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Luton High Street
Chatham
https://whatpub.com/hen-chickens
Above postcard, circa 1905. |
Above photo circa 1909, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo 1920s. |
Above photo 2012 by Chris Whippet,
Creative Commons Licence. |
Above photo 2022. |
Above sign, 1990.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com. |
The pub was first built as a farmhouse in 1702 but didn't start selling
beer till 1746.
The small building above shows the blacksmiths forge in 1890; owned by
the Hen and Chickens it burnt down shortly after the photo was taken. |
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From the Kentish Gazette, Tuesday, 15 April, 1800.
To be disposed off.
A very complete cottage, with two good parlours, two good bedrooms, two
servants rooms, kitchen and large pantry; a two stall stable, cow house
with ten stalls, and two calf pens; large yard, near two acres of garden
grounds, and two acres of meadow lands; delightfully situated within
half a mile of Chatham.
For further particulars, apply to Mr. Francis Gilling, at the "Hen and
Chickens," Luton, near Chatham, the proprietor.
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From the Maidstone Journal and Kent Advertiser, Tuesday, 26 April, 1842.
Maidstone Journal, 26 April, 1842.
Last week a young man named Henry Bartlett, and his brother Joseph, a
lad, were committed by the county Justice's for trial at the next
quarter sessions, for stealing at a horse belonging to a man lodging in
the house of their mother, Mrs. Bartlett, of the "Hen and Chickens"
alehouse, at Luton, in Chatham parish. The prisoners were apprehended in
the night as they passed through Gravesend on their way to London with
the horse, which they had bought from Luton having first stolen a halter
and bit from the premises of Mr. Quarrington in the village. Some
conversation which took place between the prisoners in the street at
Gravesend respecting the animal, aroused the suspicion of Newing, the
policeman on duty and very properly detained them till the morning, and
made enquiries which led to their committal.
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Dover Chronicles 21 February 1846.
On Saturday last an inquest was held before J. Hinde, Esq., at the
"Hen and Chickens," Luton, on William Potton Bright, late landlord
thereof, who was found hanging by the neck-scarf to a joint in an
unfinished cottage, near Luton church, on the previous morning. It
appeared that deceased, who was only 24 years of age comic came from
Hertford, had very recently married, and taking the above public
house; which turning out to be so very different a concern from what
he had expected, it so preyed upon his mind as the tempt him to
commit the rash act above-mentioned.
Verdict:- "Temporary Insanity."
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From the Kentish Independent, Saturday, 28 February, 1846.
Melancholy Case of Self-Destruction.
On Saturday an inquest was held before J. Hinde Esq, at the "Hen and
Chickens," Luton, near Chatham, on the body of William Potton Bright,
late landlord thereof, it was found hanging by a neck scarf to a joist
in an unfurnished cottage, near Luton Church, on the previous day.
It appeared that the deceased, who was only 24 years of age, came from
Hertford, and had been married only 5 weeks; that he had taken the above
house, and was told by several persons in the village that he would
never see his money again, that he had paid for coming in - a
circumstance that seemed to pray on his mind.
About 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon he left home, and told a person
that the house was so very different to what he had expected, that it
would be the death of him.
In consequence of the deceased's absence, the wife sent person's round
to different places in search of him, and he was found during the night
hanging in the cottage as described.
Verdict, "Temporary Insanity."
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From the Kentish Independent, Saturday, 20 October, 1849.
Fire at Luton.
On Sunday night about 11 o'clock, a fire broke out at the "Hen and
Chickens," public house, at Luton, near Chatham, and owing to a strong
wind blowing from the east, and the rapidity with which the flames
spread, the house was very soon a body of fire. An express was forwarded
to Rochester and Chatham, and the Kent and the Sun engines were both
quickly at the spot, and having a good supply water, the flames were
confined to the house. The landlord (Mr. Payne) and his family and
inmates were in bed at the time the alarm was given. So fierce was the
fire that the whole of the furniture, &c., fell a prey to the devouring
element. The loss sustained falls on the Norwich Union Fire-Officer and
his about £800.
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From the Sevenoaks Chronicle, 31 August 1852.
ANNUAL LICENSING DAY AT ROCHESTER.
Friday being the day appointed for the general annual Licensing day, and
for hearing applications fro granting new licenses, the county
magistrates assembled in petty sessions at eleven o'clock. There were
present, the Rev. G. Davies (chairman), Capt. Baker, W. M. Smith, Esq.,
M. P., W. H. Nicholson, Esq., Major Boys, and the Rev. J. J. Marsham.
There were several applications for granting new licenses, and the
proceedings were watched with some interest by those concerned.
.....
Mr. Arnold then applied for a license for the "Elephant and Castle"
beer-shop, situate on the Luton Road, Chatham. The ground near it, he
said, was laid out for building purposes. The nearest licensed house on
the Chatham side was the "Dark Sun" and on the Luton side the "Hen and
Chickens," the former being half a mile distant from the "Elephant and
Castle."
Application refused.
The Magistrates then proceeded to granting the renewal of the several
licenses within their jurisdiction, and at the close of the business
dined together at the "Crown Inn."
("Northfleet")
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From the Maidstone and Kentish Journal, Monday, 28 May, 1866.
PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF SALE.
Messrs. Cobb have received instructions from the Executors of the late Mr.
Joseph Ashley, to sell by auction, in the month of June, at the "Sun Hotel,"
Chatham.
The Valuable Freehold and Leasehold Public Houses, Beer Houses, Trade
Premises, Dwelling Houses, &c., viz:-
The "Hen and Chickens," Luton, Chatham.
......
Further notice as to time, &c., of sale, will shortly be issued.
