Above postcard circa 1903. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, 1905. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above postcard, postmarked 1909, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Shown in the livery of Cobb & Co's Margate Brewery. Interesting to note the wall sign advertising Easton's Tea Gardens. Was Joseph Easton licensee before 1911, or did he have the concession for providing garden teas to day-trippers prior to this? Several horse-drawn charabancs outside the pub, so it's fair to think that business in the garden was brisk. The card was postmarked August 1909, so well before the 1911 date Easton is thought to have become licensee.

Above postcard, 1908. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard circa 1909. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo circa 1909.

Above postcard, 1910. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

All pictures above by kind permission of the "New Inn" circa 1910.

Above postcard, dated 1910. This is obviously a hand coloured version of the photograph above.

Above postcard, 1910, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, circa 1910, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

The notice states:- Oatmeal is provided free of charge for the use of horses stopping here during the bad weather. And the public are respectfully asked to contribute towards the cost of same by placing a donation in the collection box within or sending the same to the local Hon. Sec.

Above picture Tea Gardens of the "New Inn." 1907.

Above postcard, circa 1922, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1922, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1923, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1923. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1926, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above picture Charabanc outing outside the "New Inn." 1927.

Above photo, 1930, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above photo 1955.

Above map 1905, kindly identified by Rory Kehoe.

Sign left pre 2012, sign right photographed by Paul Skelton 4 July 2012.

Above photograph, March 2019, kindly taken and sent by Rory Kehoe.

From information viewed inside the New Inn.

THE NEW INN MINSTER

if you spot a pub called the "New Inn", don't be misled, for it is invariably  the modern replacement of an ancient hostelry. Minster's "new Inn" is no exception. It was rebuilt in 1837, when its landlord was Edward Buddell and it was with Edward's father William that the story began. William Buddell was that special combination if innkeeper and showman so peculiar to the early 19th century. he was landlord of the 18th century "Thatched House," the forerunner of the "New Inn." A enterprising man, he discerned that Minster was becoming a popular day excursion haunt for visitors from Thanet's growing coastal resorts. In 1817 William Buddell set about converting his tea gardens into a pleasure complex modelled on those at Vauxhall and Ranelagh in London. It was landscaped and, according to an 1819 guide, "Neatly fitted with booths, orchestra, a platform for dancing and every other convenience." People would travel from as far as London to enjoy the delights, but not all with good intent; as evidence by an incident in 1817, when two men described as "Sportsmen" made mischief by seizing the visitors' umbrellas and making off with them. However, the reputation of Buddell's establishment remained high with genteel society, and with plenty of people willing to pay the 1/- (one shilling = 5 pence) admission, it was decided to rebuild "The elegant little place of amusement" into the ample "New Inn." Today, this former Whitbread House still has large gardens but alas, smaller, and without the features of old. Indeed, the bandstand and large old swing have gone, although stories and legends are still for the telling. As is the account of a visit to the gardens in 1817 by one Peter Splitfig: "My daughter Polly footed it away upon the platform among the dancers. I was unluckily induced to get into a swing erected for the amusement of the London visitants. Alas!.... The rope happening to break whilst I was in full motion, it precipitated me headlong through the glass case of a cucumber bed!" The unfortunate Splitfig had to fork out £1 for the broken cucumber frame and 1/- for the swing. An expensive day out, but generally the well-heeled visitors could afford it.

120 years ago the "New Inn" and the gardens were attracting up to 700 visitors a day, with donkey rides and Al Fresco entertainment. About that time one fanatical landlord ended up in Canterbury gaol for six weeks. He had become so embroiled in the campaign run up to the late 1800 general election that he believed, perversely, that "The Cause" would be furthered if he dyed the village dogs in his party colours. His problem deepened when the dyed dogs died. He fled to Boulogen to escape their owners' wrath, but was arrested on his return. Today the building still boasts the original brewery windows.

Above photos by Paul Skelton.

Photo left shows the window from the outside, and on the right from the inside. Please note the image right has been flipped to allow easy reading of the words "COBB  & CO's MARGATE BEERS."

Above advert 1986.

Your page about the New Inn is very interesting, and contained in it is reference to licensee Oswald Puckridge, 1874-75.

I like to post articles and found that a Jack The Ripper suspect called Oswald Puckridge was registered as being born in Worthing. He was actually born at Burpham a village near Arundel. He changed his name from Puckeridge to Puckridge in later reports.

At the time of the second Ripper murder of Martha Tabram he had just been released from a Lunatic Assylum. The first ripper murder may not have been done by the same person. He was never a surgeon but at one time was a Dispenser. I am attaching some details I compiled. Apparently someone on the Ripper casebooks thinks that he has a very good alibi and was dismissed by the Police from further investigations. He was a very dangerous man and nearly killed another landlord in 1889. I hope you find it all interesting. I saw reference to him painting the dogs in the Party colours for the election.

