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The Street
Swingfield
Above photo taken in 1993, license bought from Annes Country Gallery
http://www.annescountrygallery.co.uk
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Above photo, 2000, kindly taken and send by Bob and Kathleen Hollingsbee. |
Above photo taken on 23 May 2011 by Tony Wells.
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Above aluminium card issued June 1951. Sign series 3 number 37. |
Probably named due to the Church of St. Peter in Swingfield, situated directly
opposite, that was recorded to have three bells in 1552 although by 1901 it was
down to just the one.
Made redundant in 2000.
There is evidence that the pub may have been known as the "Bear
and Hole" previous to 1847 as in 1841 Richard Maxted's father, William was
named as licensee of a pub with that name in Swingfield.
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From the Kentish Gazette or Canterbury Chronicle, Wednesday 10 May to
Saturday 13 May, 1769. Price 2½d.
TO BE SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER
On Tuesday, the 23rd of this Instant May, at Three o'clock in the
afternoon, at the sign of the “Three Bells,” situate in Swingfield
Street, in this County. A Freehold Messuage, or Tenament Barn, Stable, Orchard, and Garden-yard;
and several Pieces of Parcels of Land, Arable and Pasture, and Wood
thereunto belonging, Containing in the whole, by Estimation, Seven Acres
more or less, with the Appurtenances, (thereof Four Acres are Arable,
Two Acres Pasture, and One Acre Wood) situate, lying, and being, at or
near a Place called Everinge, in the Parish of Swingfield aforesaid, and
in Alkham next or near thereunto, and now in the Tenant or Occupation of
Robert Chelkin, or his Assigns. Inquire of Mr. Westfield, Attorney, in Dover, for Particulars in the
Interim. |
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Will of William Maxted written on 21 May 1842, probated on 11 Aug 1849.
In the will he directs that "my Freehold Public House called the
"Three Bells" situate at Swingfield
aforesaid with the ground and appurtenances thereto and all other my
Estate Real and Personal To hold to them the said Thomas Prebble and
Henry Finch their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns Upon Trust
that they the said Thomas Prebble and Henry Finch or the survivor of
them or the Heirs Executors Administrators of such survivor do as soon
as convenient after my decease sell my Public House called the "Three
Bells" either by Public Auction or Private Contract for the best price
that can be gotten for the same" The proceeds were to be split between his seven Children.
From Keith Ellis:- It is highly likely then that you are correct and that
the "Bear and Hole"
was renamed as you suggest; as he was Landlord of the "Bear and Hole" in
1841, but by May 1842 he owns the freehold of the "Three Bells."
As you know, it wasn't sold, but continued to be run by William's son
Richard until long after William's death (he was buried in Swingfield on
12 May 1849. |
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From the Kentish Gazette, 11 July 1865.
SWINGFIELD. Stealing Two Iron Hoes.
At the Magistrates’ Clerk’s Office, Hythe, on Saturday (before
Thomas Denne, Esq.;, James Upton was brought up in custody of P.C.
Edward Kay, charged with stealing two iron hoes, the property of Mr.
Maxted. It appeared that on the evening of the 6th inst. the
prisoner was at the "Three Bells" public-house, Swingfield, kept by
Mrs. Maxted. Adjoining the public-house is a blacksmith’s shop,
belonging to Mr. Maxted. The shop was locked up that evening, but
the next morning it was found that the shutters had been forced
open. The place was examined, and the prisoner was found lying on
the floor asleep. He was aroused, and then excused himself by saying
that he had been the worse for liquor, and had just got in there to
lie down. He left the shop, and some little time afterwards the hoes
were missed. Information was given to the police, and the prisoner
was apprehended at Lydden Street. He then had the hoes under his
jacket, and told the police-constable that he knew he had done
wrong, and hoped they would make it up without any further trouble.
He was remanded to the Petty Sessions on Thursday next.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer,
16 December, 1881. Price 1d.
APPLICATION
Mr. M. Mowll made an application for the renewal of the license of
the "Three Bells," public house, Swingfield, on behalf of John Cullen.
The application was refused on the grounds that the applicant, John
Cullen, had been fined when keeping a public house in the borough, for
selling intoxicating liquors during prohibited hours on Sunday
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 22 October, 1886. Price 1d.
A SWINGFIELD PUBLICAN ROBBED
On Tuesday, at the City Police Court, Canterbury, before the Mayor (W.
R. Young. E.d,) R. Y. Fill, and G. R. Friend, Esqrs, Charles Fairbrass
and Emily Fairbrass, a man and wife, aged about 40, were charged with
stealing a basket containing goods to the amount of 10s. (the property
of John Gillis, the landlord of the “Three Bells Inn,” Swingfield,) from
the “Bat and Ball,” Canterbury.
Superintendent McBean said: About 11 o'clock last night the prisoners
were brought from near Bridge, and were charged with stealing on
Saturday from Mr. Gillis, landlord of the “Three Bells Inn,” Swingfield,
the other side of Barham, a wicker basket containing ½lb. of tobacco, a
bottle of castor oil, two boxes of pills, a pair of earrings, and a Post
Office Savings Bank book.
Upon this evidence the Superintendent applied for a remand, as the
witness had not come. But while the Bench were considering the matter,
prosecutor and the other witnesses arrived, and so the case was
