RISING SUN Pubs of Stourmouth

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 25 September, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1695

Rising Sun

Open 2020+

The Street

East Stourmouth

01227 721364

http://www.therisingsunstourmouth.co.uk

https://whatpub.com/rising-sun

Above photo, circa 1920s, kindly sent by Michael Mirams.

Above photo, circa 1979, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo circa 2009.

Above shows sign left, 1987. Sign right 2009.

Photo taken 25 August 2012 from http://www.flickr.com by Jelltex.

Rising Sun circa 1950.

Photo taken from Stourmouth web site. Date unknown.

Above photo taken and sent by Rory Kehoe July 2018.

In 1891 Stourmouth was still a busy community with a population of 330. The Smallwood family lived at the rectory opposite the church, catering to the souls of the locals, while the village school (closed before the 1950's and used for some years as the village hall) catered to their minds; School Lane today is a row of houses and bungalows.

In 1891, Stourmouth boasted a post office and a grocer's shop. The small brewery was in full swing, and a beer house called The Plough, as well as the Rising Sun public house (which was a bakery built in 1372 and beer house from 1695 until 1865 when the bakery closed). The Rising Sun is still in operation, managed (as of 2000) by a couple from Littlebourne.

(The following details taken from a passage by Maggie Baldwin of her recollections from between 1950-70.)

The Rising Sun is on the south side of the road. When the landlord Mr CHAPFIELD died, the licence passed to his daughter and son-in-law Mr and Mrs Denis AUSTIN. The old pub consisted of a small snug and, through an entrance in the right hand corner facing the front of the building, the tap room; this was a wooden floored room with just a few wooden tables and benches, a dart board and a small billiard table. The locals frequented this room. Next door were a couple of cottages which, today, are incorporated into the pub itself. At the end of the cottages Mr Austin had a wooden garage and a wall - all that remained of the thatch-roofed Rising Sun Cottage which burned to the ground before I was born. The land at the side of the pub up School Lane, and behind it, was enclosed as a large, private garden where the Austins grew vegetables. A side gate and path from School Lane lead to a stable door with a bell which served as an off-licence.

History of the Rising Sun

The first part of the building was erected in 1372 during the reign of Edward the Third. It was originally a bakery owned and worked by the Monks of the Diocese of Canterbury.

The building continued as a bakery, passing through different owners until it came into the hands of Edgar Rake, baker and brewer, in 1682.

Edgar Rake applied for, and was granted, an ale and cider license on the 4th April 1695. In 1708 and 1709, building work was carried out and a much more modern structure was erected, but unfortunately, Edgar Rake died before it was completed. In 1709 Jeremiah Bedley, baker and common beer seller took over the new premises. He was granted a licence to sell liquor and named the premises "The Rising Sun."

From the date of registration in 1709 until 1865, all the Rising Sun Keepers were bakers, who worked the old bakery as well as running the Inn. This had one exception, Keeper Thomas Lucke who came here in 1776 is described as a beer seller, baker and ferryman. For The Rising Sun was for many years known locally as the Ferrymans Inn, where the ferrymen who worked the ferries across the mile wide estuary to the "Crown" (Cherry Brandy House) at Sarre, came to meet.

The Inn remained in the hands of owner-keepers until the turn of the nineteenth century when it was purchased by the fore-runners of the Whitbread Brewery who sold it in 1977 when it again became a Free House.

The Rising Sun has seen and undergone many changes since it was built but its historic atmosphere remains unchanged. Colin Bull was responsible for adding the rear car park during his reign between 1993 and 1996

In 2001 The Rising Sun was extensively renovated and upgraded to the exacting and high standards that currently prevail.

Dover Express 21 July 1911.

FIRE.

The Wingham Fire Brigade received a call on Friday last to the "Rising Sun" at Stourmouth. They were very quickly on the scene, and found the stables and buildings adjoining the public house were well alight. With an excellent supply of water, the fire was soon got under, and the adjoining property saved. We understand that the buildings and public house, which belong to brewers, Messrs. Flint and Co., are fully insured.

Dover Express 25th April 1941.

Wingham Petty Sessions. Over Zealous Home Guard.

