DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Chatham, April, 2024.

Page Updated:- Thursday, 04 April, 2024.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1793-

Royal Oak

Latest 1872+

346 High Street

Chatham

 

I also appear to have the "Little Crown" address as 346 High Street, so believe there may be a renumbering at one time.

The Licensing Records of 1872 stated the premises held a Full License and was owned by Edward Winch of Chatham.

 

From the Kentish Gazette, 23 July 1839.

ROCHESTER. Awful Instance of Sudden Death.

On Wednesday morning last, about seven o’clock, a pensioner named Parkinson, who lodged at the "Cannon" public house, went out to take a walk, and had not proceeded more than two hundred yards where he fell down, in High Street, Chatham, in a fit, and in a few moments life was extinct. Medical assistance was promptly called in, but it was of no avail. The poor man was about fifty years of age, and had only been pensioned off a fortnight. The body was conveyed on a shutter to the "Royal Oak," to await a coroner's inquest, which, on the following day, was held before R. Hinde esq., coroner, when the jury returned a verdict of "Died by the visitation of God."

 

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 9 November 1858.

To be let, with immediate possession.

The "Royal Oak" public house situated in the High Street, Chatham.

For particulars apply to Messrs. Gaskin and Sons, appraisers, House Agents and Surveyors, 345, High Street, Chatham.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 12 March, 1860.

Robbing a Comrade.

James Austen, Soldier, for stealing a tobacco-box and £1 16s. 3d. in money, belonging to a comrade named Henry Bassing, at Chatham, on the 12th January. Mr. Addison was for the prosecution.

The prosecutor, prisoner, and some other soldiers, had been drinking together at the "Royal Oak" on the evening in question, and prosecutor, being the worse for liquor, went to bed there. Prisoner followed him up, and helped to take off his clothes. He then asked prosecutor for a piece of tobacco, and the latter told him the box was in the pocket where he kept his money. Some time afterwards prosecutor himself got up for some tobacco, and then found that his money was gone. It was further shown that, although prisoner had borrowed a shilling in the early part of the evening, after returning down stairs he had plenty of money, and went out with a young woman and bought her a dress. On being asked by a comrade whether he had taken care of prosecutor's money, he replied, "Yes, l have that all right."

He was found guilty, and sentenced to six months’ hard labour.

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 10 March, 1860. Price 1d.

KENT QUARTER SESSIONS

James Austen, a soldier, was charged with stealing at Chatham, on the 12th Jan., a tobacco box and £1 16s. 3d. in money, the property of Henry Bassett, another soldier.

Mr. Addison was for the prosecution.

The prosecutor and prisoner, with others, had been drinking together in a public-house in Chatham (the “Royal Oak”), when the prosecutor, on getting a little too much to drink, was put to bed by the prisoner. Prosecutor saw the prisoner take from his pocket his tobacco box, and subsequently upon getting out of bed he found, upon examining his pockets, that his money was gone. He then went down stairs and complained that he had been robbed. The prisoner had then left the house. At a later period in the evening the prisoner was seen in the possession of the money, when it was proved that on the same evening he had borrowed a shilling of a private soldier. The prisoner on the night in question went to a linen draper's shop, in company with a female, and purchased a dress, changing half-a-sovereign. It was further proved by another witness that the prisoner on the same evening had in his possession £1 10s. in gold. He was found guilty and sentenced to six months' hard labour.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 26 June, 1860.

Friday. (Before the Revs. G. Davies and J. J. Marsham).

James Hill, a private in the 20th Regt., and Thomas Davis, of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, were finally examined on a charge of highway robbery, accompanied with violence, on the person of John Wells, lately discharged from the 60th Rifles, at Chatham.

