DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 24 November, 2021.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1841-

Hook and Hatchet

Open 2020+

Church Road

Hucking

01622 880272

https://www.hookandhatchetpub.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/hook-hatchet

Hook and Hatchet 1900

Above photo, circa 1900, kindly supplied by Roger Fox.

Hook and Hatchet 1900

Above photo, circa 1900, with permission from Eric Hartland.

Hook and Hatchet 1908

Above postcard, circa 1908, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Hook and Hatchet 2006

Above photos, 14 February 2006, taken by Eric Hartland.

Hook and Hatchet 2011

Above photo 2011 by Oast House Archives Creative Commons Licence.

Hook and Hatchet sign 2011Hook and Hatchet sign 2018

Above sign left 2006-11+. Sign right 2018.

 

The "Hook and Hatchet" refers to the badge of a Chief Petty Officer Shipwright, who had authority to order timber-felling at a suitable site for wood to build and fit out ships.

(Information below from Brian Brockie, 2017.)

The "Hook and Hatchet" originally referred to the badge of a Chief Petty Officer ship-wright - who had the authority to order timber-felling for the construction and fitting-out of ships for the British Navy in bygone days. The "Hook & Hatchet" sits within the 600-acre Hucking Estate managed by the Woodland Trust, with miles of lovely walks starting form the pub. The "Hook & Hatchet" has been in existence for around 100 years after a local family applied for a "beer and cider only’ licence in the late 19th century. An earlier building of the same name was in use as a pub from at least the first half of the 19th century. The building is listed in the 1841 Census, with Elizabeth Sherwood as publican. The pub was put up for sale by the brewery in early 2015 - but failed to sell and was closed. An attempt to buy the pub, (designated as an asset of community value), by local entrepreneurs also failed, as the £450,000 asking price could not be met. After a further period of closure, the pub re-opened in June 2016. The pub has a long association with live music events and in September 2006 hosted a ‘Hookstock’ a major music festival event here. A repeat was planned for 2013 but the concept failed to mature. However, the pub once again embraced the live music ideology following its reopening in 2016, with regular jam nights and a summer festival event in 2017. My appearance here was at that event as I deputised on guitar with the Greytops - whose regular lead guitarist Ray Meredith had fallen ill at the last minute.

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 5 February 1859. Price 1d.

BURGLARY AT HUCKING

Francis Mayne, No. 23, hawker, was charged with breaking into the “Hook and Hatchet” public house, at the above named place, on the 16th ult., and stealing there from several articles to the value of about 5s, the property of Steven Sherwood, landlord.

Mr. Superintendent Blundell said that the prisoner was apprehended last night by police sergeant Hills; he how had no evidence to offer, but applied that the prisoner might be handed over to the county authorities, which was accordingly done. As a subsequent examination at the magistrates' clerk office before Captain Robinson, the prisoner was committed to take his trial.

 

Local News on this day 5th February 1859.

Francis Mayne was charged at the Magistrates' Clerk's Office on 4th February, in connection with the late burglary at the "Hook and Hatchet" at Hucking, kept by Mr Sherwood. Several pairs of gloves, shirts and various other articles were stolen, the property valued at £2 10 shillings. Entry to the property was effected by the window shutter being wrenched off, and an aperture was made in the frame only eight inches wide and eighteen inches long, through which the thief entered and left. Sergeant Hills, of the Maidstone Police, was searching the house in Bonny's Alley, in which the prisoner resided, for some other missing property, when he found a shirt and two pairs of gloves, belonging to Mr Sherwood. The prisoner said he obtained the property from two men named Williams and Matthews, who lived in Bedford Row, but nothing to criminate them was found in their possession, and they stoutly denied knowing anything of the matter. They certainly were rather suspicious looking characters, and acknowledged that they had been out ferreting with the prisoner. The prisoner frequently asserted that he was as "innocent as the bird flying in the air", however the magistrate committed him for trial at the Lent Assizes, at which he was surprisingly acquitted.

 

From the http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/feb/24/ukcrime 24 February 2006.

Police find raid cash in van.

Police investigating Britain's biggest-ever cash raid tonight confirmed some of the money had been found in a van in a Kent hotel car park.

The assistant chief constable of Kent police, Adrian Leppard, who is leading the hunt for the gunmen who raided the security depot in Tonbidge, Kent, on Tuesday night, said it was not yet known how much money had been discovered in the van, which was recovered outside the Ashford International Hotel after police received a tip-off from a member of the public.

Mr Leppard also said three people arrested in connection with the robbery, thought to have netted the raiders up to £50m in new and used bank notes, had all been released on police bail.

"We can confirm a quantity of cash has been found in the vehicle, but it is too early to speculate on how much," Mr Leppard said tonight. "We are linking this to the robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, but we cannot say yet how significant the find is. "The vehicle and its contents are now being examined for forensic evidence. This is a lengthy and thorough process and until this is completed we will not be in a position to give further information." Photos broadcast by Sky News showed two officers in white forensic suits removing a very large object wrapped in plastic sheeting. They appeared to struggle under the weight of the object, and a second photo showed two large objects wrapped in plastic on the ground alongside the van. Mr Leppard said a police hotline set up in the aftermath of the robbery had received over 400 calls and reiterated that there was a £2m reward for information about who carried out the raid.

Earlier, two e-fits of the man who posed as a police officer to trick the manager of the depot were released after detectives announced they had arrested a third person in connection with the robbery.

The people released tonight on bail included a 41-year-old woman who had been detained on suspicion of handling stolen goods at a building society in Bromley, south-east London, yesterday.

The woman had been trying to deposit bundles of cash bearing Tonbridge markings at the Portman Building Society when staff alerted police.

