|
Canterbury Road
(Selsted) (Swingfield)
Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by Ray Hopkins. |
Chequers Inn at Selsted near Swingfield circa 1980. |
Above photo, date unknown by Darkstar. |
Above sign 1990.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com. |
The above photo is by
Nick Smith, date unknown and reproduced under the "Creative Commons License".
|
I believe this pub has recently closed. (2007). Details hopefully to follow.
The passage below was found on the internet and was written by J.C.
Mitchell, an American Gentleman who visited this country around March 1999.
He visited the Chequers at Selsted and this is what he had to say about the
pub:-
If you drive north of Folkestone a few miles up to the village of
Selsted, you'll come across the Chequers Inn. This is a small, simple pub
which caters mostly to passing traffic and closes for the late afternoon
hours. As we walked in around lunchtime we were greeted by a friendly German
Shepherd behind the bar just as somebody was shouting "One Spotted Dick,
please!" in the back. (For those Americans unfamiliar with this term, this
was an order for dessert and not what you might suspect.) The landlord --
the human one, that is -- was a friendly gentleman who chatted with us about
sport, travel, and his younger days in London. We were soon joined by one of
the regulars, a local eccentric who reportedly shares living quarters with
forty-four dogs. All this time we were drinking pints of 12-Bore Bitter
(3.7% ABV), a fine lunchtime brew from King & Barnes in West Sussex. This
beer is the perfect accompaniment for listening to leisurely stories about
dogs, airplanes, Nevada, soccer, and old men showing up at their local pub
wearing nothing but pants (Americans: read underpants).
|
Kent Gazette Reports 24 September 1805.
DEATH.
Thursday, at Swingfield, Mr. Thomas Buley, master of the "Chequers"
public house.
|
|
From the Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 7 September 1819.
VALUABLE BREWERY,
Free Public Houses and other estates,
To be Sold By Auction, By Messrs. White, (Without Reserve).
Pursuant to certain orders of the Vice Chancellor of Great Britain, and
before the Major part of the Commissioners named and authorised in and
by a Commission of bankrupt awarded and issued against Matthew William
Sankey, of the City of Canterbury, brewer, dealer and chapman, at the
Guildhall, of the said city of Canterbury, on Wednesday next, the 22nd
day of September next, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, (subject to
such conditions of sale as shall be then and there produced.)
The following very Valuable Freehold Estates, in Lots.
Valuable Brewery free public houses and other Estates to be sold by
auction by Mrs white without reserve. Lot 12. A Messuage called the "Chequers," with the barn, stable, yard,
garden and land, containing by estimate nine acres, more or less, and
appurtenances, situate at Swingfield, in the said County, and now in the
occupation of Thomas Buley. |
|
From the Kentish Gazette, 6 September 1836.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION. By WILLIAM SHARP,
AT the "Chequers'" Public House, SWINGFIELD MINNIS, on THURSDAY, the 8th
day of September, 1836, at
Twelve o’clock at noon, in pursuance of an order of the Poor Low
Commissioners for England and Wales,
and under the direction of the Guardians of the Parish of SWINGFIELD,
and subject to such conditions as
will be then and there produced; all that FREEHOLD MESSUAGE, in Three
Dwellings, situate in the Parish of
SWINGFIELD, in the county of Kent, and lately used as a Poor-house.
Also a Freehold Piece or Parcel of PASTURE GROUND, containing twenty-four
Perches or thereabouts, and
situate in the said Parish.
Immediate possession of the Estate may be had.
For further particulars, application must be made either to the
Auctioneer, Burgate-street, Canterbury; or to
Mr. Knocker, Solicitor; Dover, if by letter to be postage paid.
|
|
From the Kentish Gazette, 31 March 1846.
Mr. THOMAS BULEY, Deceased.
All persons to whom Mr. THOMAS BULEY, late of the "Chequers," in the
Parish of SWINGFIELD, stood indebted at the time of his decease, are
requested to send the particulars of their claim to the Executors, in
order that the same may be examined and discharged; and all Persons who
stood indebted to Mr. Buley at the time of his decease, are required to
pay the amount of their respective debts to the Executors, within one
month from this date.