It appeared that the prosecutor was drinking with the prisoners, neither of whom had he seen before, at the "Royal Oak," High-street, at which time he had five sovereigns and some silver in his possession fastened in a belt which he wore round his waist. During the time they were drinking together in the tap-room of the "Royal Oak," one of the prisoners was observed by a girl there to empty a white powder from a paper into a pot or beer which prosecutor was drinking. They afterwards all left the "Royal Oak" and proceeded together to the "Gibraltar" public-house, but returned over the New-road towards the "Royal Oak," when as they were passing along by some railings Davies suddenly asked prosecutor to give him some money. The prosecutor said he would, and was about to take 6d. out of his belt, when the prisoner Hills struck him a violent blow in the face, and at the same moment the other prisoner snatched his belt out of his hand, and both ran away as fast as they could in the direction of Rome-lane. In a very short time after the robbery both prisoners ran into the "Crown and Thistle" public-house, High-street, and made their way upstairs into a bed-room, where they exhibited several sovereigns to a female living there. At that moment the police entered the house, when both prisoners secreted themselves under the bed, but were taken by Police-constable 108, who conveyed them both to the station-house, where no money was found on either of them. The officer, however, returned to the room in which he had apprehended the prisoners, and under the bed where Hills had crawled he found two sovereigns and an Indian coin which the prisoner said was his.

Mr. Davies asked what had become of the other sovereigns, as only two had been found.

Superintendent Everist said he had no doubt the prisoners had swallowed them.

The prisoners were committed for trial.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 31 July, 1860.

Friday. (Before the Rev. G. Davies and T. H. Day, Esq.)

Alfred Holland, William Corby, and Patrick Carmody, three soldiers belonging to the 43rd Light Infantry, were charged with plundering sailors of their clothes.

William Selby, a sailor lately belonging to the brig Hosina, from which ship he had just been paid off, said he went to lodge at the "Royal Oak," High-street, Chatham, with three of his shipmates, leaving their chests in the skittle alley. On Wednesday night witness remained out all night at one of the low singing-houses in Military-road, and on returning to his lodgings next morning found that his chest had been broken open, and several articles of his clothes, a pound of tobacco, and other things had been taken out of it. Witness heard nothing of the property stolen until be received information from the police, and on going to the station-house found the prisoner Carmody in custody with some of the clothes on. In answer to questions put by the bench, witness said he had been playing skittles with the prisoners at the "Royal Oak" the day before the robbery.

Three other sailors, named Drew, Knight, and Hooper, who had also lodged at the "Royal Oak," leaving their things there, were examined, and proved having had their chests and bags broken into, and various articles stolen.

Two of the prisoners were apprehended in Rochester by city police-constables 3 and 12, and the third was taken into custody in the skittle-alley at the "Royal Oak," by a Chatham officer, all the prisoners having some portions of the stolen property is their possession.

The prisoners were committed for six months’ hard labour.

 

Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 8 December 1860.

Robbery and Violence.

James Nerney, Francis Carter, and Alan Clare, soldiers were charged with robbery from the person of William Martin Harris, at Chatham, on 9th September, with violence.

Mr. Barrow prosecuted.

William Martin Harris, Lowestoft, Suffolk, said he was on a visit to Chatham, on 9th September, and went to the "Royal Oak" public house. Having occasion to go to the back yard, he called to Carter to show him the way. He accordingly showed him up with yard. He had been there about 3 minutes, when he was attacked by two soldiers. One fastened him by the arm and another held him by his breast. His watch was in his pocket and a silver guard suspended from his neck which one of the soldiers snatched and broke part off. They then went back into the taproom. Witness then acquainted the landlord with what had happened, and gave to him his watch to take care of. He did not give the prisoners into custody as he was busy and wished to get home.

Jonathan Leonard Prompton, soldier, said he was in the tap room, on the evening in question. He saw two of the prisoners come from the yard. He heard prosecutor say that two soldiers had attempted to steal his watch, but had only got part of the chain. He also heard Nerney in a low voice say to Carter "it's time I was off."

Benjamin Franks, soldier, said that on the evening in question, between 9 and 10 o'clock, the prisoner Clare was given into his custody. On searching him he found part of a watch chain inside the lining of his hat.

Sergeant Fisher, of the Kent County Constabulary, apprehended Clare on the following Monday. He said he knew nothing about the robbery.

On subsequently taking the other prisoners. Nerney said it was he that has got the chain, and he was only sorry he did not get the watch. This was the case for the prosecution.

