High Street
Cranbrook
01580 720727
http://www.whitehorsecranbrook.com/
https://whatpub.com/white-horse
Above photo, 1913, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above postcard, showing the White Horse Cork Club members, 1923. |
Above photos, 22 July 2006, taken by Eric Hartland. |
Above photo 2009 by Oast House Archives
Creative Commons Licence. |
Southeastern Gazette, 10 May 1853.
CRANBROOK. Petty Sessions, Thursday. (Before C. T. Pattenson, Esq.,
chairman, T. L. Hodges,. Esq., the Rev. F. Barrow, the Rev. J.
Deedes, G. R. Stevenson, Esq., and W. P. Croughton, Esq.)
Joseph Ransley landlord of the "White Horse Inn," Elizabeth Wimsett,
of the "Windmill Inn," and William Hollands, of the "White Lion
Inn," all in the town of Cranbrook, were severally charged on the
information of Isaac Rumens, constable of Cranbrook, with, having
their houses open during divine service on Sunday afternoon, the 1st
inst. The two first named persons pleaded guilty, and Ransley was
fined 40s. and costs, and Mrs. Wimsett 10s. and costs. The case
against Hollands was gone into, and Mr. Dadson deposed to visiting
defendant's house, when he observed a quantity of what he believed
to be beer spilt along the passage. This, coupled with some
information brought by Rumens, who entered the back way, led him to
go into the yard, where his attention was attracted to a coachhouse
used as a skittle ground, by seeing a shutter put to. He enquired
for the key of this building, and eventually got the ostler to
unlock the door, when he saw about a dozen men huddled up together
in one corner, each evidently trying not to be visible to the eye of
the constable, from a conviction that they had not been there all
the afternoon without anything to drink. But fortunately for the
defendant the constable summoned a witness from among the concealed
group, who swore that he and the whole of his companions had been
locked in from the time service began, but he didn’t know by whom,
and that the defendant had not supplied them with any drink. This
evidence, which the constable could not then rebut, destroyed the
proof of the case, and defendant was dismissed with a caution.
|
South Eastern Gazette, 8 May, 1860.
CHANBROOK. Accident.
A few days since a lad named Dury, of the "White Horse Inn," in this
town, met with an accident under the following circumstances. It
appears that Mr. George Williams, butcher, accompanied by the lad,
went to cut off the tails, &c., of some lambs, in holding one of
which the animal plunged, when the knife glanced off and inflicted a
severe wound on the leg of the unfortunate lad. Medical assistance
was quickly procured, and the lad is doing well.
|
From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 12 June 1860. Price 1d.
CRANBROOK. ACCIDENT.
A few days since a lad named Dury, of the "White Horse Inn," in this
town, met with an accident under the following circumstances. It appears
that Mr. George Williams, butcher, accompanied by the lad, went to cut
off the tails. &c, of some lambs, in holding one of which the animal
plunged, when the knife glanced off and inflicted a severe wound on the
leg of the unfortunate lad. Medical assistance was quickly procured, and
the lad it doing well.
|
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Tuesday 6 January 1891.
TRANSFER OF LICENCES.
The licences of the "White Horse Inn," Cranbrook, was transferred from
Arthur Holliday to William Merricks.
|
Kent & Sussex Courier 15 May 1931.
CRANBROOK. A LOCAL HONOUR.
Mr George Finch, of the "White Horse Hotel," who is Vice Chairman of the
Maidstone and District Licensed Victuallers' Association and Chairman of
No. 10 District of the Licensed Victuallers Defence, attended the annual
conference of the Licensed Victuallers' Defence League at Folkestone
last week, and was elected on the Council as District Representative.
Mr. Finch is a past chairman of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and District
Licensed Victuallers Association, and past President of the Womens
Auxiliary League.
|
From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 13 January, 1939.
CRANBROOK BUFFALOES.
Peace Lodge met at the "White Horse Hotel" on Tuesday, when Lodge was
opened by "Sir" G. Head and Bro. E. T. Bailey, and 18 registered. Primo
T. Tapp reported on the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge. Primo S.
Hickmott won the usual mystery parcel, and the evening's minstrels were
Primos J. Brooks and A. G. Field, and Bros. E. Osborne. W. Giggles, H.
Norman and A. C. Chapman.
|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Cara Simmonds, 23 July 2023.
Mystery over closure of the White Horse pub in Cranbrook High Street.
A well-known pub has been boarded-up without explanation.
The White Horse in Cranbrook High Street has shut suddenly. Picture:
Cameron Cheesman.
A passer-by noticed it was shut last week although it has not been
confirmed when it officially closed.
“It was big back in the 80s and 90s,” they said.
“You had to order a few drinks for the night because it was such a
struggle to get to the front of the bar.”
Pictures now show the building’s groundfloor windows and doors obscured
by metal screens.
The White Horse, which has been a pub since at least 1881, was also a
bed and breakfast. (I have traced one back with
this name to 1828. Paul Skelton)
All of the lower windows and doors have been boarded-up. Picture:
Cameron Cheesman. It is owned by Admiral Taverns, a company which runs more than 1,600
predominantly wet-led community pubs. Residents have been speculating about the closure on a Facebook group –
with some saying it might be turned into flats. One person commented: “It is a huge shame that it had to close. So many
pubs and hotels are closing down these days.” Another said: “So terribly sad to see it closing! So many truly
wonderful memories in there over the last 30-plus years. “Back in the 90s it was the best pub for all the family. The darts, the
charity events, the parties, the town tournaments and the hospitality! “It has to remain as a pub, surely?” In September 2021, council planners granted permission for two homes to
be built on its car park. The decision stunned residents and angered the parish council, which had
objected to the scheme. A spokesman from Admiral Taverns said: "We are currently reviewing all
our options for the White Horse in Cranbrook and no final decision has
been made. “It wouldn't be appropriate to comment any further at this stage." |
LICENSEE LIST
BISHOP Stephen 1828+
BISHOP Mary 1832+
RANSLEY Joseph 1853-55+
RANSLEY Thomas Ransley 1858+ (also coach builder)
DRURY Thomas 1861-71+ (age 53 in 1861)
OCKENDEN William 1874+
CHAMBERS Andrew E 1881-81+ (age 29 in 1881)
HOLLIDAY Arthur to Jan/1891+
MERRIX William Jan/1891-1903+ (age 52 in 1901)
HUXSTEP Albert (Arthur) Thomas 1911-13+ (age 41 in 1911)
HARLOW Christopher 1918-22+
FINCH George Alfred 1930-31+
ALCOCK Kate L Mrs 1938+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/WhiteHorse.shtml
From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
|