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The Row
Elham
Above photo kindly taken and sent by Rory Kehoe, Aug 2019. |
Not many references found to this pub at present and apparently after being
referred to the Compensation Authorities in 1913, the licence was not
applied for and it closed being redundant.
The "Black Duck" was situated on The Row, which lies north of Duck Street
and runs parallel with, the High Street. Now The Blue House. After the pub
shut, the "Black Duck" changed use to become a smithy, which seems to have
repaired cart wheels too, as evidenced by the circular jig set into the
ground. This helped the smith cut and shut iron-hoop tyres. The smithy
closed in the 1950s and the premises became a carpenter's workshop.
The building we see there today now called the Blue House dates from
around 1995.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 28 October. 1886.
On Thursday the East Kent Coroner R. M. Mercer Esq.) held an inquest at the
"New Inn," Elham, on the body of George Palmer, a farmer, 54 years of
age, residing at Parsonage Farm.
In riding through the doorway of the "Black Duck" beerhouse, deceased
was caught by the board, and pulled off the horse. His foot was caught
in the stirrup, and he was dragged through the gateway.
Mr Cresswell afterwards examined him, and found he had fractured his
spine.
The jury found that the deceased died from a fracture of his spine
received from falling from his horse.
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From the Folkestone Express, Saturday, 22 February, 1913.
ELHAM LICENSING
The adjourned Licensing Session of the Elham County Division were held
on Thursday, when the question of renewing two licences, the “Black
Duck,” Elham, and the “Ark Inn,” Lyminge, came before the Bench, which
was prevailed over by Mr. E. Garnet Man.
The license of the “Black Duck” first came up for consideration.
The Clerk mentioned that the opposition to the license was on the
grounds, firstly that the license was not required for the needs and
wants of the neighbourhood, and secondly that the said premises were
structurally deficient.
Mr. A. K. Mowll, for the brewers (Messrs Gardner) and the tenant, asked
for the renewal of the license.
P.S. Martin said he had been at Elham for five years, and he had been
acquainted with the house since. There were six licensed houses in Elham,
four fully licensed, one beer house and an off license to a grocer's
shop. He considered the license of the “Black Duck” was not necessary.
He should hardly think a person keeping a house would be able to get a
living. The premises were not structurally suitable for a licenses
house. The distance between the “Black Duck” and the “New Inn” was 246
yards. And Mr. Hubble's shop, which had an off license, was 261 yards
away. He considered the license was the least desirable in the village.
In reply to Mr. Mowll, the sergeant said he was not often at Elham in
the evening. He had visited the “Black Duck” in the course of his work,
but he had not been in it during the evening since the present tenant
had been there. He could not say that there had not been twenty to
thirty people in the house in the evening since the new tenant had been
there. The labouring classes principally attended the house in the
evening, while in the day it was used mostly by the shopkeepers. The
house was adapted for that class of business.
Questioned by the Clerk, P.S. Martin said there was accommodation for
not more than twenty people, and the place would be quite full if that
number was in it.
Supt. Hollands said the population of Elham was 1,201, so that there was
one license for two hundred people. He had recently inspected the “Black
Duck.” The tap room was 10ft by 8 ft, and the bar was 7ft by 7ft. In the
other houses there was more accommodation. In his opinion the house was
not required. There was not accommodation for 20 people.
The Clerk in reply to the Chairman said the house was an ante-69
beerhouse.
In examination the Supt, said Mr. Hubble's shop had a grocer's license.
Mrs. Knight, the late licensee, had been in the house the whole time she
had been there – fourteen years. He did not know that the living room
was used at times for serving customers. That room was, however, the
only one for the tenant to live in. The rateable value of the house was
£8, and it belonged to Mr. Bowes.
Mr. A. K. Mowll addressed the Magistrates, and in the course of his
remarks, said the house was let to Messrs. Gardner and Co. The license
had been in existence a very large number of years. The other houses in Elham were hotels, doing a first class business, while that was used by
woodcutters and thrashers. He should think that that was one of those
houses which the Bench would be disinclined to take away, for two
reasons. It was a house which had been carried on to the entire
satisfaction of the police, and there had been no complaint or
conviction against it. The other houses were practically near to each
other, while that house was over 230 yards away from them. Since Friday
night no less than seventy people had visited the house and signed the
petition in favour of the licence not being taken away. The house had
been redecorated and re-drained and the present tenant was doing an
extremely good trade, with which he was perfectly satisfied. Beyond
that, there had been that discovery of coal in Kent and near to that
house, two borings had been commenced, at Barham and at Bishopsbourne.
If coal was found in that neighbourhood to the same extent it had been
in other districts then the time would very soon come when fresh
licenses would have to be given.
The Chairman: Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Mr. Mowll said it was a matter which required the Bench's consideration.
George Henry Mount said he had lived all his life in Elham, thirty-three
years, and had held the license since January 9th. He produced a
petition containing seventy signatures, asking the Magistrates to grant
the renewal.
Mr. Mowll: There was no persuasion used by you in getting the
signatures?
Mr. Mount: No.
The Chairman: Not even a glass of beer? (Laughter.)
