Albion Dray at Whitbread Phoenix Brewery, Wateringbury, Kent

An Albion Dray at  Whitbread Phoenix Brewery, Wateringbury, Kent.
The building in the background may be my home in the 1950's

Matchbox Top of The Duke Without a Head Pub

 From a box of matches that would have been a free item that people would have collected and still do. 

Cyclists outside The Queens Head - Wateringbury - 1910

 

Jude and Co - Shive Hole Collar

Ruth and Terry kindly sent us a photo of what looks like a Shive Hole Collar from Jude and Co the Brewer of Wateringbury.

(Dale kindly advises that it’s spelt Shive and dated around 1872

from Jude & Co Brewery which was The Kent’s Brewery situated just below the South East corner of the Crossroads. Where Hanbury Close now stands) 

The Collar was used in a Beer Barrel where the Bung is fitted and the Tap then goes.

It was found in a field in Wateringbury.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shive

Customers of The Phoenix Pub on Red Hill Wateringbury

 

Photograph courtesy of Dail Whiting from her private collection 

 

Dail writes: I have just read your blog and noticed an email from Maria, the granddaughter of Bill Sharpe, and thought this photo might be of interest as Bill is in the photograph.

The photo was taken outside the Phoenix pub on Red Hill.

The man standing in the doorway on the right is John Weeks. The teenage girl is Brenda Adams formerly Brenda Baker. Brenda's father might be the man on her right (looking at the photo) Freddy Baker. Sitting on the step on the far right is Bill Sharpe the local chimney sweep and other odd jobs man.
Additionally I believe the man behind Brenda is Cyril Hammond and the man next to Bill second from the right, front row is Freddy Mace.

Can we fill in some names ?

The Dog was called Nelly

The North Pole Inn

Thanks to Brad Waters from Australia who sent some family photos from around 1956 when his Grandfather Ian and Grandmother Vee Waters were landlord and landlady of The North Pole Inn.

The photos show his grandparents and locals in the bar and a great photo of a fancy dress ball held in the bar.

I thank Paul Skelton of 'Dover Kent Archives'  website for putting us in touch.

 http://www.dover-kent.com/2014-project/North-Pole-Wateringbury.html

Hoppers by Dail Whiting

 Hoppers - Another great publication by Dail Whiting.

 

The Mills Wateringbury

 

Postcard - The Mills Wateringbury.

We already had a copy of this postcard but not as good quality as this. 

With the Brewery in the background this is taken from the area where the Warden Mill House now stands.

Whitbreads Brewery Children's Christmas Party early 1960's

Peter Tompsett kindly sent us this photo taken at the Whitbreads Brewery Children's Christmas Party early 1960's 

Peter has included some names.

The faces I remember are:

At the back: Andrew Hubbard (napkin tucked in collar)

Right Hand side: 

Me-Peter Tompsett (leaning forward making sure I'm in photo!).

Next to me looking away Trevor Brown (elbow on table)

Next but one is Adrian Streeter (I think) 

Then Yvonne Baker.

Not sure of the other ones

 

The Telegraph - Wateringbury - Landlord Bill Green - Business Card

I had my first half of bitter from this pub at a young age in the late 1960’s

Bill Green was the landlord and he always said the only way he was leaving the pub was to be carried out in his coffin, and that is how he left. 

Tonbridge Road - The Queens Head and Newsagent/Tobacconist

 Photo Courtesy of Jo Longhurst

A great quality Postcard of the Tonbridge Road featuring The Queens Head when it was run by H Martin which dates it 1901 - 1913+  as that was when Henry Martin and then his family were the licensee. Also shows the Newsagent / Tobacconist which was later run by Mr Bolt.

Lovely and peaceful with no fear of walking in the road.

