WOODMAN's ARMS Pubs of Barham

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 20 April, 2022.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1845-

Woodman's Arms

Latest 1961+

Derringstone

Barham

Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by Debi Birkin.

Above photo shows the Woodman's Arm's in Barham, circa 1930.

Above photo 25 August 1960, kindly sent by Clive Bowley.

Above photo 5 March 1963, kindly sent by Clive Bowley.

Woodman's Arms, 2008. Above two photographs kindly supplied by http://www.barham-kent.org.uk

Above aluminium card issued June 1951. Sign series 3 number 45.

Above photo, date unknown by Darkstar.

Barham map 1872.

The building as a whole is grade 11 listed and dating back about to at least 1761.

The pub occupied two of three original small cottages and was reputedly owned by the then Mayor of Canterbury.

It is rumoured that the Duke of Cumberland stayed at the pub whilst training his troops on Barham Downs.

It was converted into a pub in 1847 (although not specifically mentioned as such in the 1851 census) with Josiah Page being the first inn keeper until 1882.

From the Kentish Gazette, 21 March 1848.

Highway Robbery at Barham.

Matthew Fagg, 26, William Stone, 17, John Chandler Maxted, 25, James Moody, 25, were indicted for assaulting and robbing Stephen Cannon, of a quantity of herrings, and two baskets, value £1. 2s., his property at Barham.

Mr. Russell prosecuted; and Mr. Horn defended Stone and Maxted.

Stephen Cannon deposed, that he was on the 25th October, selling herrings, at Barham; he had between three and four hundred in two baskets; went to Page's beer shop and stood there sometime; left between ten and eleven to go to Dover; went through a brick field leading to Gravel Pit Lane; a man who was in the road asked him to let him ride to Dover, which witness agreed to do, and he got into the cart; after they have got a few rods another man jumped out of the hedge and took some herrings out of his cart; witness told him to leave the fish alone or he would hit him with his whip; the man had on a long open gabardine; two other men jumped over the hedge and seized his pony, and witness then jumped out of his cart; and men's said that if he (witness) followed them, they would knock out his brains; his fish were all taken from the cart; he then went back to the beer shop.

Cross examined:- did not know the man in the cart; never said he thought it all a joke.

John West deposed, that he was a labourer, at Burnham; knew the prisoners who also lives there; on the night of the 25th October, he was in company with the prisoner at Hobday's "Beer Shop" till half-past eight, and went to Page's; Maxted came down to Page's beer shop, where they saw Cannon in the tap room; Maxted stayed about 20 minutes and then left; witness then went back to Hobday's when he saw the prisoner standing against the well; they had some conversation about taking some of Cannon's fish, and went in the directions of which Cannon would go on the road home; Maxted and Moody laid up in the hedge until the cart came up when they got behind the cart and Maxted took the whip from Cannon; Fagg was in the cart with Cannon; the fish were taken into a wood; where they divided them, and threw one basket into the park; witness and Stone gave their fresh Herrings to Maxted; Maxted was dressed in a long gabardine and witness in a jacket and gaiters; did not recollect how Fagg and Moody were dressed.

Cross examined:- Had always lived in Barham, and worked sometimes from Mr. Quested; was out of work at the time of the robbery.

By the Judge:- Was sure he saw two baskets of fish.

William Foster deposed, that he lived at Barham; was at Hobday's "Beer Shop" on the night of the robbery, where he saw the last witness and the prisoners who left together about 10 o'clock.

Josiah Page deposed, that he kept the "Woodman's Arms," in the parish of Barham; prisoners and West were there on the night of the robbery while Cannon was in the tap room; Cannon Returns in about half an hour after he left and told him of the robbery.

Cross examined:- Maxted bore an excellent character throughout the parish.

Thomas Quested, the constable of Barham, deposed, that he approached Stone and Fagg, but could not find the other prisoners.

Frances Goldpin deposed, that she lived at Barham, and heard of the robbery; in the afternoon of that day Moody came to her house with some fresh herrings which he had on a basket; she did not buy any.

William Pratlin, constable of Sheerness, stated, that he apprehended Moody and Maxted in the dockyard, on the 31st January, where they were at work; he told them he book them on the charge of highway robbery between Barham and Canterbury, of some herrings; as they were going from the magistrates Moody told him that they used no violence but only took the hearings; they were both ill with the argue; Maxted did not deny what Moody stated.

