DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Chatham, December, 2023.

Page Updated:- Saturday, 16 December, 2023.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1793-

White Hart

Latest ????

262 High Street / Rhode Street

Chatham

White Hart 1930s

Above photo circa 1930, kindly supplied by Tony Smith.

White Hart 2015

Above photo 2015 by Darkstar.

Former White Hart 2017

Above Google image, 2017, showing 262 High Street.

 

The pub was situated at the corner of Rhode Street. In the 1874 directory and before the address was 237, but in 1881 it was addresses as number 3.

I also have reference to a "New White Hart" also in the High Street, and also an "Old White Hart" at 31 Brook Street, but as yet don't know the connection between them.

 

Kentish Gazette 5 May 1819.

Death.

May 2, at Chatham, Mrs. Eden, wife of Mr. Eden of the "White Hart."

 

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Tuesday 26 November 1844.

Whereas, a petition of John Robert Alexander, formerly of the "Lower Bell Inn," Aylesford, Kent, licensed victualler, then of "Kits Cotty House," Aylesford, aforesaid, out of business, then of Moat Road, Maidstone Kent, out of business, and then of the "White Hart" public house, Chatham, Kent, licence victualler, and late of the same place, waiter, having been filed in the Court of Bankruptcy and the Interim Order for Protection from Process having been given to the said John Robert Alexander, under the provisions of the statute in the case made and provided, the said John Robert Alexander is hereby required to appear in Court before Edward Holroyd, Esq., the Commissioners acting in the matter of the said Petition, on the 12th day of December next, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon precisely, at the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall Street, London, for the purpose of his first examination touching his Debts, Estate, and Effects, and to be further dealt with accordingly to the provision of the said estate; and notice is hereby given, that the choice of Assignees is to take place at the time so appointed.

All person's indebted to the said John Robert Alexander, or that have any of his effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to Mr. James Foster Groom, No. 12, Abchurch Lane, Lombard Street, the Official Assignee, nominated in that behalf by the Commissioner acting in the matter of the petition.

James Johnstone. Messenger.

 

Kentish Gazette, 7 December 1847.

ROBBERY AT CHATHAM BARRACKS.

At the County Magistrates’ Office, Rochester, on Wednesday, the 24th ult. John Prophet and Peter Robinson, both privates belonging to the 63d Regiment, stationed at Chatham Barracks, were charged with stealing a £5 Bank of England note, from a box belonging to Lance-Sergeant John Prophey, of the same corps, which note had been entrusted to him by Lieut. L. V. Reynolds, the officer who commands his company, to pay the soldiers of the company with. The Sergeant said that at seven o'clock on Saturday evening the Bank-note was safe in his box which stood at the head of his cot in the Barrack-room; that at eight o’clock he went to the box to get his pay list out, and he then missed the little bag which contained the note. The two prisoners occupied quarters in the same room with him; and at half-past seven o’clock the prisoner Prophet asked him if he should make his bed down, which he allowed the prisoner to do. The box at that time stood with the lid up, and when he missed the money both prisoners were gone, and as they were absent at tattoo suspicion fell upon them that they had stolen it. He went in search of them; they were however taken by the picquets during the evening and lodged in the guard-house; and on searching the prisoner Prophet the bag that contained the £5 note was found in his trowsers pocket. Evidence was also given that the prisoners were together that night at the "White Hart" public-house, in the Brook, at Chatham, and there offered a £5 note in payment for some beer, but the landlady, Mrs. Chambers, could not give change, and she gave the note back again to one of the prisoners, who sent the waiter out to get change elsewhere, and the waiter procured five sovereigns from Mrs. Butcher, at the "Golden Lion Inn," as the waiter said for his master. The waiter did not return with the change, and he has not been seen since. Mrs. Butcher produced the £5 note, but the sergeant could not identify it as the one he had lost. The prisoner Prophet confessed to the robbery, and Robinson said he was led into the scrape. Both the prisoners were committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions at Maidstone.

 

From the Kentish Gazette, 5 September 1848.

August 31. Desperate Case or Self-Destruction.