Mr. Mount, continuing, said he was satisfied with the trade he was doing
for the time of the year. The house was generally well used by the
working class people. He was a journeyman carpenter, and although he was
still doing work, he thought he could go along on the trade of his
house.
Mr. G. Palmer, farmer, of North Elham, said he considered the license
was necessary. He lived about half a mile away from the house and went
into it about once every week. The “Black Duck” was a house in which
people liked to go in the morning and have a glass of beer.
The justices retired, and on their return into Court, the Chairman said
the Bench had considered the matter, and they decided to refer the
license, on the grounds that it was not required for the needs and wants
of the neighbourhood, and that the premises were structurally deficient.
The licence would be provisionally renewed pending the decision of the
Compensation Authority.
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From the Folkestone Herald, Saturday, 22 February, 1913.
ELHAM LICENSING SESSIONS
BLACK DUCK AND ARK INN LICENSES
The adjourned Elham Licensing Sessions were held at Seabrook on
Thursday, the Magistrates being Messrs. E. Garnet Man in the chair, F.
E. Burke, A. S. Jones, R. J. Linton, Councillor H. F. Jacques, Mr. H.
Rigden, and Mr. W. G. Tester.
THE BLACK DUCK, ELHAM
Mr. A. K. Mowll applied for the renewal of the license of the “Black
Duck,” Elham. The Deputy Clerk (Mr. R. R. Ellis) said the license was
opposed on the grounds of it not being required, and also that it was
structurally deficient.
P.S. Martin said that there were six licensed premises at Elham, four
being fully licensed, one a beer-house, and the other an off-license to
a grocer's shop. He was of the opinion that the “Black Duck” was not
required, and that the tenant was hardly able to get a living from it.
There was only 240 yards between that house and the “New Inn,” whilst a
distance of 261 yards separated the “Black Duck from the off-licensed
house. In reply to Mr. Mowll, witness stated that he had visited the
house in the evenings, but he could not say if there had ever been
between twenty and thirty people present since the new tenant had been
there.
Mr. Mowll: Is P.C. Goodhew going to give evidence?
The Deputy Clerk: If P.C. Goodhew had been able to be here, there is an
order against the police giving evidence as to the trade done in the
house.
Continuing his cross-examination, Mr. Mowll elicited from P.S. Martin
that several improvements had been carried out on the premises lately.
It was mostly the labouring classes who patronised the “Black Duck.” It
was the nearest public house to about forty private houses.
Supt. Hollands said that in the parish of Elham there were six licensed
houses for a population of 1,201. he had recently inspected the “Black
Duck;” the largest apartment was the tap-room, which measured ten feet
by eight, while the bar was seven feet by seven. The other licensed
houses were much more commodious. Witness's opinion was that the house
was not required.
By Mr. Mowll: It might be right that some of the customers cooked
rashers and such like in the living room – but there was only the one
living room. The rateable value was £8 10s. He believed the brewers
owned the house.
Mr. Mowll: It is on a quarterly tenancy to the brewers by a gentleman
residing in the adjoining house. It is not a tied house. Continuing, Mr.
Mowll said the “Black Duck” had been in existence for a large number of
years, and there had only been three tenants during that time. The trade
done was amongst the working classes, including the threshers, etc.,
from the country, who came and cooked their meals there. There had never
been a complaint or a conviction. The other houses were all situated
close together. Since Friday night no less than seventy people had come
to the house to sign a petition that the license should not be taken
away. During the last few years as the Bench knew, there had been
extraordinary discoveries of coal in Kent, and near to this house there
were two borings. If in the course of time these borings were found to
be as successful as the others, fresh licenses would have to be applied
for. He had heard that there was a great likelihood of coal being found
in the borings; in fact, he had heard that some had already been found.
Mr. George Henry Mount said he had been the tenant of the “Black Duck”
since the 9th January last. Since then various improvements had been
carried out. He produced a petition, all the signatures to which were
obtained in the house, with the exception of the name of Mr. Smith. He
was perfectly satisfied with the trade he was doing. The house was only
open for two hours at dinner time on Sundays, and not open at all on
Sunday evenings.
By the Bench, he was a journeyman carpenter before he took the house,
and he was still following that occupation. He thought he could get a
living from the house without the carpentering.
Mr. George Palmer, a farmer, said he thought he license was necessary,
and he therefore had volunteered to give evidence.
By the Bench: He lived about half a mile from the house, and he went to
it about once a week to have a drink. His men also used the house.
The Bench decided to refer the licence.
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From the Folkestone Express, 8 November 1913.
CLOSED PUBLIC HOUSES.
At a meeting of the East Kent Licensing Committee, on Tuesday,
compensation was awarded to the owners and tenants of houses in the
district which are to be closed as under:-
The "Black Duck," Elham: tenant, Mr. George Mount; owners, Mr.
Samuel Mount, Elham, and Messrs. Gardner and Co., Ash Brewery, Dover
(lessees) - Total £673 10s;
Mr. Bowes (freeholder) £521; brewers, £66; licensee, £50 10s. |
LICENSEE LIST
HOGBEN John 1882+ (beerhouse in Elham
 )
KNOTT Sarah 1901+ (age 63 in 1901 )
MOUNT George Henry 9/Jan/1913+
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/blackduck.html
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1882
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