DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Monday, 30 October, 2023.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1828-

Star Inn

Open 2020+

Maidstone Road

Matfield Green

01892 725458

https://www.thestarmatfield.com/

https://whatpub.com/star-inn

Star Hotel

Above photo, date unknown showing the horse-drawn bus from Tonbridge.

Star Inn

Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by Mark Jennings.

Star Inn Star 2014 Star sign 1985

Above photos by Paul Skelton, 11 April 2014.

Sign left, May 1985.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Star 2015

Above photo kindle sent by Tricia Francis, 5 April 2015.

Star Inn matchbox

Above matchbox, circa 1980s, kindly sent by Debi Birkin.

 

Project 2014 has been started to try and identify all the pubs that are and have ever been open in Kent. I have just added this pub to that list but your help is definitely needed regarding it's history.

As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will be shown here.

Thanks for your co-operation.

 

Maidstone Journal, 23 August, 1842.

Brenchley.

On Tuesday last, as Mr. Wenham, landlord of the "Star Inn," Matfield Green, was passing through Parrock wood, in this parish, he was attacked by a swarm of wasps. Mr. W. in endeavouring to defend himself took off his hat to beat them off; but the swarm increasing, he was completely surrounded by hundreds of them and most dreadfully stung about the head and face. Fortunately he was near a house into which he fled for protection, and, with the kind assistance of the good woman, he got relieved of his tormentors. Mr. W. had received so much injury that it was with difficulty he reached home, and still severely suffers from the effects of this alarming encounter.

 

Southeastern Gazette, 22 February 1853.

Death.

Feb 11. after a protracted illness, borne with exemplary fortitude, Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Wenman, of the "Star Inn," Matfield-green, Brenchley, and formerly of the "Star Inn," Heathfield, (East Sussex) age 55.

 

Southeastern Gazette, 22 February 1853.

BRENCHLEY.

On Monday an inquest was held at the "Star Inn," Matfield-green, before W.  T. Neve, Esq., deputy coroner, to enquire as to the death of Mrs. Jane Dartnell.

Eliza, wife of Charles Hickmott, deposed:— Deceased was thirty-seven years of age, and has been ill for a week or two. Last Tuesday morning, at about five o’clock, I was sent for to see deceased; I found her in bed, dangerously ill. She complained of violent pain in her side. My husband went for Mr. Monckton, who being from home, I sent for Mr. Whittle, who came a little after six o’clock. I continued in attendance on her as nurse until Wednesday evening. Mr. Whittle attended until Thursday morning, and sent her two bottles of medicine, one of which only she took, saving she thought the linseed tea I had made for her suited her best, and that she didn’t hold with the doctor. I saw her again on Thursday morning, down stairs. Her husband does not sleep at home, but at his mistress’s, an old invalid lady, who lives about a mile distant. There was a little girl in the house, fifteen years old, who attended deceased on Wednesday night. I got her some breakfast on Thursday, and then left her, as I was not engaged as a nurse. In about an hour the little girl came in for me, and I went immediately. The deceased was then up stairs on the bed, partly undressed. She said "I was in pain, and I took some of these Morrison’s pills," and added "I ought not to have done so." She seemed much worse and laboured for breath very much; she also, said "I’ve been drinking a little gin." Mr. Whittle came in about twelve o’clock. By his desire I sent the little girl for deceased’s husband; this was about twelve o’clock, but her husband did not return I home until eight. I didn’t see deceased again until Friday morning, at a quarter to four; she died at half-past eight.

Ann Norman, aged 14, deposed:— I have been nurse-maid to the deceased nearly two years. The deceased was first taken ill last Thursday week. Mr. Whittle first attended her and afterwards Mr. Monckton. At about halfpast twelve in the night of Wednesday last she desired me to get her a box of Morrison’s pills from the table drawer. She took twelve of the pills then, and an hour or two afterwards took fifteen more. She seemed in a good deal of pain afterwards in her side. She had been accustomed to taka these pills four or five at a time. I went for her husband on the Thursday at noon; he was having his dinner, but ha said he would come as soon as he could; he did not come until eight o’clock, although I told him how ill his wife was. Mrs. Lambert was with her all the afternoon. I counted the pills for her into a spoon; twelve the first time and fifteen afterwards. She said she took them because she was in pain, and that she thought they would do her good. She took the pills in jelly out of the spoon.

Sarah, wife of Alexander Lambert, deposed:— I live near the deceased. Last Thursday afternoon I went in to nurse her, and remained with her all that night. She told me she had taken tweuty-seven of Morrison’s pills, and was sorry she had taken them, that she did not generally take more than four at a time; that if her head had been right she should not have taken so many. She died on Friday morning, a little before eight. She was insensible all Thursday night. She told me on Thursday that she had taken about half a pint of gin in the morning. I saw her about twelve on Thursday; she had been relaxed all the morning, but that ceased altogether at about four or five in the afternoon. I observed that she was almost lost all Thursday; that she didn’t seem to know what she was about. Mr. Whittle told me she had inflammation of the lungs.