The Phoenix Public House

Photo Courtesy of Paul Skelton and the website Dover- Kent Archives

http://www.dover-kent.com/2014-project/Phoenix-Wateringbury.html

The Harrow Inn Public House

Photo Courtesy of Paul Skelton and the website Dover- Kent Archives

http://www.dover-kent.com/2014-project/Harrow-Inn-Wateringbury.html

Whitbread's Brewery 1972

Greetings from Wateringbury - Post Card

The Duke Without A Head

A Postcard date stamped December 1955

Obituary

"Keith Harden, a nephew of the deceased, is sad to pass the news that Betty Taylor (nee Kirby) passed away earlier this month.  Betty was born in The Fir Tree public house in Canon Lane, Wateringbury, the younger daughter of Edward and Gladys Kirby, in April 1925. Gladys Kirby was formerly of the Martin family, a very well known family in the area.   Although Betty left Wateringbury on marriage just after the end of World War II, she never forgot her roots and maintained written contact with ex-school friends and neighbours until the day she died; there are probably people still living in the area who knew her or knew of her.  Her memory was as prodigious as her letter writing and her notes of her early life are probably worthy of an article in themselves at sometime in the future.  Her last year in Hull was particularly sad because her two sons, Michael and John, predeceased their mother and her niece Wendy, daughter of older half-sister Joan, also died.  She is survived by her daughter Patricia."

--<>--

Whitbreads Brewery - Bow Road Wateringbury

The Railway - Wateringbury 1910

A great photo from 1910 which I assume would be Hopping Time as there seems too many people around for any other time of year and there were Hopper Huts on the riverbank around this time. Amazing to think so much fun outside the Railway pub and looks like even The Telegraph pub a few yards up the road with no traffic on the road. This photo is available to purchase from Fotolibra.

Click on the photo to go to Fotolibra website.
or click below: 

http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/960189/near-wateringbury-rail-station-c1910/?search_hash=5825780926b8c266609a2604e4738f01&search_offset=0&search_limit=100&search_sort_by=

Reader Message

 A Message from Nick Bond

It's been a while since I visited your website.
The photo of the Mill Pond & Old Mill House reminded me that on a recent visit to Wateringbury I met a lady who told me that the house where we lived between 1953-1959 (Mill Lane House) was owned by the owner of Wateringbury Brewery and was where he kept his horses and the stables which we used as a double garage was where they were kept.  I never knew this until now but remembering the size of the garage, it makes sense.     Apparently, he lived in Old Mill House.  However, when we lived in Mill Lane House, Old Mill House was occupied by Canon Key.
The mill pond shown in the picture was where my sister nearly drowned.  Luckily, the friends we were with pulled her out completely soaked and covered in dripping weeds.  I'll never forget it!
Just some snippets of information for you.
I went to Wateringbury school from '54-59 and it would be wonderful to see a class photo from that time.  Does anyone out there have one?  Unfortunately, I don't.

Thanks and best regards,

Nick Bond

Dail has kindly replied as follows:-

Regarding the message on your board relating to Mill Lane House and the “Old Mill House”.
The large house on the south side of the Upper Mill Pond now known as Broomsdown  was originally called Maylodge.  In  the late 19th century it was the home of Richard Fremlin, a younger brother of Ralph Fremlin who in 1861 founded the brewery in Maidstone which bore the Fremlin name. Though at a later date Richard joined his brother’s business in Maidstone, he remained a Wateringbury resident and was primarily a Wateringbury hop grower at Mill Farm until his death in 1916.
Mill Lane House and stables belonged to the Fremlin’s of Maidstone brewery fame , not one  of the two Wateringbury Brewers who were Jude Hanbury & Co and Frederick Leney and Sons.
You may remember John, the horse that belonged to the Phoenix brewery on Bow Road used to graze where The Brucks now stands. His stable was adjoined to the cottages aptly called Stable Cottage where I believe your relatives  lived.  Now pulled down,  the old stable and cottage use to stand at the top of the entrance to the Phoenix brewery yard. now Leney Road.
Regards
Dail