TIGRE'S HEAD Pub of Bromley

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Bromley, January, 2026.

Page Updated:- Thursday, 22 January, 2026.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1832-

Tiger's Head

Latest 2010+

(Name to)

86 (14) Mason's Hill

Bromley Common

Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by Maria Walker.

Above photo, circa 1935, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo 2011 by Chris Whippet Creative Commons Licence.

Above sign May 1986.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

From the Bromley Record, June, 1859.

A Woman found Drowned.

Early on Monday morning, May 23, a woman was seen lying in the small rivulet, called Hayes Ford, by a person named Jones, who called the attention of William Russell, who was passing, and who (from some unaccountable cause, arising from a vulgar notion that bodies found in that way should not be touched till a coroner ordered it) went to give information at the police station, instead of getting her out. Jones in the meantime went to the farm close by, and with the assistance of a female, who thought more of saving life than of waiting for coroner’s orders, got the body out of the water; but life was quite extinct. The body was removed to the "Tiger's Head," Mason’s-hill, where an inquest was held the same evening, but was adjourned till Monday, the 30th, to obtain further evidence, and for a post mortem examination. In answer to a question respecting the further disposal of the body, the coroner ordered it to be taken to the dead-house, to remain a reasonable time with a view to its being owned, and then to be buried. A juryman stated there was no convenient place in the parish, upon which the coroner observed that the landlord could have it removed from his premises to those of the overseers, if he chose, as an Inn was intended for the accommodation of the living and not for the dead.

The adjourned inquest was held at the "Tiger’s Head" on Monday evening, the 30th, when George Tyler, a labourer, of Lewisham, identified the body as that of his wife. He said they were married in 1847; she was about 55 years of age; of very drunken habits. She left home on Thursday, the 19th; I had not quarrelled with her; never used any violence to her.

Mr. J. W. Llott, Surgeon, of Bromley, said he had made a post mortem examination of the body. There were a few slight scratches, but no marks of violence; the enlargement of the liver and congestion of the brain indicated intemperance; but there could be no doubt that deceased came by her death from drowning.

Verdict:— Found drowned but how or by what means there is no evidence.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Saturday 7 July 1866.

Counterfeit Coin.

Martha Franklin, 35, widow, was charged with unlawfully uttering counterfeit half-crowns and a florin, she well knowing the same to be counterfeit, at Bromley, on the 3rd May.

Mr. T. J. Smith prosecuted.

William Cook, landlord of the "Tigers Inn," Bromley Common proved that the prisoner came to his house for a glass of ale, for which she tendered half a crown, and received in change to 2s. 1 1/2d. Soon after prisoner was gone witness ascertained that the half- crown was counterfeit.

Prisoner then went to the "Rising Sun Inn" for a glass of ale, and in payment gave a counterfeit florin. The coin was detected and returned to the prisoner, when she paid in good coin.

The jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended her to mercy, and she was sentenced to 6 months' hard labour.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 10 July 1866.

SECOND COURT. (Before Reginald Fowler, Esq.)

Passing Bad Money at Bromley.

Martha Franklin. 35, widow, was charged with uttering two counterfeit half-crowns and a florin, knowing the same to be counterfeit, at Bromley, on the 3rd May. Mr. F. J. Smith prosecuted.

It appears that the prisoner on the day in question went to the “Tiger’s Head,” Mason’s-hill, Bromley, and called for a glass of ale, tendering a half-crown in payment. Mr. Cook, the landlord, whose attention was distracted by her flurry “to catch the train,” took the money without noticing its worthlessness, and gave the prisoner the change. She then went to Mr. Killick’s, the “Railway Signal,” and presented another half-crown, received the change, and went away. Meanwhile Mr. Cook discovered that the money was bad, and in going for the police called at Mrs. Killick’s, who discovered that the half-crown prisoner had tendered her also was counterfeit. Prisoner, meantime, had gone to Mrs. Haddon’s, who at once detected her in an attempt to pass a bad florin. P.C. Harding was called in, and he took the prisoner into custody.

The jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended her to mercy on the ground of her previous good character. She was sentenced to six months’ hard labour.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, 3 September 1870.

