55 (57) High Street
Chatham
The "Crest Arms" had the "Crest Arms Tap" situated at the back.
This was listed under Inns and Hotels in Pigot's Directory of 1828.
The 1858 directory called it the "Chest Hotel and Commercial Inn."
The 1871 census listed a John Hanninger, Plasterer, age 43, as being the
head of the "Crest Arms Tap."
In 1872 the premises was owned by James Hulkes of Frindsbury.
Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 03 June 1806.
DIED.
On Saturday morning, aged 15, Mr. S. Chaney son of Mr. Chaney, of the
"Chest Arms Tavern," Chatham; he was lately a midshipman on board the
Agincourt.
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Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 22 January 1808.
CHATHAM, Jan. 19.
Yesterday the New Rooms at the "Chest Arms Tavern," which have been
finished and fitted in a style of considerable elegance and convenience,
were fitted for the reception of the Pokerian Society, for whose use it
is principally intended. About 130 of the principal Members of that
extensive and respectable Club sat down to an elegant dinner, provided
by Brother Chany. After dinner the glass circulated freely with
"Friendship, Love, and Harmony" till a late hour.
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Kentish Gazette, Friday 22 March 1811.
On the death of Mrs. Chany, of the "Chest Arms," Chatham.
Oh! Death, alas! from this defeat,
Thy vict'ry sure must be complete,
Where will they ravage stop? Oh say!
Or must pure nature fall a prey
Eternally! - unto thy spleen:
Or, Could'st thou not in pity screen
The gen'ral Friend to human kind?
Who scarse, I fear, have left behind
Her equal in such goodly things,
As from the purest virtue springs.
Behold her neighbours, one and all!
Who knew her worth, bewail her fall;
Behold the gloom! behold the tear!
Which ever doth, from sympathy appear;
Which ever doth, with truth impart,
The inmost language of the heart;
Which can but in this case appease,
And give the Soul it's wonted case;
Which mitigates the general grief,
And give to sorrow some relief:
For that the Tyrants, Death! did rend,
The tender Mother, Wife, and Friend!
From every tie, from children dear,
From relatives and friends sincere;
Who yet should be consol'd by this,
To think her Soul is now in bliss.
Chatham, March 16, 1811.
H.S.
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Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal, Friday 06 March 1818.
On Sunday night or Monday morning, a room being part of the premises of
the "Chest Arms Tavern," in this town, in which Mr. Chany keeps a
deposit of beer, spirits, tobacco, &c., for the accommodation of his
customers on the wharf at the back of the house, was broke open, and
robbed of all the spirits and tobacco it contained, a quantity of beer,
which was pumped up by the machine, and twenty-two large flint glass
rummers. The thieves got off with their booty undiscovered.
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From Liverpool Mercury, Friday, June 19, 1829.
BANKRUPTS.
Copied from the London Gazette, June 12,1829. Alexander Bernard, "Chest
Arms Inn", Chatham, Kent. |
Kentish Gazette 14 January 1834.
DEATH.
Jan. 4. at Chatham, aged 70, Mr. Thomas Chanay, formerly of the "Chest
Arms."
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Kentish Gazette, 19 March 1844.
Intense interest has been manifested during the past week in the
neighbourhood of Chatham, for the fate of a young man named
Louis Isaacs, son of Mr. Isaac Isaacs, army and navy outfitter. It is
feared he is drowned, but so much mystery hangs over his
disappearance, now ten days since, that conjecture is exhausted. He
merely left home, after business was over, for the purpose of
taking a glass of ale with a friend at the "Chest Arms Tap," and was
last seen at that house about five on the following morning, and
said to be perfectly sober. His friend left him between twelve and one
o’clock. A hat has been found in the river, which is supposed
to be his. He was a young man of very excellent character, and of steady
habits. Suspicion exists that he has not been fairly dealt
with.
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From the South Eastern Gazette, 6 December 1853.
DREADFUL EXPLOSION—TWO LIVES LOST.
On Friday night last, at about half-past nine o'clock, a violent
explosion took place at the Gillingham gas works near St. Mary's
barracks, Brompton, by which the lives of two men, named John Rensby
Culyer and William Hall, have been sacrificed.
It appears that the Messrs. Rickon have been engaged for several
months past in erecting extensive gas works near the river Medway, at
Gillingham. The works had been proceeded with all possible despatch, and
at the time of the explosion were in so forward a state that a supply of
gas would have been ready by the next night. During the whole of Friday
evening the workmen were engaged, under the immediate superintendence of
Mr. Rickon, in charging the gasometer, a large quantity of gas having
been admitted. A loud noise attracting the attention of the men, it was
at once suspected that there was something wrong, and Culyer, the
engineer, accompanied by Hall, ascended to the top of the gasometer to
discover what was amiss, foolishly taking a light with them. Mr. Rickson
advised Culyer not to go that evening, but he appeared not to have
attended to the directions given. On the two men reaching the top the
escape of gas must have come in contact with the flame, for immediately
after a loud explosion took place, bursting the top of the gasometer,
which was lifted some height, and tearing of three of the new pillars or
“guide lines."
