DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Maidstone, December, 2023.

Page Updated Maidstone:- Sunday, 10 December, 2023.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1650-

Castle Hotel

Latest 1961

6-8 (4) Week Street

Maidstone

Castle Hotel

Above photo, date unknown.

Castle Hotel

Above photo, date unknown, but the Victoria statue was erected in 1862.

Castle

Above postcard, date unknown, by kind permission http://www.kentphotoarchive.com.

Above photo, date unknown, showing the "Castle" next to Haynes on the right, and the "Red Lion" on the left.

Castle 1962

Above photo circa 1962.

Castle

Above photo, date unknown, by kind permission of Erik Hartland.

Castle

Coloured copy of above photo.

Former Castle location 2008

Above photo showing same location, August 2008, by kind permission of Erik Hartland.

 

Kentish Gazette, 7 October, 1780.

DEATH.

Monday last died at Gabriels Hill, Maidstone, Mrs. Chittenden, wife of Mr. Chittenden.

Same day died, Mrs. Fowler, wife of Mr. Fowler, Master of the "Castle Inn," Maidstone.

 

Kentish Gazette 24 September 1802.

Tuesday night died Mrs. Jewry, wife of Mr. Jewry, at the "Castle Inn," Maidstone.

 

Kentish Gazette, 13 July, 1804.

Saturday morning died, after a long illness, Mr. Edward Jury of the "Castle Inn," Maidstone.

 

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 6 October 1835.

John Gorham, "Castle Inn," Week Street, Maidstone, (Late M. French) respectfully informed his friends, and the public generally, that he has taken the above Inn, which is fitted up with excellent beds, and every accommodation; hoping, by strict attention to business, to merit the support of his friends in general.

Good Wines and Spirits. Good Stall Stabling.

 

Kentish Gazette, 23 April 1844.

DEATH.

April 10, aged 17, George Frederick, third son of Mr. Norburn, of the "Castle Inn," Maidstone.

 

From the Kentish Gazette, 25 November 1845.

DEATH.

Norburn:— Nov. 13, of apoplexy, aged 58, Mr. Joseph Norburn, of the "Castle Inn," Maidstone.

 

From the Kentish Gazette, 5 May 1846.

On Friday night the anniversary dinner of the victuallers of Maidstone was held at the house of mine host, Stonham, the "Sun Inn." The company consisted of a large majority of the licensed victuallers of Maidstone. Mr. Chas. Hibble, agent of the united towns, was also present. Mr. William Hickmott, of the "Castle Inn," occupied the chair, and well sustained the proceedings of the evening.

 

Kentish Gazette, 24 September 1850.

Hop dinner.

On Wednesday week the annual hop dinner took place at the "Castle Inn," at which a good company assembled. The sweepstake for the last year was won by Mr. Vigor, of Folkestone. The net for the present year ranged from £180,000 to £230,000. The average betting was in favour of £210,000.

 

Kentish Gazette, 9 December 1851.

DEATH

Johnson:— Nov. 29, at the "Castle Inn," Week-street, Maidstone Mr. Hubert Johnson, aged 30 years.

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 18 February, 1860.

James Rogerson, a wooden-leg man, 20, was charged with stealing a cheese, value 7s. 4d. from the “Castle Inn,” Week Street, the property of Mr. Biggs.

Thomas Abnett deposed that on the previous evening, about a quarter before seven o'clock, he saw the prisoner come out of the “Castle Inn” gateway with the cheese under his arm, and go down Gabriel's Hill, where he was taken into custody by a police constable.

Sarah Baker, barmaid, at the “Castle Inn,” deposed that she placed the cheese now produced in the larder at about half-past six o'clock on the previous evening, and missed it soon afterwards.

P.C. Baker said that on the evening in question he saw the prisoner come from the direction of the “Castle Inn,” and go down Gabriel's Hill with a cheese under his arm, and on questioning him as to how he became in possession of it, the prisoner said he had picked it up a short distance from where they were standing. Witness, however, did not believe his statement, and took him into custody. He afterward found that a cheese had been stolen from the “Castle Inn.”

Committed for trial.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 21 February, 1860.

Stealing a Cheese.

On Wednesday, before E. Cooper, Esq., James Rogerson, aged 20, was charged with stealing a cheese, value 7s. 4d., the property of Mr. J. C. Briggs, landlord of the "Castle Inn," Week-street.

On Wednesday morning the prisoner was released from gaol, after undergoing six weeks’ imprisonment for a robbery at Gillingham, and very shortly after he was seen to come out of the "Castle" gate-way with a cheese under his arm, and go down Gabriel’s-hill.

Police-constable Baker, who was standing at the top of High-street, followed after him, and asked him where he got it, when he said he had picked it up in Week-street. The constable, however, took him into custody.

Committed to the Assizes.

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 25 February 1860. Price 1d.

ANCIENT ORDER OF THE DRUIDS.

This ancient order held its usual weekly meeting at the “Castle Inn,” Week Street, on Tuesday evening last, when six non-commissioned officers were initiated into the mysteries of Druidism, in the presence of about 60 brothers; much goodwill and brotherly feeling seem to exist with the new made brothers, and harmony was kept up till a late hour. We understand it is intended to open a new lodge at the “Ancient Druid's Inn,” on Thursday evening next, which will doubtless be well attended.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 20 March, 1860.

Stealing a Cheese at Maidstone.

James Rogerson was charged with stealing a cheese, the property of Mr. J. C. Briggs, landlord of the "Castle Inn," Week-street, Maidstone, on the 16th February last.