West re-called:- Cross examined:- Did not threaten to knock down Cannon, he was one of the two behind the cart; Maxted had a few hearings; the robbery was planned among themselves.

Moody received a good character from Mr. Pile his former master.

Fagg, 18 months' hard labour; Moody, 12 months hard labour; Stone and Maxted, acquitted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 31 December, 1859.

COMMENCING BUSINESS IN A RURAL DISTRICT

Samuel Pollard, a young man described on the charge-sheet as a draper, was brought up by Kent County Constable Hasmore, charged with stealing on the previous Friday sixty turnips, the property of Mr. Joshua Page, inn-keeper, of Barham.

It appeared that the defendant had recently taken up his about at Barham, where he has a brother living carrying on the trade of watch and clock maker. The brother, it would appear, had a fancy for rabbits, and this, unfortunately, led the defendant into his present dilemma; for on the evening of the 23rd inst., having assisted his brother to carry home a clock to a neighbouring farmer's, it occurred to the brother, as they were passing Mr. Page's turnip field that a few turnips would be relished by the rabbits. They without more ado filled a clothes basket with the esculent favoured by a rabbit tribe; but before they could convey it home, they were met by constable Hasmore, whose suspicions were excited. The defendant was taken into custody in consequence; but the brother ran away, and had not up to that time been heard of.

James Hasmore, Kent county constable, said that on the evening of the 23rd, he was near Barham Church when he saw the defendant and his brother carrying between them a basket full of turnips. He asked them where they had got them, when the brother said he had been to carry home a clock to Denne Hill Farm, and had had permission to bring back a basket full of turnips. Their conduct excited his suspicions he detained the turnips to make enquiries respecting them, which he did on the following morning, when he discovered that they had been taken from a field belonging to Mr. Page. He then took the defendant into custody; but on going to look for the brother he found he had disappeared. When he apprehended the defendant he told him he did so for stealing some turnips, when defendant begged him not to press the charge.

Bt defendant - I am positive you were assisting your brother to carry the basket containing the turnips when I met you on Friday evening.

Joshua Page, farmer, living at Barham - On the evening of the 23rd, at about half-past seven, the defendant and his brother came to me at my house, saying that the police had taken some turnips from them, and wished me to tell the police I had given them permission to take them. I told them I could do no such thing, because I had given the police strict orders to look to my turnips, having lost a great many. I told them, however, that if they went to the police and they chose to overlook it I had no objection. At that time I was not aware of the number they had stolen. From what they said I gathered that they had taken only from half a dozen to a dozen, or a dozen and a half, but finding, on the following morning, that the basket taken from the defendant contained a great number, I went to the spot at which the defendant and his brother were apprehended, and between that and my field I picket up here and there a turnip to the number of eleven, corresponding exactly with those in the basket. The turnips are a peculiar sort, viz., red rind and green rind mixed together and I should think you would not find such another sort in this country - certainly not in the parish of Barham. I traced the turnips along to a spot in my field where a number of turnips had been freshly pulled. The turnips produced resemble mine exactly, and I have no doubt they were taken from my field. The lowest value I can put on the sixty is 1s.

In reply to enquiries from the Bench, Mr. Page said he believed from what he had heard that the defendant was a very respectable young man, and had filled good situations in London. He had come to Barham for the purpose of opening a draper's shop, he believed. He, (Mr. Page) thought that he had thoughtlessly allowed himself to be led into the scrape by his brother.

The defendant, in reply to the charge, said that he was asked by his brother to assist him in carrying home a clock to Denne Hill Farm, the evening in question, and that on their return his brother proposed they should "get a turnip or two" for his rabbits. He admitted helping his brother to pull up the turnips and to carry home the basket.

Dr. Astley fined him 5s., 1s., the value of the turnips, and costs 9s.; in all 15s. In default of payment he would go to prison for fourteen days. The worthy Magistrate remarked that it was very disgraceful for a young man in the defendant's position to go and pillage the field of his neighbour, and he should have thought better of him had he when taxed by the policeman, at once acknowledged what he had done instead of endeavouring to cover the theft with a lie.

Defendant said he would pay the money if allowed to return to Barham in charge of the constable.

The Magistrates said that if the constable liked to become responsible for the payment of the fine he might, but the defendant could be suffered to depart on no other understanding.

