DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Thursday, 17 November, 2022.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest  1779-

White Horse

(Name to 1970s)Open 2020+

Yeoman Lane / The Green

Bearsted

01622 738365

https://www.thewhitehorsebearsted.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/white-horse

White Horse 1910

Above postcard, 1910, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

White Horse 1950

Above postcard posted 1950.

White Horse 2015

Above photo, kindly sent by Tricia Francis, 7 April 2015.

White Horse 2015

Above photo, kindly sent by Tricia Francis, 7 April 2015.

White Horse sign 2010White Horse sign 2015

Above sign left 2010, sign right 2015.

White Horse 1979

Above photo 1979.

 

An entry in Fremlin's 1950s publication called "Where shall we go," indicated the following:- Phone - Maidstone 87165, Parking accommodation - 5 Coaches and Car space, Lunch - Snacks up to 120 (7 days' notice), tea - Snacks up to 120 (7 days' notice), Remarks - On edge of Bearsted Green. Ample bar accommodation, also large Hall for dancing.

I am informed that the pub was known as the "Camelot" for a short period in the 1970s.  It was made over as a Whitbread theme pub and described in the Guardian newspaper by Richard Boston as one of the worst or most tasteless theme pubs ever with plastic Excalibur's etc. But has reverted back to the "White Horse" again.

Over the years the premises has also been used as a court room, a church, a rifle club meeting venue and hosted Bearsted's Victory Dinner in 1919. During the Battle of Britain, the pub was popular with pilots and groundcrew from nearby RAF Detling.
 

Kentish Chronicles, 28 January, 1794.

On Thursday the 16th instant, some thieves got into the stable of Mr. Robert Salmon, of Hollingbourne, and stole two horses, which they rode away with; but on their passing the "White Horse" at Bearsted Green, the landlord knew the horses, and suspected them to have been taken away without the owners consent, and communicated his suspicions to two persons who soon after stopped at his door; they immediately set out in pursuit, and soon overtook one of the men, who they challenged with the theft; he said he had not stolen Mr. Salmon's mare, but that's his boy having dropped a bundle he was looking for it, upon which he got off, and in his pretended search made his escape up a by-lane and got clear off. The pursuit was then continued after the other, who was overtaking near the turnpike on Penenden Heath, and on finding he was pursued, immediately slipped off the horse and went into the the filling pits just by and escaped. This last delinquent dropped a sack, marked in 6 places with J. Smith, containing two saddles; most probably likewise stolen. The two horses were restored, and the sack with it's contents left at the "White Horse" at Bearsted; but unfortunately the thieves remain at large for some future depredations on the public.

 

From the Kentish Gazette, Friday 13 March, 1779.

A New-built Brick House, sashed, with a good cellar, and three very good rooms on each floor, and three Garrets; likewise an Acre of rich Meadow Land adjoining, and good Garden, &c.

Mr. W. Woollett at the Sign of the "White Horse," Bersted, will shew the Premises, &c.

 

From Bury and Norwich Post 04 June 1806.

On Saturday the 24th, between nine and ten o'clock, a man named Ambrose, who lives at Bearsted, Kent, was stopped at the top of Lilk-hill, near Maidstone, by three men, dressed in buff-coloured jackets, with military buttons, No. 52, and the word Oxfordshire thereon. - They drew their bayonets, threatened to run him through, and robbed him of a blue jacket and a flannel one, two handkerchiefs, a hat, and round frock, with 8s. in money, leaving one of their regimental jackets. The same night, about eleven o'clock, on the London road, about one mile from Maidstone, a labouring man, named Rose, was knocked down by three soldiers, with drawn bayonets, supposed to be the same desperadoes, and robbed of his hat and new round frock. Soon after Mr. Marden, of the "White Horse," Bearsted, was stopt by the same men, with drawn bayonets, about two miles from Maidstone, and robbed of a £10 Bank-note, half-a-guinea in gold, and sixpence in silver. These fellows are understood to be deserters from the 52d regiment.

 

West Kent Guardian 17 June 1848.

BEARSTED. - CRICKET.

On Wednesday, 7th instant, a spirited match was played on Bearsted Green for the benefit of Mr. Godden, landlord of the "White Horse," between the Bearsted Club and the Chatham Union Club. The play was excellent on both sides; but the bowling on the side of Bearsted was a little too good for the Chathamites. An excellent entertainment was provided at the "White Horse," to which about forty sat down, and which gave the greatest satisfaction to all present.

