WHEAT SHEAF Pubs of Margate

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Margate, August, 2024.

Page Updated:- Monday, 19 August, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1792-

Wheat Sheaf

Open 2020+

Northdown Park Road (Bath Road 1841)

Margate

01843 571491

https://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/wheatsheaf

https://whatpub.com/wheatsheaf

Above photo, circa 1929. Kindly sent from Debi Birkin.

Above postcard, circa 1930. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Coloured version of above postcard, circa 1930. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo taken with permission from Saunders family web.

Above sign 2020.

The What Pub web site addresses this in Cliftonville.

Your help is appreciated.

I am informed that the pub became part of the Hungry Horse chain after being part of the Beefeater chain previously.

Kentish Gazette 8 June 1819.

On the 31st ultimo, a man of the name of Lawrence, undertook to walk blindfolded a mile and a half from the "New Inn," Margate, to the "Wheatsheaf" at Northdown for £50, in one hour and a half, which he completed in one hour.

Kentish Gazette, 9 January, 1821.

EXTRAORDINARY UNDEKTAKING.

Mr. Cutten, of the "Old Crown Inn," Margate, undertook a few days back for a wager of dinner and wine for twenty gentlemen, to walk blindfolded from his house in Margate, to the "Wheatsheaf", at Northdown, a distance of about a mile and a half, in the space of two hours, which arduous undertaking he accomplished in forty minutes, the only assistance allowed was a stick to prevent his running against any obstacles which might stand in his way.

Kentish Gazette, 30 July 1844.

On Tuesday evening last, about ten o’clock, some fellows belonging to a gang of robbers who at present infest Thanet, for the sake of plunder, visited Mr. Lord’s, of the "Wheat Sheaf," public house, and Waterloo Tea Gardens, North-down, evidently with an intention of stealing the contents of the till. Their designs were frustrated; not, however, until a desperate and violent assault was committed.

The parties managed to effect their escape, leaving behind a cap, comb, and stick. During the time of the affray, the fellows repeatedly whistled and called, and there is but little doubt, that at the time, some of the gang were secreted in the gardens attached to the house, and that finding their comrades detected made off. At the time the parties first entered the house, no one was in it except the landlord and a little girl; and the fellows, after being there a short time, commenced putting the lights out, knocking the table with their sticks, throwing the pots about, and committing other acts to draw Mr. Lord’s attention from the bar, and on his threatening to send for the police, their reply was, "That’s useless, there is not one either at Ramsgate or Margate,—they are attending the trials at Maidstone." If Mr. Lord had not received prompt assistance from the neighbours, it is difficult to say what would have been the consequence. One young man (Gifford) who helped the landlord, had his eye severely cut. We much regret that the vagabonds have escaped the hands of justice.

Martin and his two companions, who committed the robbery at the "Hare and Hounds" public house, on the Ramsgate road, have been sentenced to fifteen years’ transportation.

Above photo showing licensee John Frederick Partis, circa 1890. Kindly sent by Alison Woodcock.

Thanet Advertiser, Tuesday 14 February 1933.

Collapse in shed. Death at Margate Inn.

The death occurred suddenly at the "Wheatsheaf" in Northdown, on Wednesday, of Mr. Charles Edward Pitman, a builder and carpenter, of 14, Clifton Road, Margate.

Mr. Pitman was apparently working alone in a woodshed belong to the licensee and was found unconscious by his workmates. The ambulance was summoned and Sergeant Lilly and P.C. Tathum were soon on the spot. Oxygen was administered and artificial respiration carried on for sometime, but on arrival Dr. G. L. Blocklehurst pronounce life extinct.

A post-mortem examination revealed that death was due to natural causes and an inquest was not deem necessary.

Thanet Times, Tuesday 18 April, 1964.

Jack David, the Wheatsheaf.

Send a newspaper reporter out on the start of a new series on publicans and the chances are that at the back of his mind there will be the faint hope that is subject will have been born in a pub to give him a lead into his story.

By strange quirk of fate that is just how this series starts - for our first pub personality. Jack David, mine host at the "Wheatsheaf Inn, Margate, was born on licensed premises. Jack David - who is now 50, was born at the "Sir Isaac Newton" in Kilburn, which was run by his parents when he left grammar school at 15 he was determined "on the surface at least" not to follow in his father's footsteps.

His father, who died when Jack was 12, was goods manager at the Smithfield depot of the Great Western Railway before he enter the licence trade, and it was into the railways that young Jack was absorbed. "I was only there for 18 months and didn't like it at all," he said. "Really, at that time, having been born in the trade, there must have been something inside me which attracted me to it".

From the Bottom.

So enter the trade he did and that "something" has stayed with him ever since. Jack learnt the trade literary from bottom to top by undergoing training with a firm in the cellars, kitchens and bar until he was 21. Then he went into the trade with a vengeance, for his first licence was at the "Falcon," in the city of London, which did a big luncheon trade.

From 1939 to 1946 he served in the Army first in the Royal Artillery, and then, when his knowledge of the catering trade became apparent, he was transferred into the Catering Corps, leaving the Service with the rank of major.

Returning to civvy street, he found it difficult to settle down again but, with the help of his wife Kay, (they married in 1945) settle down he did, this time re-entering the trade again with a vengeance by taking the "Rutland" and Smithfield Market. The first pints there were pulled at 5 a.m. and he kept the licence at the "Rutland" until 1955 when he took the "George" at Hockley Street, Margate.

He and his wife moved to the seaside because Jack's mother, affectionately known in the trade as Auntie Chris, retired in Tankerton near Whitstable.

Jack who likes being a licensee for the simple reason that he likes people, finds sporting interests offer him that important outlet. He is a member of Margate Car Club and in 1960 entered the Monte Carlo Rally - and hopes to enter again in January. He is also a committee member of Margate Amateur Boxing Club, likes golf and in his younger days was an active footballer.

J. A.

LICENSEE LIST

WELLS Robert 1792+

KELSEY John 1841+ (age 25 in 1841)