Bridge Street
Penshurst
The drawing of Pound's Bridge, near Penshurst is in itself a valuable
document, recording the condition of the house as it was during the
first half of the nineteenth century. Some time however between 1847 and
1868 the fabric was sadly altered. The picturesque doorway and
porch-passage formed in the open timbering of the left hand wing are now
no more; the whole of the ground floor wood-work (with the exception of
the window frames) having been swept away for a re-facement of plain
wall. The house, subsequently turned into an inn, was originally the
parsonagee. It bears the date 1593 and the wooden initials W.D. in the
centre of the front, showing that it was erected by Rev. William
Darknoll, who however, only lived to enjoy it for three years. He died
in 1596 and was buried in Penshurst Church, where his memorial slab may
still be seen on the north wall of the chancel.” |
Above engraving 1906. |
Above postcard, circa 1910, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo 1920. |
Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 28 January 1938.
Above photo, 1938. |
Passage taken from the book "The Old Inns of Old England"
Vol 2.
An inn with a similar history to that just mentioned—although
by no means so humble—is the “Pounds Bridge” inn, on a secluded road
between Speldhurst and Penshurst, in Kent. As will be seen by the
illustration, it is an exceedingly picturesque example of the
half-timbered method of construction greatly favoured in that district,
both originally and in modern revival. It is, however, a genuine
sixteenth-century building, and was erected, as the date upon it clearly
proclaims, in 1593. The singular device of which this date forms a part
is almost invariably a “poser” to the passer-by. The “W” is sufficiently
clear, but the other letter, like an inverted Q, is not so readily
identified. It is really the old Gothic form of the letter D, and was
the initial of William Darkenoll, rector of Penshurst, who built the
house for a residence, in his sixty-ninth year: as “E.T.A. 69”—his
quaint way of rendering “aet.,” i.e. aetatis suae—rather obscurely
informs us. Three years later, July 12th, 1596, William Darkenoll died,
and for many years—to the contrary the memory of man runneth not—the
house he built and adorned with such quaint conceits has been a rustic
inn.
|
Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 30 August 1878.
Our public houses.
The following report was laid before the Justice's on Tuesday by
Superintendent Kewell:- Kent County Constabulary, Tunbridge division,
27th August, 1878.
Beer house at Pounds Bridge, Penshurst, kept by William Hazelden,
who on the 27th December, 1877, was fined £2. and 9s. costs, and the
license endorsed.
|
Also known as the "King's Arms"
and could well have had the two names at the same time.
LICENSEE LIST
HAZELDEN William 1878+
TOTMAN George 1881-91+ (also carpenter & baker age 54 in 1891 )
HUGGETT Alfred James 1938+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/BridgeInn.shtml
|