Dry Hill
Tonbridge
Only mention to date for this has been in the Census's when both the
licensees were identified as Victuallers.
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Tuesday 22 January 1839.
Tonbridge Wells.
At the magistrates' regular sittings, last week, there was no
business of public importance. Ann King was
committed for trial charged with stealing a cloak and sheet, from
the
"Georg Inn," at Tonbridge.
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Southeastern Gazette, 30 August 1853.
(I believe that this one refers to
Tonbridge and not Tunbridge Wells, as there is references to Cold
Harbour Lane and Hilden, both of which are near Tonbridge. Paul
Skelton.)
TUNBRIDGE. On Thursday William Hayes was brought up on remand before
H. T. Moore, Esq., charged with cutting and wounding George
Gainsford, whose evidence was taken by the magistrate and clerk at
prosecutor’s house, he being too ill to be removed.
George Gainsford deposed that he was a labourer at Hilden near
Tunbridge. On Saturday night, August 13th, he was at the "George
Inn," at Tunbridge, with his brother. He left between eleven and
twelve at night, and met prisoner at the door of the "George." They
walked together towards home, when they began to wrangle. Hayes
looked back towards Tunbridge, and called "Will," as if some person
was following. He then turned back towards Tunbridge and prosecutor
ran towards home. Prisoner overtook prosecutor near Mr. White’s on
the Hilden-road, about a mile from Tunbridge. They both wrangled
again till they came to Cold Harbour gate, and then they agreed to
fight, and prosecutor put his basket down and hit prisoner on the
forehead with the back of his hand. Prisoner then chopped down at
prosecutor's hand with his reaping hook; he hit his shoulder, and
cut his frock; he then struck at prosecutor a second time with the
hook, and cut him on the hand. Prosecutor said "Oh, Will, you have
done for me now; you have nearly cut my arm off; I shall not live
till morning" when he replied, "A good job too, you ----"
Prisoner started off and left him, and he saw him no more.
Prosecutor ran a little way and then dropped down on the footpath,
where he lay for some hours until the mail cart came along. Had had
no quarrel with him before last night. They were not drunk.
Cross-examined by prisoner:— Did you not knock me down in the road?
I did not.
John Henry Walker, surgeon, had attended Gainsford, his hand was
seriously injured from a cut, and he might possibly lose it.
Considered his life not out of danger.
Thoman Stone deposed that he was a labourer at Tunbridge. On Saturday
night, the 13th August, about five minutes to twelve, he left the
prisoner Hayes and Gainsford on the London-road just out of
Tunbridge; they were both in liquor, but knew what they were doing.
Prisoner had been fighting a short time before with a man at the
"George."
George Bennett deposed that he lived at Sevenoaks, and drives the
mail from that place to Tunbridge. On Sunday morning, August 14th,
between four and five o’clock, was driving from Sevenoaks to
Tunbridge; when he got between Mr. Eason’s and Cold Harbour-lane, he
saw a man lying by the side of the road in the footway. On calling
out to him, he said a man had cut the leaders of his arm, and he
could not get up. He told witness where he lived, and witness called
at his house and told a woman what he had seen, and the place where
the man lay.
John Gainsford deposed that he was a labourer, living at Hilden. On
Sunday morning he went on the road towards Tunbridge and found his
son lying in the footpath; there was a quantity of blood about him.
Helped to get him home, when the surgeon examined his wound, and he
saw him take out of the wound the bit of steel produced, which
fitted a hole in the reaping hook also produced.
Thomas Goddard, constable, went to the house of prisoner’s father on
the 14th instant, and saw the prisoner; he charged him with cutting
and wounding Gainsfoid with a reaping hook. Asked for the hook and
it was brought to him Gainsford stated to witness, in the presence
of prisoner, what he had stated in his evidence before the
magistrates. Prisoner at first said he didn’t know he had cut him,
but afterwards admitted that he knew it.
Committed for trial at the assizes.
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South Eastern Gazette,17 January, 1860.
A Nice Brace.
James Watts and William Henner were charged before Major Scoones, at
the magistrates’ clerk’s office, with begging at Tunbridge, on the
9th inst., and were committed for fourteen days each. They were also
charged with having obtained 3 1/2d. from Alfred Miles, ostler at
the "George Inn," under false pretences. It appeared that the
prisoners made several calls on the publicans of the town, and
called for beer, and on being asked for money threatened the
landlord, and at one house they carried their threats into effect.
They obtained the money from the prosecutor by alleging that they
had money to receive that evening from a gentleman in the town.
The case was dismissed.
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South Eastern Gazette, 11 December, 1860.
TUNBRIDGE. A "Cracksman" Well Caught.
On Tuesday last, Charles Mace, a stranger, was charged before Major
Scoones, at the Magistrates’ Clerk’s Office, with unlawfully having
in his possession a quantity of skeleton keys, a jemmy, &c., the
tools of a professional housebreaker, on the 2nd inst. It appeared
from the evidence that the prisoner had taken lodgings at the
"George Inn," Tunbridge, on the previous day, but he had been
staying there some time before. Supt. Dance, with P.C. Thirkell,
visited the house in the morning, and saw the prisoner there; he
made some remark on the officer’s searching capabilities. Some time
after, however, the ostler went to the water closet, and his
attention was drawn to a piece of brass wire concealed, and on his
pulling it from its hiding-place he found six skeleton keys of
different sizes attached to it. Not understanding their purpose he
took them to his master, who at once communicated with the
superintendent. The keys were marked and replaced, but Thirkell was
set on the watch. In the evening Mr. Dance also went up, and between
9 and 10 o’clock, the prisoner came from the house to the closet,
and had succeeded in detaching the keys from the wire when he found
he was trapped. He was searched by the superintendent, and a chisel,
necessary to his nefarious pursuits, was found upon him. On the
house being examined it was found that the keys gave access to four
of the principal rooms, in one of which was the host’s cash-box,
which contained about £70, and which was no doubt the object sought
for, and also a box, which contained money, belonging to a benefit
society. The prisoner was fully committed for trial.
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LICENSEE LIST
CHATFIELD Thomas 1851+ (age 54 in 1851)
WELLS Henry 1871+ (age 47 in 1871)
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