GEORGE JOHN BULEY, GEORGE COURT, LOTT BAKER. Executors.
Swingfield. 27th March, 1846.
|
|
Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 15th December 1846.
Denton Park.
12 acres of Underwood, and Three Stacks of Fodder, the property of H.
Cook, Esq.
Mr. Harrison will sell by auction, on Tuesday, 15th December, 1846, in
lots, at the sign of the "Chequers," Swingfield Minnis, 12A. 2R. 15P. of
excellent Underwood, lying in Denton Park; also one Stack of Cinquefoil,
about 18 tons; one Stack of Hay, about 18 tons; and one Stack of ditto,
the growth of 1845, about 20 tons, all got up in capital order.
Mr. Hills, at the "Chequers," will show the Underwood; and George Ward,
of Denton, the fodder.
For further particulars, enquire of Mr. Harrisson, Estate Agents,
Buckland.
Sale to commence at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
|
|
From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 20November, 1885. Price 1d.
REPORT OF FIRE
The Superintendent of Fire Brigade, Mr. T. O. sanders, brought up a
report of a fire at the “Chequers Inn,” Swingfield Minnis, which had
occurred about three o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday, while the
landlord was at church at Denton. The Folkestone fire engine was sent
for but they refused to go. He (the Superintendent) received the report
of the fire about eight o'clock in the evening by telegram, and by 8.25
the fire engine was proceeding to Swingfield Minnis, arriving at the
scene of the fire at 9.20. The fire was extinguished about 11 p.m., when
it was found that the premises were completely gutted. The house and
furniture were insured.
Councillor Bottle questioned whether it was desirable that the engine
and fire brigade should be sent out of the town. They were taking away a
certain number of the police, who would be doing other duties. He did
not know if they obtained any support from these country places.
The Town Clerk said that it was usual for the parties to pay for the use
of the engine.
In reply to Alderman Marshall, the Superintendent said that the bill was
usually sent to the agents.
The Mayor said that he should like to know if the Watch Committee had
made any order whether the brigade were to go out or not, as the
Superintendent called on him on Sunday night to know if the engine might
go, and as it had been allowed to go before he gave permission.
The Town Clerk said that there had been no order from the Watch
Committee as to whether the engine should go out of the borough, but it
was left to the discretion of the Mayor for the time being.
|
|
From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 4 December, 1885. Price 1d.
FIRE AT CHEQUERS INN
This fire occurred on Sunday, Nov. 15th, was reported to the Dover agent
of Kent Fire Office, Mr. John Finnis, Biggin Street, on Tuesday, the
17th, and a cheque for the full amount insured on the building was sent
to the owner, Mr. Buley, on the 27th.
|
|
From the Dover Express, Friday 16 October, 1903.
(Before J. H. Monins, H. Hart, J. L. Bradley, W. H. Burch Rosher, W. J.
Adcock, and E. Dawes, Esqrs., at Dover, yesterday.)
TRANSFER OF LICENSES.
The following licenses were transferred: The "Chequers," Swingfield,
from Mrs. Emma Banks to Mrs. Eliza Beeching.
|
|
From the Whitstable Times, 24 January, 1914.
DEATH IN A STABLE AT TEMPLE EWELL, NEAR DOVER.
The East Kent Coroner (Mr. Rutley Mowll) held an inquest at the
"Chequers Inn," Selsted, Swingfield, on Thursday, on the body of Alfred
Bailey, of Holly Cottage, Temple Ewell, near Dover, who was found dead
lying in a stable at the "Chequers Inn," Selsted, in which he and his
horse slept when working in the neighbourhood.
Albert Robert Bailey, 3, Church Lane, Temple Ewell, Dover, a labourer,
stated:- The deceased was my father, Alfred Bailey. He was 59 years of
age, and lived at Holly Cottage, Temple Ewell, Dover. He was a carrier
and contractor. I saw him on Sunday, when he went to feed his horse, and
he then appeared to be all right. He left home to come to Selsted on
Sunday night, in order to start work on Monday. He was employed by the
County Council.
Richard Hobbs, the licensee of the "Chequers Inn," Selsted, Swingfield,
stated: The deceased had been working in the district for the County
Council, and hired the stables attached to these premises for his horse.