William Beer of Stourmouth was summoned by Walter Henry Timms for assault.

Defendant pleaded guilty.

Mr. A. K. Mowll appeared for complainant and said that Timms was a market gardener aged 55 years. On 8th April he was in the “Rising Sun” at Stourmouth talking to a man named Austin. They were discussing air raid damage at a certain town. Defendant, who was 10 years Timms junior, and a corporal in the Home Guard, took hold of Timms by the arm and pulled him round. Timms asked what was the matter and defendant said “You -------- well come outside. You cannot give away military secrets” Defendant then hit Timms a most violent blow in the left eye, causing it to bleed freely and he had to go to a doctor.

Defendant said Timms was talking about air raid damage. He asked Timms if he realised the seriousness of his talk and Timms replied “Its nothing to do with you. I will say what I like. If there was a certain person here, he would shoot you for being such a fool”. He lost his temper and hit Timms. He did not use bad language and had never done so in his life.

The Chairman said that no doubt defendant suffered from an excess of zeal. He was right in trying to stop that talk in public houses, but should have informed the Police instead of hitting the man.

Fined 7s 6d.

From the Gourmet Guide supplement in the Folkestone Herald, 22 August, 1996. By Vince Darcillo

Frills, finery and exotic cuisine are all well and good, but every now and then there's nothing more appetising than honest country cooking - the sort your mum should have come up with!

At times like these the "Rising Sun," at East Stourmouth comes into its own. Just off the beaten track - but not too far from civilisation - the 17th-century pub is a haven for the traditionalist.

beams, horse brasses and a collection of prints make the old convent bakery a perfect place to stop for a well deserved drink and a well-priced meal. Drifting in one Sunday evening, a buddy and myself settled down to pick over the delights of the a la carte menu.

From a choice of six starters and main meals I chose the chef's paté followed by one of the two house specialities - Rising Sun Steak, while my friend opted for squid and chicken chasseur.

Both main courses came with a selection of seasonal vegetables.

A word of warning to those with anything less than a huge appetite - Rowland, the pub's owner and chef, does not believe in small portions. having said that - our taste buds whetted by the main meal - it is too hard to resist the Rising Sun's desserts. With eyes certainly bigger than our stomachs we decided on blackcurrant cheesecake and an ample portion of trifle.

The final and essential ingredient of our dining experience - coffee - was taken in the pub's pleasant garden.

Other dishes on the evening menu include starters such as mussels, soup of the day and smoked salmon, and main courses range from a highly-recommended half shoulder of lamb in blackcurrant sauce, salmon steaks, sole and the roast of the day.

Senior citizens visiting the pub will be pleased to hear that the restaurant offers a special price for a two-course meal.

All in all, our "feast" at the "Rising Sun Inn" was a perfect example of well-presented and carefully cooked country-style cuisine.

Keep up the good work Roland.

From an email received 23 August, 2011

I may be wrong but my husbands' ancestor John Baxter was landlord of "The Rising Sun," Stourmouth, up until his death upon which his wife Sarah took on the Licence, perhaps with her son Fuller? I'm researching the family tree and have got these details from Census.

Unfortunately in 1901 Sarah was in the local workhouse and I cannot trace what happened to Fuller Baxter born c1840.

John Baxter was born c1812 Minster, Kent. He married Sarah Fuller born c1816 in 1838 Thanet, Kent. He died in 1884 which must have been when his widow took over the Pub.

John was the son of Andrew Baxter, born c1778 in Nigg, Kincardineshire, Scotland. Andrew died 1855 in Thanet.

Andrew married a Mary (surname unknown as of yet)

Hope some of the above helps.

Kind regards

Kathleen Pittock.

Kentish Gazette 07 March 1854.

WINGHAM.

At the Petty Sessions on Thursday, upon the information of Superintendent Stokes, James Hogben, of the "Three Colts," Tilmanstone, was fined 40s. and 13s.9d. costs for having allowed disorderly conduct in his house; and Mary Castles, of Stourmouth, (I assume the "Rising Sun") was fined 20s.and 14s. costs, for keeping her house open after the proper time, on the 25th ult.

LICENSEE LIST

?CASTLE Mary? 1854+ (Possibly "Plough")