Fatal accident through careless driving.

On Friday and inquest was held at the "Tiger's Head Inn," Masons Hill, Bromley, to inquire into the cause of death of Mr Edward Guildford.

The jury have returned from viewing the body, which was at the Cottage Hospital, the following evidence was given before Mr. Carttar, coroner for the district.

Mrs. Harriet Guildford said the deceased was her husband, and was by trade a greengrocer, living in the Old Kent Road. On the 15th of August she went to Halstead on a visit, and in the evening of that day her husband came through Bromley with a horse and trap to meet her. She did not see him until after the accident had occurred. He was then insensible.

George Bligh, a butcher, living at Mr. Covell's, said on the day in question he saw the deceased coming down the town driving very carelessly. Seeing he was rather the worst would drink he stopped him and told him to be careful. Deceased said he would, but he had got a fidgety horse to drive. He then went away, in two or three minutes afterwards he saw some boys running. He asked them what was the matter, and they said a man has been thrown out of his cart. He then went down the street and saw the deceased lying on the ground. It was about half-past eight o'clock in the evening. Charles Adams, a bricklayer, residing at Bromley, said he was walking along the road near the Bromley Railway Station, on the evening of the accident, when he saw the deceased coming along in a cart. After he had passed him, he looked round and found the deceased had run into a waggon. He was driving on the wrong side of the road. The concussion through him right across the road, and he fell on his head. Witness ran and picked him up. Deceased at the time was driving at a very slow pace. The horse fell down, and the car rolled over. No fault whatsoever was attached to the driver of the waggon. When he picked deceased up, he was insensible, and was bleeding at the ear. The coronary remarked that bleeding at the ear was generally a fatal sign.

Mrs. Hannah Payne said she resided in the Old Kent Road, and the deceased was her son-in-law. When she heard of the accident, she came down to the Cottage Hospital where deceased was, and found him insensible. She remained with him until the time of his death. He was at times conscious, but could not speak. There was every attention paid to him. The medical attendant told her at first there was scarcely any hopes of his recovery. He died on Wednesday, the 24th.

The coroner observed that there was quite sufficient evidence before them to return a verdict, death evidently been caused through the accident. At the same time he remarked that the Bromley Cottage Hospital was a most valuable institution, for it might be the means of saving life in cases of accident, as death sometimes occurred through patients having to be taken a long distance. He therefore considered this hospital should be well supported.

The jury then returned a verdict of accidental death.

From the Alcester Chronicle, Saturday 24 December, 1881.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO A PUBLISHER.

Mr. E. A. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, has held an inquest at the "Tiger’s Head, Bromley, Kent, on the body of Frederick Augustus Barnard, publisher of the Sporting Times, who met with his death through falling under a train at Shortlands Station. Evidence was given stating that deceased arrived at Shortlands Station by the 8.12 p.m. train, and that he failed to get out of the carriage until the train started. Ha then jumped quite clear of the train, but turned and tried to shut the carriage door with his right hand, at the same time having in his left hand a basket of fish, a hare, a bottle, an umbrella, and some newspapers. Ha succeeded in closing the door, but the ground being wet and slippery, he fell on to the footboard and the platform, and as the train passed along fell between the couplings of the second and third carriages, and the remainder of the train passed over him. He was picked up and taken to the Cottage Hospital, where Dr. W. Beeby amputated the left leg, the bone of which had been crushed and cracked in a frightful manner. After the amputation he remained quite insensible, and died some hours afterwards. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," and attributed blame to no one. During the inquiry several of the jurors expressed a wish to hear the evidence of the lady superintendent of the hospital, Mrs. Ellen Mary Burten Ravenhill, but she declined to come, and the coroner had to issue a warrant, and she was brought up in custody. The coroner reminded her that he could inflict a very heavy penalty in these cases, and he detained her in custody until the termination of the inquiry.

Some time around about the year 2000 it was renamed "Mr Q's" but as yet do not know for how long it had this name.

I am informed by Roget Pester in 2016 that the pub is now called the "Crown and Pepper."

LICENSEE LIST

LAMBERT John "James" 1832-51+ (widower age 83 in 1851)