Longage Hill

Rhodes Minnis

Both photos above show the former Prince of Wales public house in Rhodes Minnis. Kindly supplied by Stuart Kinnon June 2010.

Earliest date I have found for this pub is from a mention in the 1881 census. It was at situated at the top of Longage Hill and has changed name several time of late to follow the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

In the late 80's it was The Prince of Wales, then it changed to The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana, then to The Prince and Princess of Wales, after their divorce it finally changed it's name to The Battle of Britain circa 1994. It's now unfortunately closed and is a private residence.

During the latter part of WW2 a doodlebug came down close to the pub demolishing 3 or 4 cottages which is probably the reason why its latter incarnation was as the "Battle of Britain." One lady lost the site in one of her eyes, but the other occupants were not injured. (click here) accessed 14 June 2010)

I believe in its early days it was a lodging house as the 1881 census mentions quite a few people living at the premises:-

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

John LAKER M 73 M Lyminge, Rel: Head Occ: Publican

Elizabeth LAKER M 71 F Dover, Rel: Wife Occ: Publican Wife

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

Thomas JOLWELL M 42 M Stourmouth, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Jane JOLWELL M 38 F Lydden, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Lab

Ellen JOLWELL U 18 F Swingfield, Rel: Daur

Emily JOLWELL U 12 F Stourmouth, Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

Israel CAISTER W 69 M Stowting, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

William CHILLENDEN M 48 M Lympne, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Elizabeth CHILLENDEN M 45 F Lyminge, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Lab Wife

Mark MILLER W 77 M Lyminge, Rel: Father

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

Elizabeth WOOD W 61 F Biddenden, Rel: Head Occ: Grazieress

Archy WOOD U 28 M Smarden, Rel: Son Occ: Grazier

Victor WOOD 14 M Ashford, Rel: Son Occ: Scholar

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

John HOPKINS M 53 M Elmsted, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Charlotte HOPKINS M 37 F Elmsted, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Lab

Stephen HOPKINS 14 M Lyminge, Rel: Son Occ: Ag Lab

Emily HOPKINS 10 F Lyminge, Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar

Tom HOPKINS 9 M Lyminge, Rel: Son Occ: Scholar

Susan HOPKINS 6 F Lyminge, Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar

Edwin HOPKINS 2 M Lyminge, Rel: Son

Jim. HOPKINS 1 M Lyminge, Rel: Son

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

John SPARKS M 60 M Waltham, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Labourer

Frances SPARKS M 60 F Canterbury, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Labourer

William MILES U 15 M Denton, Rel: Boarder Occ: Ag Wagoners Mate

Ernest SIMMONDS U 5 M Lyminge, Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

Joseph BUCKMAN M 35 M Bethersden, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Harriet BUCKMAN M 31 F Gt Chart, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Lab Wife

Harriet BUCKMAN U 3 F Bethersden, Rel: Daur

Emma BUCKMAN U 4 m F Lyminge, Rel: Daur

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

William CANNON, born Abt 1818 in Hythe (Kent), census 1841 at Bousfield, Sibbertswold (Kent), census 1851 in Denton (Kent), census 1881 at The "Prince of Wales Inn," Rhodes Minnis (Kent), occupation 1841 - 1851 Agricultural Labourer, occupation 1881 Mole Catcher.

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

John JEFFERY M 88 M Canterbury, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Elizabeth JEFFERY M 60 F Sellindge, Rel: Wife

LICENSEE LIST

LAKER John 1881 (Census)

WATTS Arthur 1934+

From the Kelly's Directory 1934