A 29-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman detained yesterday at two separate addresses in Forest Hill, south-east London, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery have also been released pending further inquiries.

Earlier, Mr Leppard said the manager of the Tonbridge depot and his family had been left traumatised by the events.

Colin Dixon, his wife Lynn and their son Craig were kidnapped during the raid. Today is Craig's ninth birthday.

Speaking at a press conference at Kent police headquarters in Maidstone, Mr Leppard pledged to protect witnesses who may be able to offer information about the robbery.

He urged those "around the edge" of the crime who knew who was responsible to come forward. He said: "You may be fearful about ringing in but I urge you to do so. We will look after you."

He also urged members of the public to report any suspicious activities. "We have callous professional gangsters that we need to catch," he said. "We are going to bring these people to book and we need your help to do so."

Police announced the discovery last night of the Volvo saloon car they believe was used by the gang to abduct Mr Dixon.

The car, which had been set on fire, was found in the village of Leeds, near Maidstone, around midnight. Officers were alerted by firefighters called to deal with the burning vehicle.

Mr Leppard said this was significant as it meant members of the gang were still in the local area last night.

Mr Dixon's silver Nissan Almera, which had been abandoned outside the "Cock Horse Inn" in Detling, near Maidstone, when he was abducted, was also recovered.

Scores of crime officers are carrying out forensic examinations of the two vehicles and a van thought to have also been used in the abduction of Mr Dixon and his family.

The van, believed to be a former Parcel Force vehicle, was found abandoned at the "Hook and Hatchet" pub in Hucking, also near Maidstone.

Police said the most important vehicle, the white Renault lorry used to take the cash from the depot, was still missing. It was captured on CCTV.

The armed gang, consisting of at least six people, stole up to £50m in new and used notes in the Wednesday morning raid on the Tonbridge security depot.

The robbery began when members of the gang dressed as police officers flagged down Mr Dixon as he drove home on Tuesday night.

He was taken to a rural location and then driven to the depot in a dark vehicle.

Other gang members also posing as police officers kidnapped his wife and son from their home in Herne Bay, threatening to kill them unless he cooperated.

They were driven to somewhere near Faversham, Kent, before being put in the back of a red van and taken to a building in a rural area.

From there they were put in the back of a white van and taken to the depot where 14 other members of staff were bound and held at gunpoint while the gang loaded the cash into a truck.

A police expert worked with the manager of the depot to compile the e-fit of the gang member who wore a police-style hat and high visibility jacket.

He is described as white, around 6ft tall, with a scruffy ginger beard that could have been false because it was a different colour from his hair. He had freckles on his cheeks and dark eyebrows.

Securitas and its insurers yesterday offered a £2m reward for information leading to the capture of the gang - one of the biggest rewards in criminal history.

Detectives hope it will persuade those on the periphery of the robbery, which is believed to have involved a large number of people, to come forward.

The 100-strong Kent police team is working with Scotland Yard, the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service to try to catch the gang before they leave the country.

Officers have already received more than 400 calls from members of the public, which are being followed up by detectives.

Police have not confirmed exactly how much money was stolen, and examinations of the depot by forensic experts have delayed attempts by Securitas to establish the amount.

Anyone with information should contact the Kent police incident room on 01622 652361 or 01622 652366.

 

In March 2015 the pub announced that they had been registered as an "Asset of the Community" and had raised £160,000, so hopefully it will soon be a thriving pub again.

 

From an email received 16 September 2015.

Subject: The Hook & Hatchet.

Good evening everyone,

I am sorry to have to inform you that unfortunately the community has not been able to raise the funds to purchase the pub. We gave it a good go with money being raised by the website, exploring grant issues and other ways of raising the money but over 500k proved to much to raise.

Our hope now is that someone purchases the pub and continues to run it as one. This being the case I hope you will all continue with your support. Dawn from the Downsmail will publicise the situation which will hopefully encourage investors.

Thanks again for your support

Samantha & Greg Mabb (Coldharbour Cottage, Scragged Oak Road).

 

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Rebecca Tuffin, 24 August 2019.

13 Kent pub gardens to visit this summer bank holiday weekend.

With this bank holiday weekend set to one of hottest yet, many will be longing for an ice-cold pint in a sunny beer garden.

So we have found some of the best Kent has to offer.

Listed below are 13 of the county's finest spots to meet with friends and indulge in good food and drink.

Hook and Hatchet.

Hook and Hatchet concert 2019

The Hook and Hatchet is hosting a festival this weekend.

A bit off the beaten track, The Hook and Hatchet is well worth climbing up Hollingbourne Hill and down the winding lanes of Hucking.

The spacious pub garden backs onto a field, where campers can rest for the night.

Hosting various live music events throughout the summer, this weekend is no different.

Woodland Weekender will see performances from bands and DJs Saturday and Sunday, with a cocktail bar and burger shack also on site.

 

LICENSEE LIST

SHERWOOD Mrs Elizabeth 1841-58 (widow age 79 in 1851Census) Melville's 1858

SHERWOOD Steven (son) 1859-67 (age 53 in 1861Census) Maidstone TelegraphPost Office Directory

SHERWOOD Stephen & Elizabeth (sister) to-Nov/1871+ (age 64 & 69 in 1871Census) Maidstone and Kentish Journal

SAGE William Nov/1871-82+ (age 63 in 1881Census) Maidstone and Kentish JournalPost Office Directory 1882

JACKSON Edward 1891-1911+ (age 55 in 1901Census) Kelly's 1903

 

Melville's 1858From Melville's Directory 1858

Maidstone TelegraphMaidstone Telegraph

Post Office DirectoryFrom the Post Office Directory

Maidstone and Kentish JournalMaidstone and Kentish Journal

Post Office Directory 1882From the Post Office Directory 1882

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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