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Jail Lane
Biggin Hill
01959 572979
https://whatpub.com/old-jail
Above photo circa 1900, taken from
http://www.bigginhill-history.co.uk. |
Above photo circa 1905. |
Above photo, circa 1930. |
Above photo, date unknown. |
Above postcard, circa 1939. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo showing me leaving my home, which was The Old Jail pub,
Biggin Hill, to get married on 2nd August 1969. My father is at my side.
He was the Landlord who took over from Leonard Dupere around 1961 until
around 1970. His name was Cedric (Bill) Motley. He was only known as
Bill. Born 1918 died 2005. The Brewer which owned the pub was Ind Coope.
Apart from the chauffeur, the other figures are staff or neighbours; my
mother is not in this picture.
Victoria Edge. |
Above photo, circa 1976, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo circa 2013. |
Above photo taken from
http://www.bigginhill-history.co.uk. |
 
Above sign left, 1985. With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com.
Sign, June 1993, kindly sent by Roger Pester. |
Also known as the "Old Jail Inn," with the American spelling, and
addressed as Cudhum, but I'm sure its correct address is Biggin Hill.
The brewery Fox and Sons at Green Street was closed in 1908 and the pub
here was sold off by auction on the 15th June 1909, and bought by Truman,
Hanbury & Buxton.
The premises was formerly two cottages as can be seen in the top photo by
the two front doors. The name probably originates as prisoner from London
travelling to Maidstone were often houses here over night before their
trials or indeed executions.
This venue was a popular haunt for the fighter pilots from the nearby
aerodrome during WW2. In his book The Blue Arena Bob Spurdle a Kiwi who flew
in the Battle of Britain with 74 Squadron - under the famous 'Sailor Malin'
- writes of discovering the "Old Jail Inn" and becoming something of a
regular. In fact he more or less dedicates an entire chapter to the pub -
and the goings on therein.
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From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 25 February 1860. Price 1d.
COOK v. LEWIS.
The plaintiff, a shoe-maker at Brasted, sought to recover from the
defendant, who keeps the “Old Gaol” beer-house, Cudham, £2 10s. 6d., for
goods, &c. It appeared that the plaintiff held a shoe club at the
defendant's house, and as the defendant had had some trouble with a
previous club, he arranged to receive the money from the members and
account for them. In the account were also included some charges for
work done for the defendant's family, and for carriage hire. Defendant denied this liability, and said that he had nothing whatsoever
to do with the club. The court was occupied a considerable time in examining various
documents, and judgement was ultimately given for £1 18s. 6d. |
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From The Standard (London, England), Thursday, August 11, 1892; pg. 10; Issue 21248.
Preliminary Announcement. - By Order of the Mortgagee.
Fully-Licensed Freehold Inn.
Messrs. Barker, Cathie, and Palmer are instructed to Sell by Auction, at
an early date (to be announced in future advertisements), the Valuable
Freehold Property, known as the "Old Jail Inn" (fully licensed), Cudham,
Kent, together with about eight acres of most productive meadow and
market garden land in One Lot. - Auction Offices, 13, Hart-street,
Bloomsbury, and (pro tem.) 56, Moorgate-street, E.C.
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LICENSEE LIST
PRINCE Edmund 1851+ (labourer age 24 in 1851 )
LEWIS William 1855-61+ (also farmer age 55 in 1861)
LEWIS Thomas 1881-82+ (age 44 in 1881)
COWLARD Richard 1891-1913+ (also baker age 63 in 1901)
DUPREE Leon 1936+
DUPERE Leonard Alfred 1961
MOTLEY Cedric "Bill" 1961-70+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/OldJailInn.shtml
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
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