From their website:-
http://www.worldswonder.co.uk
History
The Worlds Wonder is an imposing pub situated just off of the Romney
marsh between Hamstreet and Tenterden and who's modern looking facade
hides a history that reaches back over a century.
Below is an article written in the Kent Messenger in December 1951,
outlining the history to that date, of what is an enigma among local
public houses.
The property is now in the village of Warehorne, however, it was, at one
time, the part of the parish of Kenardington, as per an ordinance survey
map of the late 1800s, and is nearer to Kenardington than Warehorne;
which is not surprising given how the pub came about...
The article outlines the how and why the pub is so called, and from the
text it is determined that the original purchase of the 2 cottages and
their transformation was made in approximately 1861, and had only 4
landlord up to and exceeding the time of the article.
The new ‘Dutch Barn' style building was erected on the site in
approximately 1932, after it was acquired by Style and Winch, a
Maidstone Brewery, who were eventually taken over by Barclay Courage
(later Courage). It is not know currently exactly when the building was
sold back to become a Free house, but it was when under the stewardship
of Tom and Louise Beanie, post 1973, when it is alleged that Tom Beanie
made the pub unprofitable form the breweries point of view, and made an
offer to buy the pub; it remains non-tied to this day.
Various changes have been made from the picture containing Jack (J.P.).
Thomas; the Toilet block has been incorporated into the building, where
it can be seen as detached, and the Landlords Mr Pete & Jan Watts had
the restaurant extension added to the east elevation of the main
building.
The main entrance has moved to the other side of the bay window and a
throughway added inside the building to interconnect the 2 bars.
Part of the Garage that Jimmy Homewood sold beer from is still standing
and is to become a servery to the garden for special functions, and has
come full circle in this respect. A large part of the land adjoining the
property was sold off to private development in the form of housing
which means that the pub is no longer the last property in Warehone
before Kenardington. Development and as such is no longer a lone outpost
on the Warehorne /Kenardington border.
Recently, (2006 March) the daughter of Jack Knight visited the pub and
told of her memory of Jimmy Homeward, and retailed of the method of
knocking down the old cottage beer house, owned at that time by Style
and Winch. She recalled of a chain being placed around the two cottages
and attached to a tractor, and the demolition of the cottages that
ensued.
Article from the Kent Messenger (December 28th 1951) How “the World's
Wonder” came to the village of Warehorne.
Back in the days when women of 80, or even younger, were stylish in
black bonnets, capes and high crocheted neckwear and some young bloods
of the countryside still boasted their swashbuckling boots and long
revered jackets and toppers, the parochial dignitaries, and indeed the
villagers of Warehorne, and Kenardington and many parishes around, were
aroused to a pitch of wonderment.
It started when the Parish Council wondered what they could do about a
pair of cottages which they had rented out to tenants.
They wondered if they could sell them when they became empty and
eventually this was found permissible. It was noted abroad and folk
wondered who would buy them.
One Thomas Night, a humble man, had his bid accepted this set the
wonderbug to work again.
“Where had Tom got the money from? Why had he bought them? What was he
going to do with them?” The first question has never been answered, for
Tom was a secretive kind of a fellow. He puzzled the people again when
alterations began on the cottages, two rooms knocked into one, passages
and doorways appeared and so on. At his leisure Tom let it be known that
he intended to apply for a justices' licence and run a beer house. That
sounded good for some, for at the time the “village pub.” as it were,
for Kenardington was, was the far off railway hotel at Appledore
Station, though there was the “local” at Warehorne, but that was more
than half-a-league away for many residence. But would the justices grant
a licence? Villagers wagged their heads, chatted and wondered again,
that if they did would the place pay Tom for his trouble? Biggest Wonder
of all Tom, who it is said was sufficiently far-seeing to ensure the
success of his venture from the start – and keep it to himself – did get
the licence, then came the biggest wonder of all - what was tom going to
call the place?
Taxed on the point among an assembly of parishioners at some occasion -
maybe a church meeting or service, for Tom was sexton at Kenardington
church – he had a ready reply. “Why dammit.“ he said “you've all been
a-wondering what I been up to all along; you've wondered here and so
they have for miles around- everybody's wondered, so what better name
than “The Worlds Wonder.” Host James Bourne Tom had thought of that as
well. And for 90 years now this quite famous inn, now entirely rebuilt,
has had it's justices' licence and Thomas Knights legacy to his
birthplace has been a worthy place of sociability.
For 20 years, Tom himself was host. Other notable characters followed
him and served a generation. First came James Bourne who presided there
for 26 years. He had a little nephew, Jimmy Homewood, left fatherless at
the age of four, and he took him into the inn. When his uncle passed
away, Jimmy became the landlord and beat the tenancy record staying
there for 39 years – 20 in those old converted cottages and 19 in the
modern building.
James Bourne WW 1890 James Bourne with his wife Martha and a young Jimmy
Homewood.
Jimmy Homewood died in July 1949 some 12 months after retiring from the
inn. He was a delightful character, proud of the tradition of the house.
His widow who lives hale and hearty, in a modern house a few yards up
the road, was an equally charming hostess.
“We had some grand time in the old place,” she says, “and such hosts of
visitors, including many Americans, to see it and ask about the origins
of the name. In a way we were sorry to see it go when the brewery
rebuilt is some 19 years ago.” Happily, no change of the name was ever
contemplated and locals often intrigue strangers with an offer to show
them “The World's Wonder.”
While the place was being rebuilt, Jimmy carried on the business from an
adjoining garage, serving beers and wines and food in a long, cheery and
warm room for over six months. There are still many veterans who can
tell stories of the days of the old cottage inn and retail the
wonderment of the its conception, picturing the activities of a past age
thus giving truth to tradition.
Ex-Police officer now host
P J Thomas It is only fitting that another well known character should
follow Jimmy Homewood, and when ex-police officer P. J. Thomas of the
Ashford division, took over in 1948, the future of “The Worlds Wonder”
was assured. WW 1951 Mr. P. J Thomas and 2 of his regular customers.
Among those who thought so were the licensing magistrates, who smilingly
put the formal question to the police superintendent officiating in
court: “Any objections?” and authorised the clerk to say “That will be
granted Mr. Thomas.” Many years before Mr. Thomas had visited the old
inn in the course of his duties accompanied by another office on an
inspection tour and he recalls how a very tall colleague bumped his head
on the low doorways.
Today the house is fully licensed and is the home of darts and social
clubs and a successful thrift club. As the accompanying picture
indicates the house has always been associated with the Kent brewers
Style and Winch.
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