SHAKESPEARE Faversham

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Faversham, May, 2025.

Page Updated:- Tuesday, 27 May, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1855-

Shakespeare

Latest 1911+

82 West Street

Faversham

Above photo pre 1912, kindly sent by John Robertson.

Above images from Google maps, May 2009. The pub would probably have stood close to opposite the "Mechanic's Arms" shown in the pictures.

Traced to between 1855 and 1908 the pub was demolished in 1912. The pub used to be situated a couple of doors from the "Castle Inn" but was demolished to make way for the gas works. These in turn were taken down in 1992.

Above map circa 1980 before the gas works were removed. The public house at number 76 is the "Castle Inn." The "Shakespeare was at 82.

Above map shows the area in 1865.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 12 June 1866.

Breaches of License.

At the Borough Petty Sessions on Wednesday, James Eldridge, of the “Shakespeare Inn,” was charged with having his house open during the hours of divine service on the Sunday morning. He pleaded guilty, and was fined 11s. and costs.

At the same sitting, Win. Amos, of the “Brickmakers’ Arms,” beer-house, was fined 40s. and costs, for keeping his house open from 2 to 4 o’clock on the night of the Wye Races.

He did not appear.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 12 October 1867. Price 1d.

STEALING A PAIR OF BOOTS

John Coveney was charged with having stolen a pair of heavy boots, value 12s., the property of James Eldridge, landlord of the "Shakespeare," West-street.

The prosecutor deposed that on Saturday night, the prisoner and a woman came to his house and asked for lodgings. They stayed there that night, and the prisoner left on Sunday morning between 11 and 12 o'clock prosecutor let the prisoner out, but did not notice that he had anything with him. The woman remained till Monday. He placed a pair of boots in his kitchen at 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and missed them on Monday when he wanted to put them on. The boots produced were his property, and were those he missed from his kitchen. He identified them by the specks, which were loose.

Sarah Spillett said she kept a second-hand shop, in West-street, near the "Shakespeare." On the previous morning, about half-past 9 the prisoner came to her house with the boots now produced, and asked her to change them. He said they were too heavy and wanted a lighter pair. He said they were too heavy and wanted a lighter pair. He could not find a pair at boots to suit him, and went away, taking the boots produced with him.

P.C. Adey deposed that on Monday morning he met the prisoner in Ospringe-road. Thinking from the awkward manner in which he walked that he was not in the habit of wearing heavy boots, he stopped prisoner and asked him where he got the boots he was wearing from. He replied that his uncle, a man named Coveney, living at Ospringe, had given them to him. Witness examined the boots, and finding that they corresponded with a pair the prosecutor had lost, he took the prisoner into custody.

Prisoner now pleaded not guilty, and said the woman who was with him at the "Shakespeare," and with whom he had lived as man and wife, during hopping time, had given them to him, telling him she had given 2s. for them.

Superintendent White said he had seen the woman, and she denied in toto the prisoner's statement.

The prisoner was fully committed for trial at the Borough Quarter Sessions, on Monday next.

I will be adding further information as time allows, but with my site getting ever larger, time spent on each pub is being watered down unfortunately. Your information, photos, old or new and licensee names and dates is much appreciated.

LICENSEE LIST

JOHNSON Jethro 1855-58+