Clare put in a statement to the effect that, although he was in the same room with the other two prisoners on the evening of the robbery. He was not in their company, and he could not account for the chain being found in his cap in any other way than it must have been put there by one of the other prisoners.

His lordship said there was no evidence against Clare, and if he it had not been for his statement, there would have been no proof that he had been to the "Royal Oak" at all.

Clare was acquitted, and Carter was sentenced to 4 years' penal servitude, he having been previously convicted of felony. Nerny, who had been tried for burglary, was sentenced to 7 years' penal servitude.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 11 December, 1860.

Robbery with Violence at Chatham.

James Nerney, 25, Francis Carter, 43, and Allen Claret 20, soldiers, for having stolen 18in. of a watch guard from the person of Wm, M. Harris, with violence, at Chatham, on the 9th September last. Mr. Barrow was for the prosecution, the prisoners being undefended.

The prosecutor, who lives at Lowestoft, Suffolk, said that on the 9th September he was at the "Royal Oak" public-house, Chatham, and asked Carter to shew him the way to the back premises. While there Carter and another soldier tried to fasten him in the water-closet, but after a struggle he got away from them. He had a watch on, and during the struggle one of them drew it from his pocket, but witness caught the watch, and the prisoners went off with half the chain. There was a third man in the yard during the struggle, but he took no part in it. Witness followed Carter and Nerney into the house, but could not identify Clare.

Thomas Richardson, one of the witnesses bound over, not being present, his recognisances were entreated.

A soldier of the 35th Regiment, who was in the tap-room of the "Royal Oak" on the evening in question, said he saw Carter go out with prosecutor, and Nerney follow them. When they returned they looked very much flurried. Harris then came in, and said two soldiers had attempted to steal his watch. Afterwards Carter said to Nerney, in a low voice, "We must be off," and they then left.

Benjamin Franks, a corporal, said that he received the prisoner Clare into his custody on the night of the 9th, and on searching him he found in his cap the piece of stolen chain. Prisoner had been drinking, but he was not very drunk.

Police-sergeant Fisher, K.C.C., took Clare into custody on the 10th, when he said he did not know how he became possessed of the chain. On the 11th he apprehended the other two prisoners, and on the way to the station-house Carter said he had been to the "Royal Oak" on the 9th, but had not been into the back yard. Nerney asked witness if he had got one of the 77th in custody upon the same charge. The sergeant said he had, when Nerney replied, "I took the chain, and gave it to him, and I am sorry I did not get the watch."

Clare put in a long statement, in which he denied having been connected with the other two prisoners, and said the chain must have been put into his cap while it was lying on the table.

The jury found the prisoners Nerney and Carter guilty, and acquitted Clare.

Nerney had also been committed on a charge of having stolen two medals and two bars from the breast of John Groves, but this charge was not gone into.

His Honour thought it was only justice to Clare to say that he thought the jury had very properly acquitted him, but he cautioned him against mixing with bad companions.

Carter was sentenced to four years’ and Nerney to seven years’ penal servitude.

 

Maidstone and Kentish Journal, 12 September, 1870.

Chatham Police Court. This day Monday.

Before F. E. Guise, Esq., Stipendairy Magistrate.

John Hughes, landlord of the "Royal Oak Inn," at Chatham, was charged with unlawful refusing to admit the police into his house when called upon to do so, on Sunday, 11th August.

The defendant was further charged with permitting drunkenness in the house, on Sunday, 14th ult.

The case was adjourned until Thursday.

 

LICENSEE LIST

LLOYD Arthur 1793+ Trade Directory 1793

CARLOW James 1828+ Pigot's Directory 1828-29

GRIST John 1832+ Pigot's Directory 1832-34

DUCKETT William 1838+ Wright's Topography 1838

HUGHES John 1861-70+ (age 32 in 1861Census)

RULE Henry 1872+ Licensing Records 1872

 

Trade Directory 1793Universal British Directory of Trade 1793

Pigot's Directory 1828-29From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29

Pigot's Directory 1832-34From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

Wright's Topography 1838Wright's Topography 1838

Licensing Records 1872Licensing Records 1872

CensusCensus

 

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