He also slept in another stall in the same stable. This morning, as he
did not come in for his tea, I went out and called him by name, but,
receiving no answer. I entered the stable. I again called him - he was
lying in the straw covered up with a coat and some clean bags—but,
receiving no answer, I lifted the coat up, and found that he was dead. I
sent for the police and a doctor. Yesterday, he seemed to be in good
spirits, but on Friday could not go to work on account of a bad cold. He
was employed to help repair the roads. When he first came here I asked
if he would rather have a bed, but, he said that he would rather sleep
beside his horse. Yesterday he was unable to work owing to the slippery
condition of the roads.
The Coroner:- Was he warm in the stable?
He said that he was as warm as "a bug in a rug."
Mr. F. W. Henderson, of Elham, said that he examined the deceased, and
found no marks of violence. The body was warm, but the feet and hands
were cold. He attributed death to syncope, the cold weather probably
accelerating this.
The jury returned a verdict of Death from Natural Causes.
|
|
From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8
February, 1918.
WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS
The Chequers, Swingfield was fined at Dover in September for selling gin
below proof.
|
|
From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 22
September, 1922.
LICENSING
The landlord of the "Chequers," Swingfield, applied for permission to
keep open from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day,
for the convenience of the market gardeners.
Supt. Russell said that the Chief Constable had directed him to
oppose the application, as he did not think it necessary and would cause
other publicans to make similar applications.
The Clerk read the Section of the Act which left it open to the
discretion of the Magistrates to grant such an application.
Supt. Russell said that the same thing applied to the whole of the
wayside public-houses in his district.
The applicant said that his was the regular stopping place.
The Bench refused to allow the application.
|
|
From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 17
November, 1922.
EXTENSIONS
Mr. Archibald Edward Finch, of the "Chequers Inn," Swingfield, was
granted an extension from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on November 28th, on the
occasion of the annual wood sale by Messrs. Worsfold and Hayward, of
Dover.
|
|
From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 16
November, 1923. Price 1½d.
LICENSING
Extensions were granted to the "Chequers'" Swingfield, for the
afternoon of 23rd November, on the occasion of a wood sale.
|
|
From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 13 January
1939.
A whist drive was held at the "Chequers," Annexe, on Friday last, in
aid of the Queens District Nurses. There were nine tables occupied, and
the highest score was won by Mr. W. Edney. Ladies: 1. Mrs. J
Keeler; 2. Mr. F May, 3. Mrs. G Brisley. Gentleman: 1. Mr. J White, 2.
Mr. G Brisley, 3. Mr. B Greenstreet; consolation, Mrs. T Keeler and Mr.
F. G. Dixon. All prizes were given. The proceeds amounted to £2 12s. 9d.
|
|
From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday
26
February, 1971.
HUNT MET AT SELSTED
Master of Hunt, Mr. David Bartlett and followers ready to set out for
the day after the East Kent Hunt met at the "Chequers Inn," Selsted, on
Wednesday.
|
LICENSEE LIST
BULEY Thomas to Sept/1805 dec'd
BULEY Thomas (son) 1819-Mar/46 dec'd (age 55 in 1841 )
HILLS John 1846-47+
MAXTED Eward 1851-58 (age 33 in 1851)
ASHBY Richard William 1861+ (age 35 in 1861)
FINNIS James 1871-74+ (age 68 in 1871)
SEATH William Marsh 1881+ (also farmer age 39 in 1881)
BANKS William 1899-Oct/1903+ (also farmer age 31 in 1901)
  
BEECHING Eliza Oct/1903+
HOBBS Richard Apr/1904-13+
(age 41 in 1911)
 
BODINGTON Gerald 1918-Nov/21
 
BODINGTON Alice Nov/1921
FIDGE Archibald Edward Nov/1921-Aug/24
BROWN Frederick William Aug/1924+
SOUTH Clifton 1930-38+
  
O'GRADY Harry to 2007
https://pubwiki.co.uk/Chequers.shtml
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/chequers.html
From
Bagshaw Directory 1847
From Melville's Directory 1858
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From
the Kelly's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1918
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From
the Kelly's Directory 1934
From the Post Office Directory 1938
From the Dover Express
|