During the time of the murders lots of letters were sent and that is how they got the name Jack the Ripper. Puckridge said he was going to rip someone up!

Regards,

Steve Bray.

Illustrated Police News, 6th July, 1889.

Murdererous Assault in the London Road.

Oswald, Buckridge, (sic) 50, described as a dispensing chemist, was charged with violently assaulting Henry Frederick Orange by striking him on the head with a gun. Police Constable 172M said about three o'clock on Friday he heard cries of "Murder!" and "Police!" proceeding from York Street, London Road. He ran quickly to the spot and outside the coffee shop he found the prisoner surrounded by a crowd. Several persons were holding the accused, and they told witness that he had murdered a man. Witnessed went into the coffee shop and found the prosecutor Orange, (who is the landlord) lying on the floor, bleeding profusely from a wound in the head. In the presence of the prisoner the injured man said the accused had hit him several times over the head with a gun. Witness found the gun which was broken, at the back of the shop, and he took the prisoner into custody. The injured man was taken to St. Thomas's Hospital. He was able now to attend, the house surgeon stating that he received a very serious injury to the head, the trigger having penetrated the skull. In reply to the magistrate the prisoner said I shall be able to prove that I only defending myself, and that an attempt to rob me was made in the coffee shop. Mr. Slade remanded the accused for a week but allowed bail.

Jack the Ripper. A suspect guide. By Christopher J Morley (2005.)

Oswald Puckridge.

On 19th of September 1888 Sir William Warren wrote to the Home Secretary, Henry Matthews, and informed him of a suspect named Oswald Puckridge, who had been released from an asylum on 4th August. Warren wrote, "He was educated as a surgeon, and a threatened to rip people up with a long knife, he is being looked for, but cannot be found yet."

Puckridge was born in Burpham near Arundel, Sussex, on 13th June 1838, he was the fourth of five children, his father John Puckridge was a farmer, his mother the daughter of a licensed victualler.

On 3rd of October 1868 he married Ellen Puddle at St. Paul's Parish Church, Deptford and gave his occupation as chemist. In 1870 they had a son Edward Buddle Puckridge. Oswald Puckridge was admitted to the Hoxton house private lunatic asylum 50-52 Hoxton Street, Shoreditch, on January 6th 1888. On 9th August 1893 he was found wandering in Queen Victoria Street, London, and was admitted to Bow Infirmary, he was discharged on 18th of August only to be readmitted on 5th February 1896, he was discharged on the 14th February to the City of London lunatic asylum at Stone, Buckinghamshire and was released on 9th July 1896, only to be readmitted on 19th on August 1899. He was discharged once more on 18th October before being admitted, on 28th of May 1900 to the Holborn workhouse in City Road, where he gave his address as 34 St Johns Lane, Clerkenwell, and his occupation as a general labourer. He died there on 1st June 1900 bronco pneumonia. There is no evidence to substantiate the claim by Warren that Puckridge had ever trained as a surgeon, on his marriage certificate is described as a pharmacological chemist.

From Jack the Ripper Suspects, by Paul Williams.

Lunatics.

This chapter considers the other lunatics suggested as Jack the Ripper. On 19 September 1888, Sir Charles Warren wrote: “A man named Puckeridge was released from an asylum on 4 August. He was educated as a surgeon - has threatened to rip people up with a long knife. He is being looked for but cannot be found as yet.”

Oswald Puckridge, sometimes spelt Puckeridge, was born on 13 June 1838 at Burpham in Sussex to John and Philadelphia (nee Holmes). He married Ellen Buddel in 1868. The marriage certificate gives his occupation as apothecary. The couple had a son. Edward, born in 1869, but separated some time before the 1891 census.

As license of the "Railway Inn" in Deal, Puckridge appeared before magistrates on a charge of opening his premises for the sale of alcohol at 11:45 on Sunday, 29 September 1872, forty-five minutes before the permitted time. Police Constable Seath gave evidence that Puckridge admitted people with a train ticket. There followed a legal argument about his right to do this. Railway passengers were exempt from the licensing requirements and allowed to request alcohol if they so wished. The court adjourned for a week, then decided that there was no evidence to justify a conviction. Puckridge asked the bench if he could supply refreshments to residents of Deal returning home by the last train on Sunday nights. The magistrates were unable to give advice. The following year, Puckridge obtained permission to remain open until 01:00 on the morning of Friday, 10 January.