The constable declined, and committal appeared the only alternative, when the prosecutor stepped forward and said he would pay the fine on defendant's behalf reiterating what he had previously said as to his good opinion of the defendant, and his belief that he had been led into his present dilemma by his brother.

The Magistrate remarked that whatever influence the defendant's brother might have had over him, defendant himself must have known that he had no right to assist in carrying off a clothes basket full of another person's turnips. The prosecutor was certainly behaving very kindly to him and he trusted that, although he was now escaping easily, what had transpired would be a lesson to him for the future.

THE TURNIP STEALING BY TRADESMEN

James Pollard, a clock-maker carrying on business at Barham, and the brother of the young man fined on Monday, was brought up charged with stealing a quantity of turnips from a field belonging to Mr. Josiah Page, inn-keeper, of Barham.

The evidence is the same as that given on Monday, and after some severe animadversions by the Magistrate on the nature of the offence and the position of the parties committing it, the defendant was fined 10s. and the costs, which he paid.

From the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser, 21 December, 1861. Price 1 1/2d.

A CHILD BURNT TO DEATH AT BARHAM.

On Saturday last, T. T. Delasaux, Esq., the county coroner, held an inquest at the Wooodman’s Arms,” in this parish touching the death of Matilda Maytum, aged four years. The following was the evidence:- Jane Kennett said. On Saturday, the 30th ult., I heard a child cry in consequence I went to the back of the premises occupied by the father of the deceased. I saw the deceased child in flames and extinguished them. There were only two children at home at the time, the deceased, and a younger one, the mother having gone down the street, and the father being from home. There was a fire in the room in which the children had been left.

Mr. Charles Long, surgeon, deposed that he was called to attend the deceased about three o’clock in the afternoon of the 30th ult. She was suffering from the effects of burning on the chest and arms. He continued to attend the deceased until she died on the Wednesday from the effects of the burning.

Verdict, “Accidental death.”

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 2 January, 1885.

DISORDERLY HOUSE

Josiah Page, an old man, was summoned for allowing drunkenness and riotous conduct upon his premises, The “Woodman's Arms,” Barham.

Mr. Mercer, of Canterbury, appeared for the defendant.

It appeared from the evidence that the house had been watched a good deal lately, as it was stated that the house had not been kept in the orderly way it used to be. Defendant had the house from his father, and had occupied it 40 years.

The magistrates took a lenient view of the case and fined defendant 10s. and 13s. costs.

From the Dover Express, Friday 16 October, 1903.

The Woodman’s Arms, Barham, was temporarily transferred from Jesse Wise to Percy Death.

In 1923 the pub was valued at £365 and by 1934 this had been increased to £1,300.

Water was laid on in 1929 at a cost of £8/9/-.

Dover Express 4th May 1945.

Wingham Sessions.

The licensee of the “Woodman’s Arms”, Barham was granted an occasional licence for Victory celebrations on the field opposite Barham school from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the day following VE Day.

During WWII there are indications that the two large bedrooms were utilised by ENSA with the room between being used as a dressing room. Both bedrooms contained a large number of wooden pegs 6 to 8 inches long on which to hang heavy or wet clothing.

The demise of the Woodman was unique as on 11th March 1960 Mrs. Rose Murphy, an ex-licensee, objected to the renewal on the basis that The Sportsman's Arms was only two doors away and it was unfair to take a man's money for a pub that could not provide a living. She had only survived by also taking on catering and the kitchen was used to store casks of beer for no rent, rates or licence duty.

Official visits showed that the greatest number of customers at any one time was 10 and the average during the day was 2.27 and in the evenings 3.75.

The pub and adjoining cottage were purchased by a Mr. C. A. Lindridge for £2,250 on the 13th January 1961 and the pub closed at the end of August. The property was then converted to a private residence within which a bed and breakfast business was established.

From 1898 to 1925 it was under the ownership of Bushell, Watkins and Smith, brewery from Cudham in Kent. From 1925 to 1931, Jude Hanbury. Mackeson held ownership from 1931, eventually being bought out to Whitbread until it's closure in 1961. 1953 saw it mentioned as a beerhouse when a wine licence was granted, the address given by the Dover Express was then Bridge.

LICENSEE LIST

PAGE Josiah 1845-1886+ (also farmer age 67 in 1881)