Navy Arms

Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by Michael Mirams.

Above photo 1925, showing the darts team, man sitting at the front is believed to be the landlord Walter Houghton.

From a local paper, 1925.

£350 in Treasury Notes, Said to have been Burnt.

A Share-out Postponed.

The Sittingbourne Fire Brigade were called at about 3.30 on Wednesday afternoon to a fire at the "Navy Arms," Frith Street, Sittingbourne, which is kept by Mr. Walter Houghton.

The fire broke out in a cupboard in the front bedroom, but neighbours, with the aid of pails of water, put it out by the time the Brigade arrived. The Brigade had been summoned as the house itself was in jeopardy.

Mr. Houghton said the money was in Treasury notes and he could only account for the fire by the probability of some ashes from his pint pipe dropping unseen amongst the notes. When he went to investigate the cause of smoke that was issuing from the cupboard, everything was reduced to tinder.

A costume belonging to Mrs. Houghton, some photographs, and other articles, which were in the cupboard, were so burnt as to be useless. The charred remains were lying in the yard. Mr. Houghton said he was insured.

No meeting of the Share-out club has as yet been held to make arrangements that will satisfy the disappointed members.