The Telegraph Public House - Alterations

Following on from the two photographs of The Telegraph Pub, Dail has kindly sent some very rare and interesting detail of alterations to the Telegraph back in the very early 1900's. 

The one small thing I remember about the pub, where I experienced my very first half pint of mild back in the very early 1960's, was the penny machine that was on the wall in the bar, It was in the Public Bar to the right of the serving area as seen on the bottom drawing. The closest you got to a win was your Penny back! It was similar to this.

This is what Dail Kindly wrote:-

I thought while you have a newly posted picture of the old Telegraph pub that once stood on Bow Road, I would send you the attached plans. I’m sure there are some, including yourself, who have a certain fondness for this old pub. Though I don’t find the façade particularly attractive, I do find the plans of interest, as I’m sure you will too.

There was a building already on the site of the old Telegraph pub a good number of years before it was extended. The Telegraph Inn was formerly a beer shop acquired by John Beal Jude (of the Kent Brewery) in around 1870. The appearance of the building was significantly altered in 1903, by which time it was in the hands of Jude Hanbury & Co.

Referring to the shaded parts of the first plan, a new bar was added on the south side, along with a central bay and a shop front, each with an ornate façade. In 1939, when the pub had been taken over by Frederick Leney & Sons Ltd, the inside was refurbished as shown in the second plan. The inside was again altered by Leney in 1951, as shown in the third plan.

Hope this is of interest
Regards,
Dail

Words and Drawings courtesy of Dail Whiting

The Telegraph Public House

Lionel kindly sent this Photo of The Telegraph.

My father Lionel Brotherwood had this photo of the Telegraph pub in his possession.
It was taken from his house in Bow road. Looking closely at the roofs of the houses there are no TV aerials, unlike the flood picture from 1968. So we estimate it as being late 1950's. 

It's a shame there are no vehicles in the shot.

Photo and Words Courtest of Colin Brotherwood

Ray left a note on the message board that prompted such an interesting answer form Dail, that I though it would be good to share it with a wider audience.

Ray Wrote:-

First email:

I live at Teston and have a collection of Wateringbury souvenir crested china dating from the late 19th/early 20th century, many items of which are stamped on the base with the name of M Harris, Stationer. I suspect that this souvenir ware was largely sold to the hop pickers coming down to Wateringbury and the surrounding area from London.

I have been told that Harris’s shop was where the newsagent shop in Bow Rd is now situated and that the blocked up door on the side of the present shop was the original shop door.
Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate any pictures of Harris’s shop. Having just seen your website, I was wondering if you have any in your collection? If so, would it be possible to purchase a copy from you please?
 

Second email:

Thanks for the info. The Harris family appears to have been in business in Wateringbury for many years. I have found two references in old trade directories, which seem to relate to earlier members of the family:

Melville & Co Directory 1858 lists John  Harris -  Saddle and Harness Maker
Kellys Directory 1891 lists Mrs Sarah Ann Harris -  Harness Maker & Stationer

I am still researching old trade directories so will hopefully be able to follow the family line further.

Please feel free to post my mail on the message board with a note that I am always on the look out for additional items of Wateringbury crested china to add to the collection.

Regards
Ray

Dail then kindly responded as follows:-

In response to Ray Wilkinson’s enquiry on the message board relating to his collection of Wateringbury souvenirs sold by M Harris. Stationer.
 
During the 19th century there were several families with the name Harris living in Wateringbury, a good number of whom were proprietors of local businesses which included the Kings Head, two butchers’ shops, and a stationer’s.
The stationer’s shop is now the hairdressers called ‘Hair Traditional’, situated at the top of Bow Road. A picture of this shop (bearing the name Saunders) is on this website imbedded in the section entitled ‘The Boorman Family’ (also shown below).
 
Towards the late 19th century the stationer’s was run by Sarah Anne Harris, the widow of John Harris. John and Sarah Anne had at least nine children, all born in Wateringbury, the eighth of whom was called Minnie, born in 1867. It was Minnie who eventually took over her mother’s shop in about 1907, following her mother’s death. Minnie never married and died a spinster in about 1947. I would suggest that Ray’s china souvenir collection would date from 1907 to the 1940’s.
 
Hope this is helpful.
 
Regards.
Dail Whiting.

River Medway at Wateringbury