The body of Culyer was found in the tank of the gasometer,
frightfully disfigured, and quite dead. The body of Hall had not been
discovered on Sunday evening, but it was supposed to be lying beneath
the gasometer. At the time of the explosion there were several persons
in and about the premises, none of whom were hurt. It is a rather
singular circumstance that one of the persons who has met with his death
was the individual who got Mrs. Henniker out of the ruins at the recent
fatal explosion of fireworks, at Chatham, and carried her across the
street to the "Chest Arms."
Owing to this untoward accident it will be some time before the works
are in a fit state to supply the parish of Gillingham with gas.
THE INQUEST
The inquest was held yesterday (Monday) morning, at the "Green
Dragon" on the bodies of the unfortunate men. John Ormsby Culyer and
John Richard Hall, who were killed by the explosion.
Mr. Shindler, solicitor, attended to watch the proceedings for the
Messrs. Rickon.
The Coroner and jury having viewed the bodies which lay at the the
gas-house, the following evidence was taken.
Mr. Weeks, surgeon, at Brompton, deposed that he was called on Friday
night to the gas-works. The body of Culver was then lying near the
retort-house and quite dead. The body had been taken out of the
gasometer tank, having been thrown in by the force of the explosion
Witness made an external examination, and discovered a severe bruise on
the right side of the head. The cause of death was from drowning, the
blow on the head having no doubt stunned him.
John James Rickson, the manager at the works, deposed that they had
been forcing gas into the holder all day on Friday, having commenced at
4 o’clock. About 9 o’clock in the evening, witness was sitting in the
retort-house, telling a workman what to do, when the deceased (Culyer)
came in; witness had not seen him since Monday afternoon. The deceased
was in very high spirits. Witness at this time was congratulating the
workman that the third charge just driven in would forca the crown of
the holder out. Two charges, each of 49lbs. of coal, had been driven in,
the mixture causing what was known as "choke damp." Deceased called for
a candle, went out with Hall, and ascending to the top of the holder, on
his return said that everything was going on right. As far as witness
could judge Culyer was perfectly sober. When deceased arrived at the top
of the holder, Hall turned the tap of the standpipe, to which he applied
a light, when there appeared a beautiful blue flame about the size of a
pea. When Colyer went to the top witness felt a peculiar sense of dread
come over him. Deceased put out the flame and returned to the
retort-house. On finding that the burner in the retort-house would not
burn, they proceeded to the top of the holder a second, and subsequently
a third time, on each occasion taking the lighted candle with them,
trying the same experiment. On the third occasion witness saw Culver
apply the light as before, and for a few seconds no flame appeared from
the pipe, but witness saw the light of the candle as if drawn into the
pipe. The gas holder then rose bodily, and when it was not able to
resist the force, the explosion took place. The holder was rent asunder,
and the men went down into it. Culyer’s body was taken out, quite dead,
a few minutes afterwards, but Hall's was not discovered till Sunday
night.
Henry Beaumont, one of the workmen in the retort-house, hearing the
explosion, ran out. Heard Culyer struggle in the water and groan two or
three times, when taken out he was quite dead.
Mr. Pope was also examined, who proved assisting to get Culyer’s body
out of the water.
The jury, after a few remarks from the coroner, returned a verdict,
“That the deceased John Ormsby Culyer was killed by an explosion at the
gas works, but whether drowned or suffocated by gas there was not
sufficient evidence to show.
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From the West Kent Guardian, 15 July, 1843.
Robbery by female servant.
A respectable young woman named Ann Ost, 23 years of age, was placed in
the dock charged with stealing several half crowns, and other moneys,
the property of Mr. Champion of the "Chest Arms Tavern," High Street,
Chatham. The prisoner was also charged with stealing a cambric petticoat
of Mrs. Champion.
Mrs. Harriot Ann Champion the wife of Mr. Benjamin Champion, deposed
that the prisoner had been in her service about 15 months. Witnessed
first engaged her as cook, but afterwards, has chambermaid, which
situation she filled up to the time of the robbery. In consequence of
missing money, witness saw her husband mark some half-crowns and other
money on Wednesday afternoon last, and on the next morning three of the
half-crowns were missing. On Thursday witness saw her husband mark some
more half-crowns, and when she went to bed on Friday night about half
past 11 o'clock, she put into her pocket 4 half crowns, 2 shillings, and
1 six-pence, all marked. The marks on the money she examined before she
put them into her pocket. The prisoner was in the room the whole time
witness was undressing until she was in bed, when the prisoner took away
the candle and bade her good night. Witnesses laid her pocket on the
dressing table. About 2 minutes afterwards the prisoner again entered
the bedroom without a candle, and said she had come in to see if any
water was in the water jug. Having suspicion, witness got out of bed and
examined her pocket, and found that two half crowns and one shilling
were gone. Witnessed rang the bell, and the prisoner answered it;
witness told her to call her master. On his arrival, witness told him
money was missing, and gave him the pocket and her husband left the
room. Witness afterwards got up and came downstairs and found Binds, the
constable, in a room with a prisoner.
