High Street
Headcorn
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above postcard 1905, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above postcard, circa 1908, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |

Above aluminium card issued 1950. Sign series 2 number 31.
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Above postcard, circa 1973, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, January 1974, showing licensees Graham & Ann Moore. |
Above matchbox, 1984, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, 2010, kindly sent by Michael Mirams. |
The "King's Arms" was the setting for Catholic intrigue in the
early eighteenth century, when local Jacobites used the house as a secret
rendezvous. It was indeed a ‘seedy joint' as the Hawkhurst Gang also
frequented the inn, perhaps to unload brandy or rum for a friendly landlord
who afforded them storage place for their goods.
From the Kentish Gazette, 22 August 1848.
HEADCORN. Suicide By Poison.
An inquest was held on the 11th inst., at the "King’s Arms," before
W. T. Neve, Esq., deputy coroner, on the body of Ellen Kemp, aged
23, who died from the effects of poison. Julia Williams, of Headcorn, spinster, deposed that the deceased
lived in the service of her father, and was pretty well until the
previous Wednesday evening, between nine and ten o'clock, when she
appeared very faint. Witness soon afterwards saw her upstairs to
bed, and gave her some gruel, and deceased requested her to leave
the room while she drank it. Witness returned in about ten minutes
afterwards, and found deceased very sick. She remained with her some
time. Hearing her groan, witness went to her about three o’clock in
the morning, and found her in great pain, and asked her if she
should send for medical assistance, and deceased replied nothing
would do her any good. She remained with her some time, and as
deceased seemed disposed to go to sleep, left her. Witness went to
her about seven in the morning and found her dead. Deceased was very
dull and silent on Wednesday, and remarked upon the robins’
twitting, and said it was a sure sign of death, and she was sure
some one in the house would die or be sick. Mr. D Skinner, of Headcorn, surgeon, deposed:— He was called to see
deceased about seven o'clock, and she appeared to have been dead
about two hours. Witness made a post mortem examination, and found
the bowels much inflamed, in his opinion from irritant poison. On
searching, he found arsenic under the pillow, and also a bottle
containing bitter almonds. Witness had known deceased for several
years, and she was sent to Bedlum Hospital about three years ago. Joseph Wyard, grocer, deposed:— Deceased came to his shop on
Wednesday morning about breakfast time, and asked for two pennyworth
of arsenic; at first he refused to serve her (being a stranger),
when she said it was for Miss Williams, and it was to destroy rats
and mice, and asked if witness bought bottles, and produced two with
the name of Miss Williams on them. Witness then served her with one
ounce of arsenic, and put a printed label of "Poison" on the paper.
She asked how to use it. Witness told her to mix it with lard and he
did not observe anything strange in her manner, on the contrary, she
was very chatty. Verdict:— "Poisoned herself while insane." |
Kentish Gazette, 5 March 1850.
HEADCORN.
On Friday last a meeting of hop growers and farmers took place at
the "King’s Arms Inn" (Mr. Viney, chairman), at which it was
unanimously resolved to forward petitions to the House of Commons
for a reduction of the duty on hops to 1d. per lb., and for a
revision of the Tithe Commutation Act, in consequence of the
reduction in the prices of corn.
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The pub closed by 2016 and was converted into an Indian restaurant and by
2019 was taken over by an opticians.
Above Google image, July 2016. |
Above Google image, December 2019. |
I am informed by Neil Aldridge that the premises is now (2022) being run
as a charity shop with private accommodation above and to the side of the
building.
LICENSEE LIST
BARNHAM Lewis 1828-32+
 
WAGHORN Charles 1858+ (also farmer)
PRINCE William 1871+ (age 39 in 1871 )
JONES Thomas 1881-91+ (age 50 in 1891 )
HARRIS Thomas 1901+ (age 41 in 1901 )?
JONES Elizabeth Morris Mrs 1901-03+ (age 54 in 1901 )

HARRIS William 1911+ (age 41 in 1911 )
MOORE Graham & Ann 1974+
MONKS David & Margaret pre 1980s

From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
Census
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