Forge Lane

West Farleigh

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo, circa 2011, by Darkstar.

Above sign 1953, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above sign left, 1970s, sign right undated. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above photo, date unknown, showing the dart team. Left to right, back row: Claude Foster, Bert Jeffreys, Ernie Thompsett, Les Rickwood, Bob Jeffreys, Fred Noakes, Jim Dawdon. Front row: Joe Dicker, two unidentified members, Jack Bowen and Jennifer Foster.

Above cardm 1953, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

The "William Wilberforce" had been a tied house, within the estate of Frederick Leney's Phoenix Brewery, Wateringbury., when it was then called the "New Inn." Exactly when the pub became the "William Wilberforce" isn't yet known but it may have been in 1937, as this was the 150th anniversary of Wilberforce taking up the cause of abolition. The local connection comes from the invitation that Yorkshireman, William Wilberforce MP, accepted to take up the arguments against slavery in Parliament. The invitation came from the anti-slavery "Testonites" who were landed gentry, clergy and other worthies from the nearby village of Teston.

William Wilberforce once lived in the Old Rectory before he died. Two of his sons were also vicars in East Farleigh, and are buried in St. Mary's Churchyard.

Originally a native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he was Educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, and began his political career in 1780. In 1785, he became a born-again Christian, which resulted in major changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern for social reform and progress. He became a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire (1784–1812) for an independent party and is known as a politician who lead a movement to stop the slave trade.

The pub was obviously named in his honour, but I do not yet know what years it was serving beer.

Local knowledge required please.

LICENSEE LIST

FOSTER W B 1953+

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