Yesterday afternoon a coroner's inquest was held by J. Hinde, Esq., one of the county coroner’s for Kent, at the "White Hart" public-house, High-street, Chatham, touching the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Noakes, the wife of a carpenter residing at No. 5, Rhode-street, who cut her throat with a razor. It appeared that the deceased and her husband occupied furnished apartments at the house of Mrs. Eastwood. Some words passed between the landlady and the deceased, which induced Mrs. Eastwood to make a complaint before the county magistrates, and the bench, upon her statement, granted a summons for the deceased to appear to answer the assault. The deceased, hearing that the constable had the summons to serve upon her, became much excited, and she declared she could not go before the justices. As the day approached for attendance, at 12 o'clock, which was Friday, her spirits were much affected; and the deceased's daughter, who is married and lives close by her mother, seeing on Friday morning, a little after 11 o'clock, that the window curtains of her mother’s bed-room were not undrawn, proceeded to the room, and found her mother standing up by the bedside, behind the door, undressed, and seeing a hand-basin on the dressing table with blood she asked her mother what she had done, and finding that she could not speak, she took a wrapper from her neck, and found that her throat was cut. She immediately alarmed the neighbourhood, and Mr. Steddy, surgeon, was soon in attendance, and sewed up the wound and bandaged it. In the blood in the basin was found an open razor. The deceased had told Mrs. Robinson, a neighbour, the , day after she had cut her throat, that on the Thursday she had taken three pennyworth of poison, which had made her sick. Mr. Edward Steddy, surgeon, who attended the deceased, said the cause of death was owing to the great loss of blood, causing considerable exhaustion, together with a sudden attack of the bowel complaint, which verdict the jury returned.

 

From the Kentish Gazette, 5 December 1848.

CHATHAM. Military Affray at Chatham.

On Saturday evening some serious effects were anticipated in consequence of some men belonging to the Royal Marines manifesting a disposition of violence at the "White Hart" public-house, in the High-street. Being, however, foiled in their object at that house, they left and entered the tap-room at the "Woolpack," where some men belonging to the 17th Regiment and some soldiers of the Provisional Battalion and civilians were sitting. A soldier of the Marine Artillery, and a private of the Marines, entered first and asked who had any thing to say about a "Pig Marine," and not meeting with a reply, and the landlady refusing to draw them any beer, a signal was given, and immediately from 30 to 40 marines entered the tap-room and commenced fighting with every one present. Resistance was offered, and a serious disturbance ensued; every sort of weapon was seized in defence, and blood flowed pretty freely from those who received wounds. One marine had his nose split from the blow of a pewter pot, and the tap-room tables and flooring were marked with blood in several places. The police-constables were sent for, who, seeing the violence of the soldiers, sent an express to the barracks for assistance, and but for the timely arrival of about a dozen pickets together with the inlaying picket, commanded by an officer, some lives would have been lost, as there was nearly a thousand civilians collected, some taking one part and some the other; but owing to the orderly conduct of the men of the several pickets the ringleaders were secured and marched off to the guard room. No blame whatever attaches to either the men of the 17th or the Provisional Battalion in provoking the outrage. They were sitting quietly and were sober when their assailants came in. This affair is to be investigated by the commandant. The landlady of the "Woolpack" has identified the marine artillerymen and also the marine as the ringleaders.

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 10 March, 1860. Price 1d.

KENT QUARTER SESSIONS

Henry Baker, a lad, for stealing at Bromley, on the 5th Jan., a coat, 10 handkerchiefs, 7 scarves, 2 shirts, several neck ties, and other articles, value 40s., the property of Samuel Porter.

Mr. Russell for the prosecution. Mr. Biron for the defence.

Joseph Jessup, shop-boy to Mr. Porter, said his master had some woollen scarves in stock shortly before Christmas. The prisoner had been in the habit of coming to the shop. He used to come about half-past eight in the morning. Sometimes he used to sit on a box, near the window and near the goods. He used to stay and chat about a quarter of an hour. Witness sometimes had occasion to leave the shop. On Wednesday, after Christmas, witness asked prisoner whether he had got the servant's handkerchief. He gave witness her handkerchief to take down to her, and told witness to ask if she had his handkerchief. He then requested him to go down again; he did so. Witness was away from shop the first time about ten minutes, and only a few minutes the second. The scarves were missing just before Christmas. None of them had been sold to the prisoner. Shortly before Christmas his master had some great coats in stock also. No coats had been sold to the prisoner. Witness was generally in the shop, but not always.