Particulars in the meantime may be obtained of Messrs. Acworth and Son,
Solicitors, Star Hill, Rochester; of Messrs. Morris, Stone, Townson, and
Morris, solicitors, Moorgate Street Chambers, Moorgate Street; and of
Messrs. Cobb, surveyors and land agents, 26, Lincoln's-inn-fields, London,
and Rochester, Kent.
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Still open in 2012 the last posting on their Facebook page was on 2nd
October 2017, and I believe it is now (2019) closed.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Nicola Jordan, 25 February 2019.
Hen and Chicks closed but bid launched to find new manager.
One of Medway’s oldest pubs may have called last orders.
But publicans worried about the future of the Hen and Chicks in Luton,
Chatham, which has been shut for several weeks, may have some hope after
a bid was launched to find a new manager.
It is understood the former long-term licensee died a few years ago and
a family member took over following his death.
Hen and Chicks pub in Luton, Chatham.
The pub, which was built in 1702, was originally a farmhouse.
It was converted into an ale house in 1746 and was frequented by
brickmakers and agricultural workers in the surrounding areas.
As Chatham grew in size, it was a terminus for the bus horse and, later
on, the tram.
There was at one point a forge on the side of the building in the heart
of the village in Luton Road which burnt down many years ago.
The pub, formally called the Hen and Chickens, became a centre for
Luton’s community activities and was popular among locals.
Over the decades most of the once numerous hostelries in Luton, which
were used by dockyard workers and servicemen, have closed, with many
converted into homes.
Trevor Wilson, a church warden at Christ Church in Luton Road, said:
“I remember the days when this was the place working class people came
for entertainment.”
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Nicola Jordan, 2 March 2019.
Ei Group brewery advertises for new publican at Hen and Chicks, in Luton, Chatham.
One of Medway’s oldest pubs may have called last orders.
Brewery,Ei Group, formerly Enterprise Inns, which has about 5,000
licensed premises across the country, has put a giant banner outside
advertising for a publican.
And locals are keen that a new licensee is recruited as soon as possible
to halt the demise of yet another hostelry in Luton.
It is understood the former long-term licensee died a few years ago and
a family member took over following his death.
As Chatham grew in size, it was a terminus for the bus horse and, later
on, the tram.
There was at one point a forge on the side of the building in the heart
of the village in Luton Road which burnt down many years ago.
A spokesman for Ei Group , which is based in Solihull in the West
Midlands, said the recruitment process was in hand.
We asked for your memories of the Hen and Chicks.
"With regard to the article of the Hen and Chicks pub in Luton Road
Chatham, my husband was born there in 1948, and his grandparents, Mr and
Mrs Alma Payne, and his parents ran the pub along with many other pubs
around Medway.
"His nan, who ran the pub would tell us many stories. We would sit for
hours hearing tales of pub life during the war.
"It was a great community pub and it's a shame that it cant be made that
way again.
Mrs Mrs M Salt.
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Latest news I have heard (2020) is that an application has been submitted
to torn the premises into a Turkish Restaurant.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Langridge, 16 March 2023.
Flat plans submitted for The Hen and Chicks pub in Luton High Street.
Plans to turn a vacant pub into six flats have been drawn up.
The application for the Hen and Chickens, in Chatham, was submitted
to Medway Council earlier this month.
The boozer – known as The Hen and Chicks – in Luton High Street
closed in 2019 and speculation about its future has been rife ever
since.
It is understood the former long-term licensee died a few years
before and a family member took over following his death.
When last orders were called at the once-popular public house, the
brewery launched a bid to find a manager but nobody came forward and
it was put on the market.
The pub was then set to become a Turkish restaurant and then a halal
butchers – but neither happened.
Now plans have been submitted to turn one of Medway's oldest pubs
into six residential flats and build a first and second floor side
extension.
The pub closed in 2019 and was set to be a restaurant then a
butchers.
It includes alterations to the existing roof and construction of
dormer windows to facilitate the conversion of the upper floors into
apartments.
If approved, the former watering hole will include a single
one-bedroom unit and five, two-bedroom units as well as three
parking spaces.
Originally a farmhouse, which dates back to 1702, the Hen and
Chicks, was converted into an ale house in 1746 and was frequented
by brickmakers and agricultural workers.
Over the decades most of the once numerous pubs in Luton, which were
used by dockyard workers and servicemen, have closed with many
converted into homes.
At its peak, the Hen and Chicks was also a focal point for community
activities. |
LICENSEE LIST
GILLING Francis 1800+
BROWN Stephen 1807-11
WATSON James 1811-18
CACKETT Benjamin 1818-20
ROSE Thomas 1920-23
MISKIN James 1823-30
CHAMBERS John 1830-39
HUNT James 1839-41
CHAMBERS John 1840+
BARTLETT Elizabeth 1841-45 (widow)
INGLETON William 1845-46
BRIGHT William Potton to Feb/1846 dec'd
BRIGHT Mary Ann Feb/1846-47 (widow)
SWANN William 1847-49
PAYNE George 1849-51 (age 49 in 1851 )
WILLIAMS Thomas 1851-54
HOPPER Thomas 1854-60
OLIVER Edward 1860-68
McNIEL James 1868-70
STORRY William 1869 (Bankruptcy)
LANGRIDGE John Thomas 1870-14/July/91 dec'd (age 35
in 1871)
PILCHER William 1891-1919 (daughter's husband age 34 in 1901)
PILCHER Percy Edward 1919-20
PILCHER Bertha 1920-33 (widow)
PAYNE George Henry Trayton 1933-52
TILBURY Charles Cyril 1952-55
GREENSTREET William Edward 1955-58
POPPLE James 1958-66+
WEBB William R 1988-90+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/HenChickens.shtml
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
Census
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