Barnsole

(Staple)

Black Pig at Staple in 1912. (Showing the village shop in its original position.) The pub must have only just been bought by Gardner & Co. as it's still displaying its 'Tritton's Fine Ales' sign as well as the Gardner's sign. The little girl in the doorway is Olive Cumberland (aged about 2 ½, Frank Vincent Tritton's daughter.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday,  9 January, 1970 Only the lettering on the wall and the neat lines on the car park mark the passage of time since Trittons Ales were brewed at The Black Pig more than 50 years ago. The 'Modern' 18th century additions blend with the 16th century timbers and are set off by the ancient yew.

Above two photographs show the Black Pig in Staple, date circa 1950.

Above photos taken by Paul Skelton, 11 September 2010

From the East Kent Mercury, 1st May, 1975 The "Black Pig" at Staple - one of the most interesting public houses and satisfying restaurants in the area - is the only hostelry so named in Great Britain. This fact comes from licensed trade historian, Roy Denison. He has just been delving into the interesting past of the "Black Pig," where Philip Aunger presides. The "Black Pig" says Mr. Denison, was the last public house in Kent to brew its own beers. He writes: "Although the building is itself very much older, the earliest record of the brewery dates from around the year 1800. At that time the owner was Robert Tritton and his beers became so popular with local people he was able to buy four other local pubs. When Robert Tritton died, he left his five pubs to his five children. Robert junior received the "Marquis of Granby" near Ash, now a newsagent's shop (1975), the "Black Pig" and brewery went to his brother John. One of Robert's junior children - he had 16 - Frank Vincent Tritton, went to work for a Captain Lister who lived at Ash. Later he went to sea with him as his valet. When John Tritton died in 1894, Frank, then aged 24, returned home and borrowed money to buy out John's children's share of the estate and bought the "Black Pig" outright. Frank Tritton continued to own and manage the pub and brewery until 1912 when it was sold to Gardners Brewery, of Ash. The brewery was then used to brew ginger beer. The demand for the ginger beer grew so much it became necessary to transfer its brewing to Ash and the old brewery at the "Black Pig" finally closed. Gardners continued to own the "Black Pig" until their merger with Tomson and Wotton, of Ramsgate, Kent's oldest brewers, founded in 1634. In 1968 Tomson and Wotton were themselves taken over by Whitbreads, who announced the "Black Pig" was being considered for closure, but following considerable protests by local people it remained open and was sold as a free house.

The Black Pig is a family run Inn, Freehouse, Restaurant & B&B; situated on the edge of the village of Staple, Kent. It is a fine old 15th Century, timbered building, with a large garden and ample parking. The building has a very interesting history, and was constructed from the timbers of local shipwrecks (Wrecked off the coast in the year 1588).

According to the Staple website (www.staple-online.co.uk). The Black Pig is the only pub in England to bear that name. It is a very old building; some parts of which are thought to date back to the 13th or 14th century. Although the building is very much older, the earliest record of a brewery at the Black Pig is 1800.

At that time it was owned by Robert Tritton. Tritton's beers became so popular that he was able to buy five local pubs. When he died, he left the pubs to his five children: Robert junior inherited the Marquis of Granby at Ash (now Bickers, the Newsagents), whilst John inherited the Black Pig Pub and Brewery.

John died in 1894 and left his estate to his children. Robert junior also had children (16 of them!), and in 1895 one of them, Frank Vincent Tritton, borrowed the money to buy the Black Pig and Brewery outright from John's children. (Frank was 24 at the time).

F. V. Tritton ran the business from 1895 until 1912, and brewed beer continuously throughout this period. (The last pub in Kent to brew its own beers, 'Tritton's Fine Ales'). (Unless anyone knows differently. Paul Skelton).

As well as being a brewery and a pub, the building also functioned as the village stores. (And for a while as a newsagents).

In 1912, the business (by then just a pub and shop, as brewing at the black pig had ceased), was sold to a large, local brewery, Gardeners of Ash. In 1913 the plaster was stripped off the main building, exposing the old beams. Original windows were enlarged and some new ones inserted.

Gardner's installed Mr Harry Newing as a tenant. The pub was to remain under the management of the Newing family (Newing then Richards (nèe Newing) ) for a further 59 years!

In 1914 the brewery was brought back into service. But this time it was used solely for the production of Gardener's famous Ginger Beer. Ginger Beer was produced at the Black Pig from 28th August 1914 until 27th September 1926. (Production stopped due to Mr Tritton's old steam engine breaking down.) Gardener's Ginger Beer production then transferred to the Ash Brewery. (Where it continued until 1955).

Significant Dates In The Pub's History:

In 1945 a wine licence was granted to the pub. The Black Pig didn't have a traditional pub sign until 1947. In 1949 a spirit licence was granted (and hot & cold water installed!)

Also in 1949, the shop moved into what remained of the old brewery. (Most of the brewery having been demolished that same year). The cellars of the old brewery were used as an air raid shelter during the war.

In 1962, to celebrate 50 years of Newing/Richards occupation, the villagers presented the pub with a commemorative bench. (Which was later installed in the recreation ground).

Gardeners continued to own the Black Pig until their merger with Thompson & Wotton (of Ramsgate). Thompson and Wotton were themselves taken over in 1968, by Whitbreads. Whitbreads announced the imminent closure of the pub, but after strong complaints by local residents, changed their minds.

In 1971 the family line at the Black Pig was broken, when Mr & Mrs Richards left and moved to Sandwich (due to Mr Richard's poor health). That year the pub was sold as a Freehouse. The shop closed the following year (1972), and in 1973 (April 3rd) Mr Richards died.

The Pub was then run by a succession of landlords and landladies until December 6th 1995, when it closed as a pub. (For almost a year). It was then bought by the present owners, David Jones and Nicola Phelan who, after some frantic renovation, opened its doors again on 14th December 1996.

I know little of the history for the period between Mr Richards and Dave Jones, except for the names of (most) of the landlords:

LICENSEE LIST

TRITTON Robert 1800s

TRITTON John to 1894

TRITTON Robert jun. 1894-95

TRITTON Frank Vincent 1895-1912

NEWING Harry 1912+

RICHARDS A 1952-71

PODBURY Peter and 1972-73

TAYLOR Valentine Thomas 1972-73

AUNGER Philip and Barbara 1973-86

WELLS Pat and James 1986-90

GOULD Graham and Clair 1990-92

WATSON Peter 1992-95

JONES David & PHELAN Nicola 1996-2009

FRIGHT Mark & Vicky 2009+

Visit the Staple website:- www.staple-online.co.uk

The Black Pig website:- www.theblackpig.co.uk/

Library archives 1974

From the Dover Express