10 Guildhall Street

Canterbury

Above photo 1961 showing the landlord, Mr. H. Bacon, ringing time on the "Mafeking Bell." The notice says, "Time gentleman please - It's still a warning bell!" which refers to the fact that this bell was rung during the Siege of Mafeking, in the Boer War, to alert the British defenders of imminent attack. Sadly, the current whereabouts of the Mafeking Bell are not known. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above showing the "Ben Jonson" in 1965.

Above sign 2024. Found in his father's garage by Marilyn Owens.

Above map 1874 identified by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo showing the window of the "Ben Jonson" date unknown.

Above photo taken and sent by Rory Kehoe, June 2024.

Above photo taken and sent by Rory Kehoe, June 2024.

Probably built in the 18th century, the earliest reference found is for a Stephen Wood in 1840, but he was listed as being a brazier. Earliest listing of the premises being a public house is in a list of public houses of 1858.

The Inns of Canterbury by Edward Wilmot's,1988, mentions a document, date circa 1945 that gives the description of clientele at the pub as being "Artisans and labouring, casual callers."

A George Beer tied house in 1888 it was leased by them for £30 per annum, and later purchased by Flint and Co in 1909.

After licensee Mr. Bacon retired (c.1965) the "Ben Jonson" was taken over by Bob and Sherry Lucas. After Whitbread's acquisition of Fremlin's in 1967 the "right-sizing/asset stripping started and in 1969 the "Ben Jonson" was one of several ex-Fremlin's pubs to be axed. Bob and Sherry Lucas went on to run the "City Arms," Butchery Lane from 1969 until they retired c.1983.

The "Ben Jonson" was the only Canterbury tied house for Francis A White's Stourmouth Brewery, until 1904 when Flint & Co's St. Dunstan's Brewery acquired/closed their smaller rival. The "Ben Jonson" then became a Leney's of Dover house, when Flint's were bought out by them in 1924 and eventually a Fremlin's house when, in 1926, all Leney's houses were leased to Fremlin's, in what was, in effect, a brewery merger. The two familes were related and Alfred Leney became Chairman of Fremlin's, with Major Claude Leney acting as MD.

Unfortunately closed in 1969 this pub was reputed to be the smallest pub in Canterbury, it was taken over in 1971 as steak house and later a restaurant.

By 2014 it was operating as a Bistro called Oscar & Bentleys.

Above Google image, June 2014.

2024 saw the premises close as Oscar & Bentleys Bistro.

LICENSEE LIST

WOOD Stephen 1840 (brazier, possibly not publican)

ASHTON John 1858-66+ (also bookbinder age 50 in 1861)

BOTTRELL W 1868+

STAPLETON William 1871+ (age 37 in 1871)

WADE Mrs M A 1874+

COATES Moriah Mrs 1878-Nov/79

GOLDING John Edwin Nov/1879+

SHEPHARD John 1881-Feb/85 (age 41 in 1881)

COOPER James Feb/1885+

GAMMON George 1889-91+

NORRIS George G 1901-03+ (age 36 in 1901)

TOMLIN Henry 1911+ (age 67 in 1911)

STEGGLES James 1913+

HUCKSTEP George 1917+

PIERCE George W 1930+

OSBOURNE Mrs Jessie 1938+

BACON Mr to 1965

LUCAS Charles Bob to 1969

Pub closed 1969

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

From Melville's Directory 1858

From the Post Office Directory 1862

From the Post Office Directory 1874

Census

From the Post Office Directory 1882

From the Post Office Directory 1891

From the Post Office Directory 1903

From the Kelly's Directory 1903

From the Post Office Directory 1913

From the Post Office Directory 1930

From the Post Office Directory 1938

Inns of Canterbury by Edward Wilmot, 1988

South Eastern Gazette

Greens Canterbury Directory 1868