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High Street
Chatham
The following information has only been seen to date in the Universal
British Directory of Trade 1793, unfortunately the only information it
contained was the name of the licensee and pub but no address. I have found
no other reference to the pub so far.
Further information tells me the pub was situated somewhere in the High
Street.
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From the Kent Herald, 24 July 1828.
Rochester Sessions.
On Saturday the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for that city were held at
the Guildhall, before Charles Thomson, Esq, Mayor, S. Comyn, Esq, Recorder, R.
Thompson, Esq. senior Alderman, and T. Saunders, Esq, late Mayor.
John Andrews and John Ralph were indicted for assaulting John Chesson. The
prosecutor and prisoners were shoemakers, and the former it appeared, had
incurred their displeasure in not joining them. On the night when the assault
was committed, the prosecutor was called from his bed about 12 o'clock, by
Ralph, who stated that a person was at the "Cock" in Chatham, and wanted to see
him and he was requested to make haste, as the person was going away
immediately. Prosecutor at first hesitated and got into bed again, when Ralph
called again and he was induced to go, as the person who was said wished so much
to see him was the man who had taught him his business, and he had a great
respect for him. Prosecutors father, who slept in an adjoining room, heard what
passed, and being unable to persuade his son not to go resolved to follow him,
suspecting that some harm was intended. On entering the "Cock" about a dozen of
the sons of Crispin were found there, and among them the man whose name had been
used to persuade prosecutor to quit his bed. They assailed him with abusive
language, and not withstanding the interference of his father, who interposed in
his behalf, one of them seized him by the nose, and after quitting the house the
other struck him several times in the street. The prisoners were found guilty,
and sentenced to three months imprisonment in gaol.
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Kentish Gazette, 26 August 1851.
Destructive Fire and Loss of Life.
On Saturday morning a destructive fire broke out on the premises of
the "Cock" public house, Chatham, in the occupation of Mr. Baldock,
which spread with alarming rapidity, and resulted in the loss of one
life and injury to others.
The family and inmates, it appears, retired to rest about midnight,
the landlord, as was his usual custom, cautioning the lodges and
servants to mind that their candles were safe. About an hour
afterwards he was alarmed by the cry of "fire," which was discovered
raging in the lower part of the house, and which burnt so rapidly
that the inmates with difficulty escape, Mrs. Baldock, with three of
her children, being obliged to get out of the windows; before doing
which, however, she attempted to arouse a young man who was asleep
in one of the bedrooms, which she failed in doing, and he in
consequence lost his life. He had only arrived there on the previous
day, and his name is a present unknown.
Caroline Bennett, in jumping from the chamber window received very
serious injuries of the spine, beside being much cut by the glass;
and the servant girl, in escaping by the garret window, likewise
sustained considerable injury.
The fire, the origin of which is unknown, extended to the adjoining
house in the occupation of Mr. Sibbett, fruiterer, which was
entirely destroyed, and he is, we regret to say, uninsured. Mr.
Baldock in insuring in the Phoenix.
The Kent and Sun fire engines were in attendance, and by their
united efforts, the flames was subdued about 4 o'clock. The remains
of the unfortunate man have been discovered among of ruins and
deposited in a shell in await the coroner's inquest.
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Kentish Gazette, 2 September 1851.
The Late Fire.
A coroner's inquest has since been holding on the body, before Mr.
Hills, coroner for West Kent.
Mr Baldock deposed:- I am the landlord of the "Cock" public house.
Cannot remember the deceased coming into the house. Two marines,
myself, and deceased were the only males in the house. Did not see
the deceased go to bed. Closed the house between 11 and 12; turned
the gas off and saw everything safe, and then went to bed. First
awoke by my wife, opened the door, and was nearly suffocated with
the smoke; rushed into the bedroom and took two children in my arms,
and threw them to a marine in the back yard who was up. My little
girl, age 8, and another, age 11, jumped out of the window, and are
hurt. My wife held on to the window, but was rescued by a marine. Do
not know how much spirits I sent into the taproom. I am very much
burnt about the face as I rushed through the flames with my
children. We lost everything; the clothes I have on are borrowed.
The two marines escaped only in their shirts; I went to the adjutant
this morning, who sent them down some clothes. They exerted
themselves bravely, nearly naked for two hours. One of the marines
had a past; the other was absent. I generally turn off the gas at
the main, but did not that night only at each tap.
The servant and Mrs. Baldock were also examined, but neither of them
could afford any clue to the origin of the fire. The latter related
that there was no fire in the house all the evening, except in the
back kitchen away from the house; nor did she smell any gas when she
was alarmed out of her sleep.
The jury returned a verdict, "That the deceased Isaac Amos was burnt
to death by a house taking fire, but how the fire originated there
is no evidence to show." |
LICENSEE LIST
CHANDLER William 1793+
BEAR W H 1838+
BALDOCK Mr 1851+
Universal
British Directory of Trade 1793
Wright's
Topography 1838
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