By Mr. Byron:- The prisoner was a friend of his and used occasionally to come into the shop to chat with witness. He (witness) was only shop-boy. When he first went to the shop the prisoner used to purchase articles, but had not purchased any to his knowledge during the last twelve months.

Re-examined:- There were two doors to the shop, which he used to fasten when he left.

Francis Brooker, the wife of James Brooker, of the “White Hart Inn,” Bromley, said the prisoner had been lodging at her grandmother's, and also slept in her house on the sofa occasionally. He had a small box at her house and a larger one at her grandmother's. About a fortnight before Christmas the prisoner brought to her 3 scarves, and 4 silk pocket handkerchiefs, and asked her to sell them for him, saying he was out of a situation, and wanted to get to London. She sold the scarves, there were 7 in all, and gave the money to the prisoner. There were two in a piece that had not been cut. She sold 3 to Mrs. Ellis, at 1s. each, and 2 more to Mrs. Boorman, and left with that person 2 other scarf's, and 2 silk handkerchiefs, for her to sell. The articles were sold and the prisoner received the money. A short time after this Mr. Porter came to her, and in consequence of what he told her she looked in the prisoner's box and found 6 neckerchiefs there.

Jane Boorman, deposed to purchasing 2 scarf's from Mrs. Brooker, and said, that person gave her 2 silk handkerchiefs to sell, she sold them to Mrs. Brister for 2s. each, and sent the money to the prisoner.

Alfred Boorman, a little boy, stated that Mrs. Brooker gave him some handkerchiefs and scarf's to sell. He sold 2 scarf's to Mr. Mitchell foe 1s. 6d., and 2 to Mr. Batchelor for 2s., and took the money to Henry Baker (the prisoner).

Thomas King, a police sergeant at Bromley, said he apprehended the prisoner at his mothers house, and on searching his box he found it in a great coat and two cotton shirts, (produced). When at the police station, he took from the prisoner a new vest and scarf, which he was wearing. The remainder of the articles witness obtained from the above named parties. Most of the articles were identified by the prosecutor as his property, and the prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to 6 months' hard labour.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 24 April, 1860.

Wednesday. (Before the Rev. G. Davies.)

William Marsham Milton and George Walker Bartlett, privates in the 53rd Regt., were charged with robbing a private of the 73rd Regt., named John Orill, corporal, of a purse containing three sovereigns.

Prosecutor said he was in a room in a cottage at the back of the "White Hart" public-house, Chatham, on Monday evening, and after he had been there about five minutes the two prisoners and another soldier ran in. He was quite positive the prisoner Malton was one of the men, but was not sure as to the other prisoner. The instant the three men entered the room they rushed on prosecutor, when Milton placed his hand on his mouth to prevent him calling for assistance. Feeling sure that the object of the men was to rob him he took his purse, which contained three sovereigns, out of his pocket, and held it tightly in his hand. The men, however, overpowered him and got his purse out of his hand. Prosecutor could recollect that the prisoner Milton took the purse from him, and all three then made their way out of the house, followed by prosecutor, who traced them to the "Swan" public-house, where he lost sight of them. During the time Milton was taking the purse from him he gave him a violent blow in the face with his fist.

Charles Wier, a private in 73rd Regt., said he was in the "Swan" public-house on Monday evening, when he saw the prisoner Milton and two other soldiers rush through the tap-room into a rope-walk at the back. Witness followed them and heard them talking, but it was too dark for him to distinguish who they were.

At this stage of the proceedings the prisoners were remanded until Friday.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 24 April, 1860.

Friday. (Before the Rev. G. Davies and W. A. Nicholson, Esq.)

William Matthew Milton and George Walter Bartlett, the two soldiers of the 63rd Regt. who stood remanded on a charge of robbing, with violence, a soldier of the 73rd Regt., of a purse containing £3 and an Indian coin, were brought up for final examination, and committed for trial.

 

South Eastern Gazette, 31 July, 1860.