Mr. Stephen Monckton, surgeon, deposed:— I first saw the deceased on Thursday, the 8th inst., at about three in the afternoon; she was then labouring under severe inflammation of the right lung; and was besides under great mental excitement bordering on acute mania. Her life was then in considerable danger. I didn’t prescribe anything for her, finding that Mr. Whittle was in attendance. I heard nothing of the case until Thursday, when I saw her in the evening, and found that she had taken the pills and gin, as detailed by the other witnesses. In my opinion inflammation of the lungs was the cause of her death, but it became so to a great extent from the aggravation arising from the combined influence of the pills, gin, and exposure.

The jury, having consulted some time, returned the verdict that, deceased died of inflammation of the lungs, aggravated by a large dose of Morrison’s pills and a quantity of gin indiscreetly taken by herself.

(Morrison's Pills worked by clearing out the system like a laxative)

 

Kentish Gazette, 22 February 1853.

Brenchley.

DEATH FROM TAKING MORRISON'S PILLS.

An inquest was held at the "Star Inn," Matfield Green, on Monday last, before T. Neve. Esq., and a respectable jury, of which Mr. A. G. Diamond was foreman, to inquire into the cause of the death of Jane Dartnell, aged 37, wife of Wm. Durtnell, a labouring man, residing at Matfield, grocer.

Mrs. Hickmott deposed that she lived in the adjoining cottage to the deceased; site was called into the deceased by a little girl named Norman, on the morning of Tuesday, the 8th; she found her extremely ill, and recommended medical attendance. Mr. Whittle, surgeon, of Brenchley, attended, and administered some medicine, part of which deceased took, and refused the remainder; she continued to get worse until Friday morning, when she died. Witness had understood the deceased had taken two large doses of Morrison's pills.

Ann Norman, aged 13, deposed that she had lived with deceased for some time past. During the last week deceased bad been very ill; Mr. Whittle had attended her but she refused to take the medicine sent by him; she had been in the habit of taking Morrison's pills. On the night of Wednesday she desired witness to give her a box of Morrison's pills that she had in the house; she took 15 of them at once, and in a short time afterwards she took 12 more; on Thursday she was much worse and died on Friday morning. Deceased had also taken a considerable quantity of gin from a cupboard in her room.

Sarah Lambert, a neighbour, deposed that he was called in to the deceased on Thursday; she found her in what she thought to be a dying state. She was informed of the quantity of pills she had taken, and immediately sent for Dr. Stephen Monckton, who, on arriving, pronounced her case to be hopeless.

Stephen Monckton, M.D., deposed:— On being called to the deceased on Thursday, I found her to be labouring under a severe attack of inflammation of the lungs. I was informed of the quantity of pills and gin she had taken, which I knew would have the most baneful effects on her; I prescribed what I thought to be necessary; on Friday morning I heard she was dead.

The jury, after consulting a considerable time, returned the following verdict:— "The deceased died from inflammation of the lungs, death being accelerated by taking a large quantity of Morrison's pills and gin, she being unconscious at the time of what she was doing."

 

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Monday 21 October 1867.

Housebreaking at Brenchley.

William Thomsett, was indicted for breaking into the house of William Collins, of Brenchley, on the 8th of October, and stealing some cake and cheese there from.

Mr. Biron prosecuted, and Mr. Barrow defended.

William Collins, labourer, living at Matfield Green, said he was uncle to the prisoner. On the 8th of October he went home to dinner, and left at ten minutes past one to go back to work. When he left everything was safe in the house. Before going out to he picked up a needle and put it on the window sill. He returned to the house soon after 6, having heard that someone has broken into his house. He met P.C. Marsh, and they examined the premises, and on the window sill they noticed a fresh mark. Soon afterwards the prisoner was taken to the prosecutor's house, and a knife taken from him, which he admitted was his. The knife was fitted to the mark on the sill, and found to correspond with it. Outside the window they noticed some footmarks. There were ten panes of the window glass broken, having a space sufficient for a man to get through. Prisoner was asked to compare his footmarks with those by the window, but he said he did not care about it. The policeman then took one of his boots and compared it with the the mark and it was found to correspond. His wife found the button inside the room, near the window. Marsh asked prisoner if he had got a button off his clothes, but he said he did not think he had. Marsh then examined his clothes and found one of his buttons missing. The button was similar to others on prisoners clothes. Prisoner said to witness, "Collins, I hope you won't transport me."

Cross-examined:- Prisoner was at my house on the Sunday previous to my house being broken into.

Mary Collins, wife of the former witness, on returning home on the evening question, found a box had been broken into and the contents turned over. There was some cake and cheese taken off the table. She corroborated her husband's statement as to finding the button and hearing prisoner ask him not to transport him. The cake would produce crumbs like those produced.