 

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 7 September 1861.

Bearsted Petty Sessions.

Gabriel and George Allen, charged with stealing a bottle of wine from the "White Horse," Bearsted were discharged, the prosecutor not appearing.

 

Kent & Sussex Courier 23 May 1913.

FROM TICEHURST TO BEARSTED.

Mr. Walter William Taylor was up to quite recently the landlord of the "Bell Hotel," Ticehurst, but became licensee of the "White Horse Hotel," Bearsted, on Monday. He was formerly the head gamekeeper on the Burnt Oak Estate, Orlestone, near Ashford.

 

From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 12 January, 1934.

CAR ON RIVER BRINK.

A Ticehurst man and a young woman employed at a Tunbridge Wells hotel had an alarming experience at Maidstone on Sunday evening, when the car in which they were driving back to Tunbridge Wells from Bearsted crashed through a barrier at the College horseway and overturned. The driver of the car was Mr. Ivor Parley, whose address was given as Bournhurst Farm, Stonegate, and he was accompanied by Miss Gladys Lloyd, who is employed at the "Castle Hotel." The accident happened at about half-past five in the evening. The car, an Austin Seven, came off the Ashford-road, and at the cross-roads near All Saints’ Church, instead of taking the right-hand turn into Mill-street. It went straight on, crashed through the barrier spanning the brink of the College horseway, down the steep slope, and finally hit the bank and rolled over. The driver realised the danger of dashing into the river, and in attempting to pull up he cannoned with the bank and the car over-turned. Mr. Parley and his passenger were taken to the West Kent General Hospital suffering from cuts to the head and face and slight concussion, but they were not detained. Later in the evening they were driven home by Mr. Ben Brook, of the "White Horse," Bearsted.

 

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Lydia Catling, 3 December 2019.

Father Christmas postbox stolen from The White Horse, Bearsted.

A box filled with letters for Father Christmas has disappeared from a village pub.

The festive postbox was taken from The White Horse, in Bearsted, on Saturday, leaving many children disappointed their wish lists won't make it to the North Pole.

Michael Cambell 2019

Michael Campbell, deputy manager of The White Horse Bearsted and Daria Goddard, a team member.

Over several weeks staff have asked all their younger visitors to write their names, ages and whether they have been naughty or nice on a special note and post it.

Sadly, when they arrived for work on Sunday they realised the box, which had more than a 100 letters inside, was nowhere to be seen.

They searched the whole building from top to bottom, as well as the garden, but couldn't find it.

Georgina Graham, shift supervisor at the pub, said: "It is really quite upsetting. The postbox was filled with wishes.

"We made such an effort to make it so full of Christmas spirit and then someone goes and does this, it is quite unbelievable.

White Horse Post Box 2019

The postbox was taken on Saturday.

"It can't be that far, someone just needs to own up to what they have done.

"It is waterproof, they could just leave it outside the door and that would be fine by us.

"We are just really hoping someone has a conscience and brings it back."

Michael Campbell, the deputy manager, said: "Someone has obviously woken up to a postbox. I can see the funny side of it but the children aren't going to."

The owners have upped their Christmas spirit this year, introducing the new festive mail service and putting up their floor to ceiling 12-foot tree covered in baubles and lights.

They hope the box, which cost more than £100, will be returned with all the young people's letters inside.

In the meantime, children can hand their letters over to members of staff who promise to pass them to Father Christmas.

 

LICENSEE LIST

WOOLLETT W Mr 1779

MARDEN Mr 1806+

CLIFFORD Robert 1832+ Pigot's Directory 1832-34

CLIFFORD Robert & WHITE James 1840+

GODDEN Thomas 1848-71+ (age 60 in 1871Census)

STEPHENS J 1890+ Maidstone and Kentish Journal

RUNDALL F Mr 1891-95+ (widower age 61 in 1891Census)

KNOWLES henry Joseph 1903+ Kelly's 1903

MURRAY Daniel 1913+

TAYLOR Walter William May/1913+

TAYLOR S A 1922+

BROOK Ben 1934+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/WhiteHorse.shtml

 

Pigot's Directory 1832-34From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

CensusCensus

Maidstone and Kentish JournalMaidstone and Kentish Journal

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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