsdown, told a reporter: "Just
after 12.30 on Sunday morning my son came to my house and told me
that there was a fire at the Manor House.
"We could see the flames from my house, which is over 200 yards from
the pub. My son phoned the fire brigade and we went along to the
fire.
When we got there the whole building was a mass of flames; I have
never seen anything like it."
The owner of the club, Mr. David Clark, recently built a £10,000
social hall at the rear of the building and has been instructed by
Dartford Rural Council that it must come down as it was built
without planning permission. The social hall was not damaged by the
fire.
The cause of the blaze is unknown.
APPLIANCES from eight areas spent 13 hours at the scene ot a fire
which gutted an hotel in West Kingsdown early on Sunday morning. The
damage caused to the 16-room Manor House on the A20 was estimated at
£20,000. Half the ground floor was damaged by fire and water, the
first floor and contents were severely damaged and the roof was
completely destroyed. The owner of the Manor House. Mr. David Clark,
recently built a £10,000 social hall at the rear of the hotel and
has been instructed by Dartford Rural Council that the building must
come down as it was built without planning permission. The social
hall was not damaged by the fire. The cause of the blaze is unknown.
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Above plans, date unknown, kindly sent by Andrew Crawford. |
LICENSEE LIST
EPHRAUMS Hugh & Elsie 1930s-1958+
CLARK Dave and Vi 1959+
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