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113 Station Road
Rainham
https://whatpub.com/railway
Above photo 1900. |
Above photo date unknown. |
Above photo pre 2012. Picture: John Westhrop.
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Above photo, 21 August 2015, kindly sent by Peter Checksfield. |
Above photo 2019. |
Above photo, 2021, kindly sent by Maggie Francis. |
Abbove plaque says the following:- THE RAILWAY. Rainham railway station
opened on 25 January 1858. The railway's arival changed the
centuries-old village of Rainham for ever. By the early 1880s, a
'temperance hotel' had been built alongside the station. The land
opposite the hotel was known as Mr. Bruce's meadow, where cows grazed
and village events were held. Around the turn of the 20th century, the
meadow was developed. By then, the temperance hotel had become The
Railway Hotel. In the early 1900s, it was run by Stephen Mitchell,
living in the hotel with his wife and family. Over the years, this
popular public house became known simply as The Railway. These premises
were refurbished by J D Wetherspoon and opened in October 2019. |
It is suggested that this was built in the 1870s although does not appear
on the 1873 map.
First appearing in an 1890 directory, the census of 1891 describes this as a Temperance Coffee House & Hotel. I
believe it finally gained it alcohol license in 1901 although Peter Metcalf
from his November 1995 article in Bygone Kent suggests this was 1903.
The pub closed and was boarded up in May 2013.
Reports in February 2016 stated that Wetherspoons had an interest in the
property to bring it back as a public house. Work due to commence by
Wetherspoon's mid February 2019 with an opening for June 2019.
Sept 2019 The Railway has had a 2.1 million pound Wetherspoons
refurbishment.
Local information says that when Wetherspoons took it over there was a
public debate regarding the changing of the name, but in the end they
decided to keep it the same.
I have recently also found reference to a "Railway Tavern" as early as
1877 from the Manning & Co directory. It mentions a Thomas Hales of the
"Railway Tavern." Kelly's directory of 1874 mentions a Thomas Hales of Ivy
Street who holds a license as shopkeeper. he appears again in the 1881
census as an Ivy Street gardener.
Another Thomas Hales is of the "Railway
Tavern" in Sittingbourne, but the ages in the census show him to be a
different person.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Rachel Dixon, 10 September 2019.
Sign mix up at new Wetherspoon pub in Station Road, Rainham.
Building works are not even finished at a new Wetherspoon pub but
already some unfortunate errors have been spotted in its new sign.
Recently, a sign featuring a Gothic-style image of a steam train and the
Domesday book has been erected.
However, it transpires there are a couple of errors with the logo.
Firstly, Domesday has been incorrectly spelled 'Doomsday', but worse
still Rainham in Kent didn't even feature in the historic manuscript, in
fact the entry refers to Rainham in Essex.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We thank KentOnline for
alerting us to the Domesday Book reference to the sign outside the soon
to be opened pub in Rainham.
 
Above sign left is the old one, sign right the new replacement.
“This is an error as the Domesday Book refers to Rainham in Essex and not in Kent.
“A new sign is being made without reference to the Domesday Book and we
apologise for the cock up.”
Rainham in Essex was mentioned in the Domesday Book four times.
The Railway pub had been empty since 2012 after previous owners
Sarumdale pub group went bust.
The site was bought by JD Wetherspoon last year and construction has
been under way since early April.
This week the pub has applied for planning permission to drop the kerb
at the car park entrance to allow access for vehicles.
Peter Pethers has been appointed the pub's manager.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Rachel Dixon, 29 September 2019.
Wetherspoon pub The Railway in Rainham to open on Tuesday.
A new Wetherspoon pub is set to open on Tuesday.
The pub in Station Road, Rainham has been left disused since 2012, but
JD Wetherspoon hopes to breathe new life into the historic
establishment.
After six months of building works, restoration and a cash injection of
£2.1million The Railway pub will open on Tuesday morning.
Doors will officially open to customers at 7am after a soft launch and
staff training this weekend.
The premises was originally known as The Railway Hotel and had been a
temperance hotel prior to 1901, managed by Elizabeth Sayers.
Present-day manager is Peter Pethers, who previously lead the "Thomas Waghorn" pub in Chatham to success.
Manager Peter Pethers said: "We have tried to pay homage to the original
pub, we've decorated with lots of old pictures of the railway when it
was first built.
The inside of The Railway in Station Road, Rainham.
We're hoping to become a recognised community pub.
"It's going to be open from 7am everyday.
We're right next to the station, so commuters can pop in grab a coffee
and some food before they get the train.
"We'll be doing all the classic Wetherspoon deals, curry club and fish
and chips deals.
"Everyone's welcome, it's going to be brilliant."
The bar staff are ready to meet their new customers at The Railway in
Station Road, Rainham.
"I'm very excited, it's going to be brilliant if it can become as
popular as the "Thomas Waghorn."
The Railway will specialise in real ales, as well as craft and world
beers, serving a wide range of different draught ales, as well as
bottled beers, with some from Kent-based brewers.
It will be open for family dining and children accompanied by an adult
are welcome in the pub.
There will be wheelchair access and an adapted toilet for people with
disabilities on the ground floor.
The new-look pub features one bar, as well as a non-smoking courtyard
beer garden to the side of the premises.
Beer Garden, at The Railway in Station Road, Rainham.
Smoking will be permitted in a separate, designated, outdoor area.
Photos, artwork and details of Rainham's history, familiar scenes and
characters are displayed in the pub, together with information boards
relating to events.
Even the carpet is Rainham related.
The design references the growing of cherries, apples and - of course -
hops.
There is a real fireplace and a gantry-style open kitchen.
Inside the new Wetherspoon, The Railway in Station Road, Rainham.
The pub will be open from 7am -11pm Sunday to Thursday, and 7am until 12
midnight Friday and Saturday.
Food will be served throughout the day, from opening until 10.30pm
(Sunday-Thursday) and 11pm (Friday-Saturday) with a takeaway options
available.
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LICENSEE LIST
HALES Thomas 1881 (age 54 in 1881 )
("Railway Tavern")
SAYERS Elizabeth 1882-87+
  (Temperance hotel)
FOORDE George (age 23 in 1891)
& GIBBONS Florence 1891-95+ (Hotel Keeper)
 
LEACH Clara Miss 1899+
HUMPHRIES Bessie Miss 1903+
MITCHELL Stephen 1901-07+ (age 43 in 1901)
 
CASTLE James 1908-18 (dec'd age 52 in 1918)
    
CASTLE A Mrs 1918+
BROWN Charles Young 1919-33+
    
BRUNNING Joseph 1834-35+
 
BROWN Henry A W 1937-55+
      
LINFIELD Arthur F J 1957-59+
 
???? Roy & Wendy 1983+
PETHERS Peter 2019+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/RailwayHotel.shtml
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1882
From the Kelly's Directory 1887
From the Kelly's Directory 1891
From
the Kelly's Directory 1895
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From the Kelly's Directory 1905
From the Kelly's Directory 1907
From the Sittingbourne District Parrett's Directory 1908
From the Kelly's Directory 1909
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1914/15
From the Kelly's Directory 1915
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1916
From the Kelly's Directory 1918
From the Kelly's Directory 1922
From the Kelly's Directory 1924
From the Kelly's Directory 1927
From the Kelly's Directory 1930
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1933
From the Kelly's Directory 1934
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1935
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1937
From the Kelly's Directory 1938
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1939
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1948
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1951
From the Kelly's Directory 1953
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1955
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1957
From the Medway Kelly's Directory 1959
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