DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Thursday, 29 April, 2021.
PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest ????

 Elm Tree

Closed 2018

Mile Oak Road

Paddock Wood

https://whatpub.com/elm-tree

Elm Tree 1950

Above postcard, circa 1950, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.
Elm Tree 2014 Elm Tree 2014 Elm Tree sign 2014

Above photos taken by Paul Skelton, 11 April, 2014.

 

I have just added this pub to that list but your help is definitely needed regarding it's history.

As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will be shown here.

Thanks for your co-operation.

 

Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 6 October 1972.

Landlady retires from pint pulling.

Florrie Hope 1972

Mrs. P. Wenham (right) presents a retirement gift on behalf of the customers to Mrs. Florrie Hope, landlady at the "Elm Tree," Paddock Wood.

MRS. FLORENCE HOPE is pulling her last pints for her regulars before she retires on Tuesday as manageress of the "Elm Tree Inn" at Church Road, Paddock Wood.

During a farewell party on Thursday of last week Mrs. Hope was given a ring, pendant and compact by her customers.

Mrs, Hope, and her husband Bernard, a railwayman who died two years ago, came to the Inn in 1949 with their son and daughter. Both children now have families of their own. Colin is under manager at Knockholt railway station and the daughter, Mrs. Molly Thompson, lives at Lincoln.

A native of Paddock Wood, Mr. Hope was the registered licensee and served at the inn after his railway shifts.

Mrs. Hope is moving to 32 Ringden Avenue, Paddock Wood.

She said: "I was born in Gillingham and when I was 16 I came to Paddock Wood to work in the "Railway Hotel," which is now the "Hop Pocket." My father-in-law took, the "Elm Tree" in 1939 and I helped in the bar.

I will certainly be sorry to leave the customers. This is a very friendly inn — a home from home. There have been big celebrations at the inn, such as wedding and engagement parties.

"Since I have been running the pub I have not had time to garden and I am not sure whether I will be able to do so at my new home.

 

From an email received 2 October 2018.

Hi,

My Grand parents were tenants through the late 1950's and 60's, and their parents before that.  Their surname was Hope.

I remember hop picking time. The pub was packed.

There was no car park then,  just an old veggie garden that my Nan used to keep.

As kids we used to stay there in the holidays and play around the old pub and up the lanes.

My parents would run the pub for a couple of weeks while Nan and Pop had a break in Guernsey.

I live in Australia now but visited the a Elm Tree a few years ago. It's changed. It used to have 2 separate bars, lounge and public. The beer was gravity fed from the barrels. The below ground cellar was always flooding and Pop used to get the fire brigade to pump it out..!!!

They never cooked or sold meals meals, just crisps, pickled eggs and onions, peanuts, chocolate bars.

The kitchen and living room was out the back and bedrooms upstairs.

Regards,

Colin Thompson.

 

The pub is currently closed (October 2018) and is up "To Let."

 

LICENSEE LIST

JUDD John 1881+ (age 48 in 1881Census)

JUDD Alfred E 1901+ (youngest son age 22 in 1901Census)

HOPE Jabez William 1939-50

HOPE George Bernard (son) 1950-69

HOPE Florence (widow) 1969-Oct/72

https://whatpub.com/elm-tree-paddock-wood

 

CensusCensus

 

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