P.C. Marsh, stationed at Brenchley, said he went on the 8th of October to Collins' Cottage, and found ten panes of glass broken, and an aperture sufficient for a man to get through. He observed the mark on the window sill, and took the knife produced from prisoner. He saw prisoner at his own house about 8 o'clock, and told him prosecutor's house had been broken into, and he wanted to see what he had in his pockets, because some cake and cheese had been stolen. He said, "How did you know it was me?" Witness asked him if he had been wearing the same boots all day as he then had on. He took him to the Collins' house, and compared the knife with a mark on the window sill. Prisoner said he did not care about seeing his boots compared with the footmarks, but the constable took his boots off and compared them with the marks, and found them to correspond exactly. There were several peculiarities about the boots, which was similar to the marks. Witness asked prisoner if he had lost any of his buttons, and he said he did not know he had. The button found in the room was compared with those on prisoners trousers, and it was found that one was missing.

Cross-examined:- I served the summons on three of the prisoner's witnesses, and amongst them one on Larking. I did not ask him any questions of the evidence he was going to give. I asked him if he was with the prisoner on the day in question. I did not say anything to him about penitentiaries. I afterwards saw Larking in company with P.C. Tucker. I did not hear Tucker say anything to the boy about penitentiaries or reformatories.

Mr. Barrow put several questions to the witness concerning the instructions received by the police to prosecute their enquiries in criminal cases, and the interest they had for the conviction of prisoners, which were objected to by Mr. Byron, and it was decided that the point should be reserved for judicial opinion to be taken in case of a conviction.

Sergeant Mayne, stationed at Hadlow, corroborated the last witness is evidence as to the footmarks.

James Boulden said he saw the prisoner pass the plantation where he was at work between 4 and 5 in the afternoon, going towards the prosecutors house.

Cross-examined:- That was after I heard that the house had being broken into. When I saw prisoner he was coming from the direction of Gage's Farm.

Thomas W. Sharpe, living with his father, a grocer, at Matfield Green, said he saw prisoner between 1:30 and 2:30, going in the direction of the road leading to Collins' house.

Cross-examine:- If a person were going from the "Star Inn" to Chandlers' house, he would have been going in the direction that I saw him. There might have been another person in his company that I did not see.

This being the case for the prosecution, Mr. Byron briefly summed up.

Mr. Barrow addressed the jury for the defence at some length, and stated that he would be enabled to prove an alibi.

He called Henry Goad, who said that on the 8th of October he met the prisoner at the "Star Inn," Matfield, about 11 o'clock, and they remained together until 1:30, when prisoner left in company with Larking. They went in the direction of Chantler's house.

Cross-examined:- Prisoner was not out of my sight until 1:30, when he left with Larking.

Samuel Larking said he lived with his father at Gage's Farm, Brenchley. On the morning of 8th October he was at the "Star Inn." Prisoner joined him in the taproom. He lost sight of him for sometime, but he ultimately joined him again. Between 1 and 2 o'clock they left the "Star Inn" together, and went to Chantler's house. The road to Chantler's would take them past Sharp's shop. Witness and prisoner remained there sometime, and then went to Kemp's Beerhouse. On leaving there they went by Gage's farm, and prisoner then left him. That was all about 4:40. Prison was not out of his company more than 2 or 3 minutes from the time they left "Star Inn" until nearly 5 o'clock.

Elizabeth Chantler remember prisoner and Larking going to her house to see her husband about 1:30 on the day that Collins's house was broken into. When they left they went in the direction of Kemp's beer shop. Prisoners mother and witness made cakes that would produce crumbs like those produced.

By the Chairman:- I am certain prisoner and Larking could not have come from the five wents when they came to my house.

Mrs. Kemp said her husband kept the beer shop. Prisoner and Larking went to her house between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon on the 8th inst.

The learned Counsel on both sides having replied on the evidence, the Chairman carefully summed up the case to the jury.

The jury after a short deliberation acquitted the prisoner. This case occupied the court 4 hours.

 

LICENSEE LIST

HARTRIDGE Richard 1828+ Pigot's Directory 1828-29

BOWLES Thomas 1832-34+ Pigot's Directory 1832-34

WENHAM Joseph 1842-62+ (widower age 65 in 1861Census)

WENHAM Joseph 1871+ (also butcher age 39 in 1871Census)

DUNK David 1874+ (also butcher)

SMITH John 1881+ (age 56 in 1881Census)

PARKES James P 1891+ (also butcher age 38 in 1891Census)

JEFFERY Thomas 1901-11+ (age 55 in 1911Census) Kelly's 1903

HOARE Arthur John 1913+

HALL Arthur John 1918+

Peoples Refreshment House Association Ltd 1938+

???? Keith & Maureen 1980s?

https://pubwiki.co.uk/Star.shtml

https://pubwiki.co.uk/Star1.shtml

 

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

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

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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