proceeded with.
John Gillis (prosecutor) said: I am the landlord of the “Three Bells
Inn,” at Swingfield. I was at the “Bat and Ball Inn,” Canterbury, at
about six o'clock on Saturday evening. I was in a cart with my
housekeeper, and she got out of the cart for a short time and took the
basket with her which contained ½lb. tobacco, two boxes of pills, a
bottle of castor oil, a pair of earrings, and a Post Office Savings Bank
book. I gave the basket to my housekeeper when she went to pay for a
drink, and I saw he take it into the house. The value of the articles
was 10s.
The Bench dismissed both prisoners on the ground that there was great
doubt about the case.
On Wednesday prisoners were re-apprehended and on the following day they
were charged on remand with stealing a basket and other articles
mentioned.
Fairbrass is about 30 years of age, and his wife (who appeared with an
infant in her arms) is a few years younger.
Mrs. Cheeseman (prosecutor's housekeeper) gave evidence.
Police-constable Crow, K.C.C., deposed that on the previous day he went
to Fairbrass' garden, in the parish of Kingstone, and found a
handkerchief and two boxes of pills in the earth. The pill boxes were
enclosed in a tin box.
The Bench sentenced Fairbrass to six weeks' hard labour, but discharged
his wife, remarking that she would suffer by her husband's imprisonment.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6
January, 1922. Price 1½d.
LICENSING
The "Three Bells," Swingfield, applied for an extension on Saturday until
11 p.m. for a slate club supper, but the application was refused, the
Chairman saying that the Bench considered ten o'clock late enough.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 19 May, 1922. Price 1½d.
LICENSING BUSINESS
The licensee of the "Three Bells," Swingfield, applied for an
extension for the Swingfield and District Benefit Society's dinner and
fete on the 13th, which was granted.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 22
December, 1922. Price 1½d.
LICENSING
Mr. Ford, of the "Three Bells," Swingfield, applied for an extension
for the annual slate club dinner on December 30th, until twelve
mid-night. The occasion was granted until 11.30.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 8
June, 1923. Price 1½d.
LICENSING
The "Three Bells," Swingfield, was granted an extension for the
Swingfield and District benefit Club Day on June 12th, from 2 to 6 p.m.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 21
December, 1923. Price 1½d.
LICENSING
Mr. Ford of the "Three Bells," Swingfield, was granted an extension
for the slate club supper on December 22nd.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 16 May, 1924. Price 1½d.
LICENSING BUSINESS
An extension was granted to the "Three bells," Swingfield, on June 10th
for the annual dinner of the Swingfield and District benefit Society.
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Dover Express, Friday 18 February 1927.
Extension Refused.
The licensee of the "Three Bells," Swingfield, was refused an extension from
10 to 11 p.m. on February 19th, for a cricket club dance at the Recreation
Hut.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 3 June,
1932. Price 1½d.
LICENSING TRANSFER SESSIONS
An extension was granted to the licensee of the "Three Bells," Swingfield,
from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the occasion of the annual dinner of the benefit
Society on June 15th.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7
June, 1935.
WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS
SWINGFIELD CLUB DAY
An extension was granted to the "Three Bells," Swingfield, from 2.30 to 5
p.m., on 19th June, the occasion being the Club Day of the Swingfield and
District Benefit Society.
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From an email received 9 May 2025.
I was born and brought up in Dover and my dad was very
fond of the pub, which was an easy excursion from our home in Maxton. He
and mum would often visit on a Sunday lunchtime in the early 1960s while
we kids would subsist on Vimto and crisps in the car outside, parked up
next to the old smithy. I last visited the pub in the mid 1970s and we
were always made welcome by the landlady Mrs Foord. I looked her up in
the 1939 register to find that her forename was Henrietta, and she was
born in 1894. There was no evidence of the existence of your last-named
landlord Henry Foord who was presumably deceased. There was no bar as such in the pub, but drinkers would be entertained
in the parlour and Mrs Foord would serve us with beer from a jug which
she would tap from a barrel in the room behind the parlour. When she got
to know us better she would stay in her seat and let me tap the beer
myself. She told us that the pub's boom days were during WW2 when she enjoyed
the custom of RAF personnel from RAF Swingfield. They operated a
dancehall on the premises which was popular with locals and RAF types
alike, and she kept a visitors' book which she showed me, being
particularly proud of the signature of one Cliff Richards. Best wishes, Julian Elphick. |
LICENSEE LIST
MAXTED Richard 1847-65+ (also blacksmith age 35 in 1851 )
 
SEATH William Marsh 1871+
(census)
MARSH William to Oct/1881
CULLEN John Oct/1881+
GILLIS John 1882-86+
 
GOWER Thomas John 1899-Jan/1912 (age 39 in 1901)
  
HAWKINS Edward Jan/1912-14+
 
(From Sittingbourne)
BAKER Frank Albert Mar/1919
FOORD Henry Mar/1919-34+
FOORD Henrietta Mrs to 1970s
https://pubwiki.co.uk/ThreeBells.shtml
From
Bagshaw Directory 1847
From Melville's Directory 1858
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From the
Kelly's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1914
From the Dover Express
Whitstable Times
and Herne Bay Herald
Census
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