RED LION Pubs of Ashford

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Ashford, December, 2022.

Page Updated Ashford:- Sunday, 18 December, 2022.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1768-

Red Lion

Latest 1866+

12 North Street

Ashford

Pigot's directory of 1832 describes the licensee James Lewis as a brewer.

Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 31 December 1802.

Kentish Gazette 21 December 1802.

Tuesday last died, after a lingering illness, Mr. John Foreman, of the "Red Lion" public-house, Ashford.

Kentish Gazette, 22 February 1820.

DEATH.

Feb. 19, at Ashford, Susannah, daughter of Mr. R. Lewis, "Red Lion Inn," Ashford.

Kentish Gazette, 30 March 1852.

Marriage.

Smith—Lewis:— March 22nd, at Ashford, Mr. Wm. Douglas Smith, of New Cross, to Louisa, second daughter of the late Mr. J. Lewis, of the "Lion Hotel.

From the Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 16 September, 1856.

John Snelling, watchmaker, remanded on a charge of detaining a gold watch, the property of Miss Lewis, of the "Red Lion Inn," which had been entrusted to him for repair. A similar charge was preferred against him by William Foster, of Beaver.

Prisoner, who pleaded for time to produce the watches, was in default of bail, committed for trial on both charges.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 21 September 1861.

Ashford. Robbing a Garden.

Thomas Beeching, shoemaker, was charged at the petty sessions before W. P. Burra, Esq., with stealing pears from the garden of G. F. Wilkes, Esq., North Street. The defendant, with others, was seen by Joseph Hourne, gardener to prosecutor, knocking the pears off the tree with a line prop from the yard of the "Lion Inn." Hourne and prosecutors son went out and caught him in the act of picking up two pairs. Prosecutor has had a great quantity of pears stolen lately, and the magistrates inflicted a penalty of 40s. or in default 1 month's hard labour.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 9 July, 1864.

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

Oh Monday evening & little girl about eight years of age, the daughter of Mr. W. Smith, of the “Red Lion Inn,” Ashford, fell over a stile in Pell-hill Fields, and broke one of her arms. The child bravely walked home, when it was found that the limb was fractured in three places, and it was at first feared that amputation would have to be resorted to; but under the care of Dr. Wilks and Mr. Shepherd the little sufferer is now doing well.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 5 January, 1867. Price 1d.

Frederick Grant, 20, labourer, stealing one tame fowl, value 3s., the property of Henry Lott, at Ashford, on the 7th November, 1866.

Mr. Biron in opening the case for the prosecution in this indictment, observed that he had a great difficulty in laying the facts before the Jury, in consequence of the principal witness, Mrs. Catherine Wellard, the landlady of the “Red Lion,” at Ashford, not having appeared to give evidence. The Grand Jury had found a true bill without her evidence, but still it was necessary that her statement of the facts as given by her, at the time the prisoner was committed for trial, should be before the Court.

Police-Constables Dunk and Tomlins were examined and a certificate from a Mr. Thurston, surgeon, of Ashford, showed that Mrs. Wellard was seriously ill and totally unable to attend to give evidence, that she had been confined within the past three days and was at present unable to leave her sick room. On this evidence being satisfactorily and legally given the witness' statement before the magistrates was admitted as evidence and which showed that the prisoner admitted to her that it was he who had taken the fowl in question. The further evidence in corroboration was but slight, and the prisoner offering very little in his own defence he was found guilty, and was then charged with having been previously convicted for an offence in 1862 at St. Augustine's Sessions, when he underwent 3 months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Mr. Clark, in passing sentence, said though a much heavier sentence might be passed on him, still as it was now four years since he was convicted before, and nothing from that time would be awarded, but cautioned him as to his future conduct, as the Court had the power to sentence him to servitude. He was then sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour at Saint Augustine's House of Correction.

From the Maidstone and Kentish Journal, 6 Sept, 1869.

This being a day for the renewing spirit licences, superintendent Dewar made complaint against Mr. Weller, landlord of the "Red Lion," North Street, who, it was said, conducted the house in a disorderly manner. Also against Mr. George Weaver, of the "Rose and Crown," New Street. Superintendent Dewar said that this was the worst conducted house in the district. Weaver had lately been convicted. The licence was not renewed.

East Kent Gazette, Saturday 1 July 1871.

Robbing a Public House at Ashwood.

George Murrell, 57, gardener, was indicted for stealing a silver spoon, 2 knives, a towel, and a clothes brush, value 14s., the property of Frank Dive, at Ashford, on the 2nd May. Mr. Dearing prosecuted.

The prosecutor is a landlord of the "Red Lion" public house at Ashford. Prisoner lodged at the house on the 1st May, leaving about 5 o'clock the next morning. When he was gone, the prosecutor missed the articles named in the indictment. Evidence was given that the prisoner sold the spoon produced at the shop in Ashford on the morning of 2nd May, and the clothes brush and two knives at the "Dog and Bear" public house at Lenham on the following day.
Police Constable Hollands apprehended the prisoner at Lenham, on the 3rd May. The towel has not been recovered.

Prisoner's defence was that he had been burnt in his head some years ago, and whenever he had a drop of beer he was not answerable for his actions.

The jury found him guilty.

There was a second charge against the prisoner, of stealing a shovel, a handbill, and a truck basket, value 4s., the property of James Benson at Ashford, on 3rd May; but this was not investigated.

Prisoner was sentenced to six months hard labour.

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LICENSEE LIST

FOREMAN John to Dec/1802 dec'd

LEWIS R Mr 1820+

LEWIS James 1828-40+