Benjamin Champion examined:- On Friday night after 12 o'clock, I was
called to my wife's bedroom, and received from Mrs. Champion a pocket
containing 2 half-crowns, 1 shilling and sixpence, all bearing marks I
have previously put on them by a punch. I went downstairs and found the
prisoner in the passage, and I directed her to go into a room. The
constable came, and I gave him the pocket. I produced the punch with
which I marked the money.
Thomas Bines, constable of Chatham, said, I was called into the "Chest
Arms," after midnight on Friday last, and then found the prisoner with
Mr. Champion in one of the rooms. I told the prisoner she was accused of
taking money from her mistress's pocket. The prisoner denied having done
so, saying that she had no occasion to do that, as she had plenty of
money of her own, and immediately took from her pocket a purse, and
threw it on the table containing 4 shillings and two sixpences. I told
her that was not what I wanted; I wanted the two half-crowns. The
prisoner hesitated and I requested Mr. Champion to procure a female to
search her. The prisoner then gave me from her pocket, 2 half-crowns,
which I produce. The prisoner then gave me a bunch of keys, and from
information I received I went to the house of Mr. Thomas Costa, in Best
Street, Chatham, and applied one of the keys to the trunk, which was
pointed out to me by Mrs. Costa, as belonging to the prisoner. I took
possession of the trunk, and upon it being examined, the petticoat now
produced was sworn to by Mrs. Champion, as her's, and which had been
stolen.
Eliza Ann Coster, sworn:- My husband is a bricklayer. I have known the
prisoner for the last 7 or 8 weeks. On the 28th of June, the prisoner
called on me and said she had had a difference with her mistress, and
was, therefore, going to leave her place; and asked permission to leave
her boxes at my house as she was shortly going to be married to an
acquaintance of my husband's. As I knew that an acquaintance existed I
consented. The "boots" of the "Chest Arms" brought the boxes of the
prisoner the same day. The prisoner afterwards used to come to my house
and go to her trunk.
The money and petticoat was sworn to by the prosecutor, and the prisoner
was fully committed for trial.
A second charge of stealing money was then gone into, and the evidence
being clear, the prisoner was again committed.
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Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser 02 January 1865.
STEALING WEARING APPAREL.
William Wilson and Jane Wilson, man and wife, the latter remanded from
Wednesday, charged with stealing a flannel petticoat, stockings and
other articles, the property of Mr. Wilson landlord of the "Chest Arms,"
Chatham, were again placed at the bar. Several witnesses were examined,
amongst them being the prosecutor, prosecutor's wife, Sarah Lorden
(female searcher at the county magistrates), and Police-constable Kilby,
from whose evidence there appeared little doubt that the male prisoner,
with the assistance of his wife, stole the articles. Both were fully
committed for trial.
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Maidstone Telegraph. 5 June 1869.
Chatham local board of health rights.
Mr. T. Hills, Clerk to the local
board of health, appeared to support two applications to recover payment
of arrears of rates. The summonses were adjourned from last week to
enable the defendant's to have professional assistance.
On the
cases being called the defendant answered but no solicitor appeared for
them.
The first case was against James Wilson late landlord of the
"Chester Arms Tap," who disputed payment on the grounds that he had left
the house before the rates became payable, but after a brief
investigation it was clearly established that the defendant was legally
liable to pay the rates and the magistrates made the usual order for
payment.
The defendant said he would not pay unless a distress
warrant was issued. He did not mean to pay for other people.
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From the Rochester and Chatham Journal and Mid-Kent Advertiser,
Saturday, September 2, 1876.
Miscellaneous.
The magistrates hear adjourned for some time to take of luncheon. On
business being resumed the following persons, who had been convicted of
various offences during the year, and his cases had been deferred in
consequence, apply for the renewal of their licences. vis. Mrs. Harcus,
"Chest Arms," Chatham......
The other licences were renewed after the holders had been cautioned. |
LICENSEE LIST
CHANEY Mr 1806+
MATHER Thomas 1808+
CHANY Mr 1818+
WARMAN Thomas 1828+

BERNARD Alexander to June/1828
CHAMPION Benjamin 1826-43+
 
CHANEY Thomas to Jan/1834 dec'd
FRANCIS William 1858-62+
WILSON James 1865+
TOMLIN Joseph Thomas 1867+

HARCUS Selina Mrs 1871-76+
(age 47 in 1871 )
CHARD Henry 1881+ (age 55 in 1881 )
https://pubwiki.co.uk/ChestArms.shtml
From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
From the Post Office Directory 1866-67
Licensing
Records 1872
Census
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