The prisoner was seen to come from the "Castle" gateway with the cheese under his arm. He was noticed by P.C. Baker going down Gabriel's-hill, and the constable stopped him, and taxed him with stealing the cheese, when he said he had picked it up in Week-street. The constable, however, took him into custody.

Prisoner said he had been discharged from gaol on the above day, and having 40 miles to go, with a wooden leg, and not even a shirt to his back, he had been induced to take the cheese.

He was found guilty, and a previous conviction was proved against him.

Sentence was deferred till Friday morning, when His Lordship said he had been induced to make enquiries into this case, and he regretted to say that those enquiries had resulted vary unfavourably for the prisoner. He found that he had committed the present offence on the very day had been released from prison; that in 1859 he was convicted of a felony in London, and sentenced to three months’ hard labour, and that there was a conviction against him even before that. Under these circumstances he believed it would not only be of advantage to the public, but to prisoner himself, that he should be kept in penal servitude for three years.

Prisoner:— Thank you, my lord.

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 23 February 1861.

(To the editor of the Maidstone Telegraph.)

Sir, Seeing a widespread notice of a Reform Meeting to be held at the "Castle Inn," last evening, I felt pleased there was some means of hearing what your townsmen thought about for the reform question, &c. I accordingly walked into the room, found it well filled and a general business appearance about the chairman. I sat down and listened for 2 hours to some very good remarks, but entirely of a local nature. I waited, hoping after this surely some mention would be made of the Reform question. However, thanks were voted to the chairman, &c,. and I came away with the conclusion that the reform is made a fool of by Government, by the House of Commons, and now, by that body of men whoever they might be who called the meeting. Being comparatively a stranger I did not feel it advisable to intrude my views before them; but knowing well the feelings of a great mass of our industrial classes, how bitterly disappointed they are at all deceit of all the governing classes, I do most earnestly seek some way whereby they might give expression to their own views up on the Reform question. I would urge you with all the influence you possess, to obtain a public meeting, where every man might speak his own opinion. Other terms are doing this, why not Maidstone? Let us have a fair field and no underhand secretly prepared resolutions, but plane outspoken intelligence of any and every man, and a petition framed in accordance with those expressions forwarded to our M.P.s for presentation, and instruction to them to support the prayer of such petition.

I yield to no man in admiration of many of the present administration members and acts, particularly its foreign policy, but I can never cease to force that measure before them by which they obtained their present position. A Reform Bill we must have. Why Lord Derby himself will give us a Reform Bill and many of us thought then, and are convinced now, it would have been wise to have accepted this.

I am, yours truly, C Snugs. 5, Cambridge Square, Maidstone, February 21, 1861.

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 22 June 1861.

True Liberality.

On Monday last J. Whatman, Esq., granted the use of a portion of his park at Vinters to Lodge 81 of the Andulucian Order of Druids, held at the "Castle Inn," Maidstone, to commemorate the anniversary and kindly permitted the members, with their friends, to view his splendid gardens on the production of a steward's tickets. 

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 26 October 1861.

King Street Ward.

A meeting of the Inhabitants of this ward was held at the "Castle Inn," Week Street, on Thursday evening, for the purpose of nominating two burgesses to serve in the common Council. The chair was taken at 9 o'clock by Mr. Clayton. Mr. Dye moved and Mr. Ford seconded the nomination of Messrs. Allwork and Edmett, the out-going members, which was carried without opposition. The members having returned thanks, with a few remarks from Messrs. Leney, Goodwin, Nicolson, Forrest, and Puttock, and a vote of thanks to the chair, the affair was brought to a quiet conclusion.

 

The pub was present in 1650 and was situated opposite the "Red Lion" on the east side of Week Street and was the meeting place of the Jacobins. However, that may not have been the original building as the deeds of this one can only be traced back to 1746. It also exists in the song, "The Maidstone Landlords" in 1798.

Fremlins bought the premises in 1929 and the proprietor at that time was a Major J. Outton who was a boxing enthusiast, and kept a selection of signed boxing photographs in the saloon bar.

The pub closed in 1961.

 

LICENSEE LIST

FOWLER Mr 1780+

JEWRY/JURY Edward 1802-July/04 dec'd

FRENCH Charles 1826-30+ Pigot's Directory 1828-29

FRENCH Mary 1832+ Pigot's Directory 1832-34

GORMAN John 1835+

NORBURN Joseph 1840-13/Nov/45 dec'd age 58

HICKMOTT William 1846-55+ (age 43 in 1851Census)

BRIGGS John C 1860-July/1861+ (widower age 45 in 1861Census) Maidstone Telegraph

HUBBARD Stephen July/1861-62+ Maidstone Telegraph

PRICE Stephen 1867+

COX William 1871+ (age 37 in 1871Census)

CHAMBERS Alfred 1874+

ISON Henry 1881+ (age 55 in 1881Census)

BOOZER William 1882+

McVAR Robert 1891+

GILBERT William 1901+ (age 40 in 1901Census)

POOLEY Wilson Harry 1903-22+ (age 49 in 1911Census) Kelly's 1903

Last pub licensee had OUTTEN Major James Henry 1929-43

BAXTER John Courtney (son-in-law of above)1943-61

https://pubwiki.co.uk/Castle.shtml

 

Pigot's Directory 1828-29From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29

Pigot's Directory 1832-34From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

CensusCensus

Maidstone TelegraphMaidstone Telegraph

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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