Fountain

Above photo, circa 1880, showing the "Old Fountain Inn."

Above image from Google, May 2014, showing the building on the left to be the former "Fountain." Also referred to as the "New Fountain."

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Monday 4 January 1869.

Rochester. Sudden Death.

W. H. Bell, Esq., Deputy Coroner held an inquest on Thursday, at the "Fountain Tavern," Strood, on the body of Henry Bennett, who died suddenly the previous day.

Deceased was Potman at the "Fountain Tavern," and on Wednesday he fell down and a fit in the street and died.

The jury returned a verdict died from natural causes.

Unknown publication. 1869.

THE CASE OF THE ANGRY LANDLADIES

The Medway Towns must have been a really riotous place to live during the second week in April, 1869, with no fewer than 37 people and almost as many women as men appearing before the Towns' magistrates on charges of assault.

One of the most interesting cases reported by the Chatham News that week was that of Mrs. Sarah Tutt, landlady of the "Fountain Inn," in Chatham High Street, accused of assaulting Mrs. Mary Pankhurst, the landlady of another public house at Borstal. ("Walnut Tree.")

Mr. Hayward (whoever he was) described the two women as "marvellous enemies" because Mrs. Pankhurst, who hired her inn from Mrs. Tutt, had been told she no longer had the right to sell any beer she liked as Mrs. Tutt had sold the rights to one particular brewery firm.

Mrs. Pankhurst twice went to Mrs. Tutt's house, on the second occasion to see a Mr. Smith, and we are not told who he was, about a watch.

Mrs. Tutt immediately grabbed Mrs. Pankhurst, saying she would not have her in the house, and knocked her down.

ABUSIVE

She would have hit her again but for the intervention of a Mrs. Russell who restrained Mrs. Tutt by holding her hands.

Mrs. Tutt's story, naturally enough, was slightly different. The complainant and her friend, presumably Mrs. Russell, were obviously the worse for drinking and continually used abusive language towards her.

A Mrs. Smith, who lived at the Fountain with her husband (probably the afore-mentioned Mr. Smith) was also with the women, she said.

Next person to arrive on the already cluttered scene was Mr. Smith, who tried to drag Mrs. Smith away despite cries from Mrs. Tutt that the incident was not her fault.

A third story was told by a Mr. Ring, who said it was not Mrs. Tutt who struck Mrs Pankhurst, but Mrs. Russell who struck Mrs. Tutt. They were all the worse for liquor, he said.

Mr. Smith also had his penny's worth and agreed that Mrs. Tutt did not assault Mrs. Pankhurst. The case was dismissed.

DISMISSED

The matter did not, however, end there. Mrs. Pankhurst, obviously out to get a scalp of some sort, also accused Mrs. Smith of assaulting her. This incident, she claimed, occurred after the other squabble when Mrs. Smith called her names and would have done so again but for the interference once again of well-known peace-maker Mrs. Russell.

The magistrates then sent a policeman to the "Angel Inn," Strood, where Mrs. Pankhurst and her exfriends were said to have been drinking, and after discovering they had in fact been drinking quite heavily they dismissed the charge.