FOX AND HOUNDS Pub of Northfleet

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Northfleet, July, 2023.

Page Updated:- Sunday, 02 July, 2023.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1839

Fox and Hounds

Closed 2002

27 London Road

Rosherville

Northfleet

Above photo circa 1915.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photos, date unknown. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above Google image May 2018.

Above sign, September 1992.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Local knowledge, further pictures, and licensee information would be appreciated.

I will be adding the historical information when I find or are sent it, but this project is a very big one, and I do not know when or where the information will come from.

All emails are answered.

Further information received from Lyn Scowl tells me the pub used to be Trumens during the time her parents were there between 1978 and 1984, but also that the pub was closed and pulled down a few years ago and to date (2014) no building work has taken place on the empty site.

From the Kentish Gazette, 16 April 1839.

On Wednesday an inquest was held at Northfleet, on the body of Joseph Woodoom, pot boy at the "Fox and Hounds, public-house, who was found dead at the bottom of a draw well, on the premises, on Sunday morning. From the evidence of Ellen Shewsmith, the barmaid, it appeared that the deceased had been in the service of Mr. Nestend, landlord of the "Fox and Hounds," only three weeks. He did not sleep in the house, but his first duty when he came in the morning, was to take the kettles to the well and fill them. Accordingly on Sunday morning came about a quarter before seven o'clock, and went to the well with the kettle. Finding that he had been unusually long, she spoke to a man named Harrison, who went to the well, round which he saw the kettles, but Woodman was not there. Harrison stated that he pulled up the buckets which brought up the cap of the deceased. The landlord was immediately alarmed. A man was sent down soon as possible, and by him the deceased was found below quite dead. The well was 75 feet deep, but there was but three feet of water. The skull of the deceased as battered by the fall that he must have died immediately. The deceased was sober and cheerful a moment before the dreadful occurrence.

Verdict, "Accidental Death."

From the Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser, Saturday 10 July 1897.

Assault on his employer.

William Dadson, potman, was summoned at the Rochester County Police Court, on Friday, for assaulting George Ware, on the 28th June.

Complainant is landlord of the "Fox and Hounds" public house, Northfleet, and he employed defendant. On the day in question witness returned home from a drive with Mr. Burrell, when his wife informed him that defendant had been abusive to her.

Complainant thereupon started to put the horse away himself, when defendant struck Mr. Burrell and also came for him.

Complainant received several blows from defendant.

William Reginald Burrell corroborated.

Defendant said he was struck first.

Fined 15s. and 8s. 6d. costs, in default, 14 days hard labour.

From an email received 30 April 2021.

Emma Harriett Watson (1866 - 1942) married Frederick George Ware (1863 - 1900) in 1891.

Her father was James Watson of the "Welcome All" in Stone.

She is the wife mentioned in the 1897 newspaper report.

In 1904 she married Albert Augustus Aston Whiffen (1873 - 1920). She is the licensee E H Whiffen shown on the building in the photograph.

Albert Whiffen is shown as the Licensee in the photograph of the "Eagle Tavern," Gravesend.

Hope this is useful.

Alan Bassett.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Langridge, 02 July 2023.

Former Fox and Hounds pub in London Road, Northfleet, to become flats.

Plans to build two blocks of flats on the site of a former pub have been given the green light – for a third time.

The Fox and Hounds had served a steady flow of punters for decades at the end of what has now been dubbed the “last working class street” in Northfleet.

It was thought to have been demolished in 2007 after planning permission was granted to build numerous apartment blocks on the plot sat on the corner of Rural Vale and London Road.

However, despite this the development never materialised and a further application was subsequently approved but again did not go ahead.

In April, proposals to erect a four-storey and two-storey block of apartments were re-submitted to Gravesham council and have now been given the go-ahead by officers.

The major development will see four, two-bedroom and nine, one-bedroom flats built, with 13 parking spaces, amenity space, new vehicle access onto adjoining Rural Vale, and waste storage.

In their decision report, council officers said the 13 flats would offer a “minimal but important contribution” towards the borough’s housing need.

They added: “Overall, having fully considered the impact on surrounding properties it is concluded that the proposed massing of the development will not have an adverse impact on the surrounding properties to warrant a refusal or request a reduction in the development.”

It was approved by officers subject to planning conditions and the signing of a section 106 agreement.

Applicant Mr Singh, of Super Asset Management Ltd, has since agreed to the council’s requests.

What the building could look like. Picture: Barron Edwards Sterling.

Historian Christoph Bull said The Fox and Hounds appeared in the street directories from 1843 and would have originally served Rural Vale before later covering the area of Rosherville.

He believed the pub closed in 2002 and by December 2007 had been demolished.

Mr Bull added: “I was furious with this stupid and pointless demolition as Rural Vale was the last working class street in Northfleet, complete with a pub at the end of it.”

The site has been vacant since with blue hoardings erected around it.

LICENSEE LIST

NESTEND Mr 1839+

ISTED James 1841+ (age 30 in 1841)