Spearpoint Hotel

Canterbury Road

Kennington

Above photo, 1 April 1976, by Jim Ashby.

Above photo, 1980s.

A brief history of the "Hotel Spearpoint," then the "Pilgrims Rest" and latterly the "Conningbrook Hotel."

Many thanks to Mark Britton for his help with this project.

The hostelry of many a hosted event, get-together, christening, wedding, wake, Christmas do, date, lunch or just a pint.

The earliest record we have is an announcement in the Times from September 1794 when land containing a farmhouse, stables and other buildings, situated in the Parish of Kennington and in the occupation of John Spearpoint, or his under-tenants, were sold by auction at the "Saracens Head."

John Spearpoint 1729-1802 and his son John, 1771-1813, both lived in Kennington. Senior was apparently a tanner and Kennington churchwarden.

In the 1871 census James Clements, a farmer is living at Triangle Farm, at the same location as the land containing a farmhouse, stables and other buildings which was sold back in 1794.

The road junction, even by 1840 was called Spearpoint Corner, but not the farm, it seems.

The earlier name might originate from the nearby triangle shaped junction.

The Clements family are still living there in the following 1881 census but interestingly, there is no record of the farm in the following census returns.

This is probably because the main building was either partially or fully demolished and then re-built and re-named as we know it, in 1886. We know this date for sure as the date had been incorporated into the door frame of the main, (reception) entrance with '18' one side and '86' is the other.

In the 1891 census the newly named 'Spearpoint House' was occupied by William Francis Bond Jemmett, banker and man of many roads. The later census years show other families living there.

Since then the building has seen many additions and modifications over the years.

Fast forward again, to 1963 and the 'Hotel Spearpoint' opened for guests, the owners were Oliver Ben, and Delia Hardwick.

In 1999 the hotel and pub was extended by the Fullers Brewery with the name also being changed to the "Pilgrims Rest," after a competition run by the brewery with the lucky winner, Henry Taggert, being invited to attend the opening ceremony. More recently, the name was changed again to the "Conningbrook Hotel."

LICENSEE LIST

BEN Oliver & HARDWICK Delia 1963+