From 1874, he was license of the New Inn in Ramsgate. On 5 April 1880, described as a retired publican, he was sentenced to six months' hard labour at Ramsgate for causing the death of his dog. He had painted it with the Liberal and Conservative colours, presumably for the general election won by the Liberals. The dog was poisoned through licking the paint off." Puckridge obtained bail, on appeal, but fled, it appears, to Jersey. In August 1884, he was identified at Sandwich railway station on a surreptitious visit to friends and returned to prison to serve his sentence.

Later that year, under the name Oswald Fussell and described as a student of medicine, he was charged with being drunk and disorderly and using bad language. On 2 December 1884, he was preaching in Great Chapel Street wearing a red jersey embroidered "Salvation Army” and hitting people with his crutches. He was ordered to pav a fine or serve fourteen days in jail."

Twenty days later, he appeared in the Jersey Police Court wearing a Salvation Army uniform. He was charged with habitual drunkenness and disorderly conduct and assaulting Mr. and Mrs. Lovett. He lodged in three rooms owned by Mrs Lovett. On 20 December, he caused a disturbance in the house and tried to kick the arresting police officer. He was well known to the Jersey courts, having been ordered to give bail of £5 for his future behaviour after an incident in the previous year.

The day after his release, he approached Phillip Journeaux with a sheep and asked if he wanted to go drinking. Journeaux refused. Puckridge knocked off his hat and kicked a hole in it. Puckridge claimed that he had asked for assistance to move his furniture. He had a bag containing a turkey, which he intended sending to the magistrate, a goose, which he intended sending to Centenier Seymour, and a duck, which was a Christmas present for someone else. The magistrate ordered him to give £10 bail for future good and peaceable conduct and pay five shillings for the value of Journeaux’s hat or spend fourteen days in prison.

He appeared before the same court on 17 October 1885 on charges of insulting Albert Bernard Seymour. Puckridge lodged in a cottage with Trossle Carus Best. Seymour, who rented a stable nearby, claimed that he was unable to get his van out because of the conduct of the two men who used foul language towards him. Seymour said that he had brought Puckridge up before the courts before and had been receiving anonymous letters ever since. Puckridge gave an eccentric speech, described as usual for him by the newspaper. He said he had returned to the island to create a tombstone to his mother and was collecting her tea cosy and broom when he met Seymour who remarked that he had handcuffed him before and would do so again. The magistrate said that Puckridge was a public nuisance. He now had to pay his bail from his last appearance and agree a sum of £5 for future good behaviour or go to jail for eight days. On his next appearance, a report was ordered so that he could be sent to his place of settlement. Alter leaving court, he was arrested by the St. Helier police on another charge.

Puckridge was admitted to the Hoxton House lunatic asylum on 6 January 1888 as a pauper and released on 4 August 1888. Sir Charles Warren was aware of this, but it is not known why he regarded Puckridge as a surgeon.

In July 1889, Puckridge was charged with violent assault after hitting Henry Frederick Orange on the head with a gun. The incident occurred in a coffee house on York Street, London Road. Puckridge, described as a dispensing chemist, claimed self-defence and that Orange had attempted to rob him. Henry Frederick Orange appeared as a witness to a robbery at a coffee shop in October the same year.
On 18 August 1893, the Morning Post reported that Puckridge, described as an apothecary of 6 Stanhope Street, Huston Road, had been charged with wandering, apparently of unsound mind. Ejected from the Salvation Army barracks in Queen Victoria Street by Police Constable Crossingham, he ran at a passing hansom cab and climbed on the horse's back. He was taken, with difficulty, to the police station where Doctor Buncombe certified his removal to Bow Infirmary. It appeared that drink and the heat had affected him. Sergeant Mc’Vitty said that he known Puckridge for several months. Puckridge was in the habit of wearing a naval uniform and refusing to pay for hansom cabs. A lady claiming to be his nurse said that she would take care of him and ensure that he avoided alcohol. He was discharged with a caution on the understanding that he would go back to his friends who, he said, were in Southampton.

Shortly afterwards, he was locked up on a charge of being disorderly and assaulting the landlord of the Lord Nelson in Stanhope Street. Smoke was seen coming from his cell and the police found his rug, pillow and part of the woodwork alight. He could not explain how the fire started. Previously he injured his head in a tramway accident and was still under surgical treatment. He was returned to Bow Infirmary on 5 February 1896. being discharged nine days later. He was then admitted to the City of London lunatic asylum at Stone, recorded in the register of lunatics as a danger to others, and released on 9 July 1896.

(Missing page)

In July, he was sent to Lambeth infirmary and, since August 15, lodged at a coffee house in the Westminster Bridge Road. The keeper of the house stated that the man had slept there every night since his arrival.