Beehive

Victoria Road

Modest Corner

Southborough

Above photo, date unknown.

Above postcard, circa 1905.

Above photo, 1907.

Above postcard, 1916.

Above postcard, circa 1955, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, circa 1956, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, 1962.

Above photo 2014 by Nick Chadwick Creative Commons Licence.

Above sign, July 1986. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Originally constructed in the 18th century as two adjacent cottages and later converted into one.

In 1857 Robert John Phipps, who was originally from Bexley and a self-declared naturalist, set up a small brewery, selling his beers in the cottage next door. Why Mr. Phipps called his beer house/brewery tap room the Beehive appears not to have been recorded. Robert died in 1885 and the business was carried on by his son, Matthew Mark Phipps, who had been born in Bexley is 1851. Matthew retired in the late-1890s and presumably, the Beehive was sold but to whom is not yet known. Therefore, it remains unclear clear how the Beehive ended up being a tied house of Charrington's Anchor Brewery, London E1.

The building was extensively extended in 1927 when the north side was built upon, enlarging the saloon bar and created a beer garden.

In September 1940, a parachute mine destroyed much of the area to the south and east of the pub, leading to the current post-war road layout, although the pub was left relatively undamaged.

During the 70's and 80's, when darts teams played there, and it was famously known for its cheese ploughman's using locally produced "Speldhurst Sausages."

The building gained a Grade 2 listing on the 10th of December 1986.

After licensee Eileen Rabbit retired in 1983 the premises closed after residents complained about the change of clientele, and the license was refused and the pub was changed into a private residence.

LICENSEE LIST

WHYMAN John Arthur 1949+

RABBIT Mr 1970s

RABBIT Eilleen to 1983

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/beehive.html