Woolage Green

This pub was mentioned in the Wingham division Ale License list of 1740 when the license was renewed at a cost of 8 shillings.

It appears to have been tied to a brewery owned by the prominent Sandwich family, the Wyborns to 1822. In 1764 William Wyborn, brewer, died and his business was left to his daughter Mary, who had married John Bradley. Their son, William Wyborn Bradley was born in 1752 William being described as "common brewer of Sandwich." William was elected Mayor Sandwich in 1785 and died in 1788. The Sandwich brewery and its tied estate of 27 pubs was eventually put up for "sale by private contract" by William's son (also called William Wyborn Bradley, born 1779) as advertised in the Kentish Gazette on 10th May 1822.

In 1826 the pub was sold, along with 11 other pubs in the neighbouring villages for the sum of £166. It is unknown who sold the premises and to whom, but the date is close to that mentioned above regarding the Sandwich brewery, so could well be related to this transaction, if the date is incorrect.

John Wood the Younger had been licensee of the "Rose and Crown", now the "Two Sawyers," at Woolage Green in Womenswould parish between 1820 and 1824 during which time he was convicted and fined for poaching partridges. Shortly after this conviction he left the "Rose and Crown." Poaching being a crime that by this time incurred only a fine, often £5 which was a considerable some at a time when agricultural labourers earned 12/- (60 pence) for a six day week, for a first offence with half of the fine going to the person who reported you.

I assume the pub gained a reputation for housing poachers and so changed the name and of course reputation shortly after John Wood left.

Later information tells me the pub changed name in the 1820s probably just after the sale in 1826 (1822).

With Woolage Green is in the parish of Womenswold, and this pub is often incorrectly referred to as being in Womanswold.

LICENSEE LIST

FFRIEND William (with 2 Fs) 1740+

FOX Family 1792+

WOOD John 1820-24

FOX William 1858 (beer retailer born 1802 died 1881) see email

To the "Two Sawyers".

From Wingham Division Ale Licences 1740 Ref: KAO - QRLV 3/1