Robbery from the Person at Chatham.

George Matthew Milton, 22, and George Walter Bartlett, 20, soldiers, were charged with having stolen certain money from John Oriel, with violence, at Chatham, on the 16th April. Mr. Lilley was for the prosecution, and Mr. Ribton appeared for the prisoner Milton.

The prosecutor said that in April last he was a corporal in the 23rd Regiment at Chatham. On the evening of the 16th of that month he was in a cottage at the back of the "White Hart" public-house. While there, three soldiers came into the room; one of them he recognised as the prisoner Milton. Two of them immediately rushed upon him, when Milton put his hand over his mouth, and rifled his pockets. He had a struggle with Milton for his purse, which contained three sovereign and a small Indian coin. Milton ultimately got possession of it, and all of the men then ran away; Milton, before leaving, striking prosecutor a blow in his face. He, however, ran after the men, and followed them into the "White Swan," and through the house into the back of the premises, where he lost sight of them.

Three soldiers were called, who were sitting in the taproom of the "White Swan" when the three men ran through, two of whom spoke to Milton as being one of them, and one to the prisoner Bartlett.

Two witnesses, also soldiers, were called on behalf of Milton, who distinctly swore that they were drinking with him at another house at the time the prosecutor stated the robbery to have been committed; and one witness gave similar evidence for the prisoner Bartlett.

The jury acquitted the prisoners.

 

Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 4th August 1860.

Robbery from the person at Chatham.

George Matthew Milton, 22, and George Walter Bartlett, 20, soldiers, were charged with having stolen certain money from John Oriel, with violence, at Chatham, on 16th April.

Mr. Lily was for the prosecution, and Mr. Ripton appeared for the prisoner Milton.

The prosecutor said that in April last he was a corporal in the 23rd Regiment at Chatham. On the evening of the 16th of that month he was in a cottage at the back of the "White Hart" public house. While there, three soldiers came into the room; one of them he recognised as the prisoner Milton. Two of them immediately rushed upon him, when Milton put his hand over his mouth, and rifled his pockets. He had a struggle with Milton for his purse, which contains three sovereigns and a small Indian coin. Milton ultimately got possession of it, and all of the men then ran away; Milton, before leaving, striking prosecutor a blow in his face. He, however, ran after the men, and followed them into the "White Swan," and through the house into the back of the premises where he lost sight of them.

Three soldiers were called, who was sitting in the tap-room of the "White Swan" when the three men ran through, two of whom spoke to Milton as being one of them, and one to the prisoner Bartlett.

Two witnesses, also soldiers, who called on behalf of Milton, who distinctly swore that they were drinking with him at another house at the time the prosecutor stated of the robbery to have been committed, and one witness gave similar evidence for the prisoner Bartlett.

The jury acquitted the prisoners.

 

LICENSEE LIST

HINKLEY Thomas 1793+ Trade Directory 1793

EDEN Mr 1819+

CLIFFE James 1828+ Pigot's Directory 1828-29

MUNNS J 1828+ Pigot's Directory 1828-29

LEADBITTER James 1832-38+ Pigot's Directory 1832-34Wright's Topography 1838

Last pub licensee had ALEXANDER John Robert to 1844

CHAMBERS Mrs 1847+

BENNETT James 1858+

BROOKER James 1860+ Maidstone Telegraph

BENNETT James W 1861-62+ (age 53 in 1861Census)

BENSTER Thomas 1871-74+ (age 50 in 1871Census)

BENNETT James 1879+

SHARP Christopher 1881+ Next pub licensee had (widower age 45 in 1881Census)

BARRICOTT William J 1891+ (age 44 in 1891Census)

WENMAN Richard William Henry 1882+

BARNICOTT William J 1891+ (age 44 in 1891Census)

CLOAK Alfred 1901-03+ (age 48 in 1901Census) Kelly's 1903

BAKER Caleb 1913+

BELCHER Charles A 1922+

DENYER Herbert F 1930-38+

BRETT M E 1953

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

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/whitehart.html

 

Trade Directory 1793Universal British Directory of Trade 1793

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

Wright's Topography 1838Wright's Topography 1838

Maidstone TelegraphMaidstone Telegraph

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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