North Lane

Canterbury

I am not sure whether this was a public house or not, the name certainly doesn't suggest it. But William Badcock was a well know Cock Fight organiser in the area, and I believe that this one had taken over that roll from his father, also William Badcock.

William Badcock sen. was the licensee of the "Star Tavern" 2 St. George's Place (Cattle Market) in 1736 and had come from the "Black Boy" in Folkestone.

I also have reference to this William Badcock who I believe was his son, organising another cock fight in 1755 at the "Golden Bacchas" in New Romney, and who I believe in 1751 had taken over the "Flying Horse" in Dover.

Canterbury has had two pubs with the name the "Star". This one and the "Star" in St Dunstan's, was opposite Station Road West where in the 19th century the Canterbury Baths were locate, but this pre-dates those, so I will say if indeed, the Cold Bath House mentioned here doesn't refer to that location.

The  Cold Bath House could have been located nearby and lent itself to being used as a cockfighting venue for William Badcock of the "Star" at St. Georges, where I think this venue more and likely was situated. All it needed was a round cockpit, with plenty of spectator viewing. So this venue may have been hired out and wasn't a public house in its own right.

Regarding the statement that "A Good Ordinary" would be served, in the colonies any tavern or inn that served a complete meal at a fixed price was referred to as an ordinary, and also In the 18th century, an ordinary was a small inn or tavern. A traveller could stop there for a meal; somebody that worked in the city could stop there on the way home from a long day in the counting house. The menu was generally limited, the price was set, the food was simple and comforting. So perhaps this was a pub after all, less it was referring to food at William Badcock's "Star" near by. Or indeed, could the "Star" also have run a place where people could have a Cold Bath as well?

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