THREE TUNS Pubs of Staple

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1740-

Three Tuns

Still open

Staple

(Sandwich)

Above photo date taken on a summer's morning before WW1, long before the porch-way was built. The sign above the door shows the brewers as Rigden's. Original photograph belongs to Mr. Godfrey Davis, of Bassets, Buckland Lane, Staple.

Above and below is shown a business card from The Three Tons showing the landlord as being W E Bates, who was in charge in between 1914 and 1946.

The Three Tuns at Staple celebrating St George's Day, and also 60 years since VE day.

Above photo taken from http://www.roundsandsounds.co.uk

Both photos taken by Paul Skelton 17 Feb 2008.

Earliest reference found so far is in the Wingham Division Ale Licence list, which shows the "Three Tuns," Staple, to have a new license granted for the sum of 16 shillings. I am going to assume this was the first year that ale was legally served from this premises.

Information below taken from www.staple-online.co.uk

The Three Tuns was built during the Reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714), in the year of 1712. The ancient sign of The Three Tuns dates back to the reign of Richard the First (1189-1199), when tables were set up at Tournament Banquets by placing oak planks onto three large casks.

When first built The Three Tuns was a farmhouse forming part of a considerable hop & fruit farm.

The earliest recorded occupant of the Farm is Jacob Longman, who is mentioned in a sale document of 1735 when William Tubb purchased the property, which is described as 'One messuage, with barn and all that piece or parcel of land now planted with fruit trees, containing by estimation seven acres and all that piece or parcel of land thereto adjoining, containing by estimation three acres now planted with hops, which said messuage, barn and land are situate and lying within Staple in the parish of Dover, held by Johnathon Gale, previously held by Jacob Longman and purchased by William Tubb'.

In 1755, the property was purchased by Abraham Marsh, a gardener, hop grower and brewer of the parish of Wingham. In September of that year, Marsh stood before two Justices at Dover and was granted a licence to sell ales and ciders. The property at this date bore no title but was registered as an Ale House. In 1767, Johnathon Cox purchased the property, and after obtaining a licence, registered the property under the title of The Three Tuns.

When Johnathon died in 1801 he bequeathed the property to his wife Eliza when he decreed that: 'My messuage or tenemente situate and lying at Staple, known by the sign of the Three Tuns with its land thereto belonging, I leave to my beloved wife Eliza who upon my passing shall take up the deeds and title of the said tenemente'.

Although the property was registered as an Inn, every owner or keeper, with one exception, until the year of 1946, was a market gardener or fruit grower, and continued to ply their trades as well as run the inn. The exception to this was Charles Hanbrook, a tax collector who kept the inn.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 10 April, 1874. Price 1d.

ASSAULT

William Prior was charged with assaulting William Sharp, at Wingham, on the 6th March.

The complainant stated that on the day named, about two o'clock he was returning home with a horse and waggon, the defendant stopped at the "Three Tuns" public-house. He did not go in the public-house. He waited for about ten minutes for the defendant, and as he did not come, he went on. The defendant overtook him, and, on coming up to him pulled him of the rods into the road. When he got up he knocked him down and struck him several times.

The defendant said the reason why he struck the complainant was because he would not let him go in front with his horse and waggon.

Fined 10s., costs 9d.

From the Dover Mercury, 18 September 2003.

TUNS OF FUN: Ann Westermann and Mary Hackett at The Three Tuns, Staple Ref: pd476957

Village pub with food.

RETAINING the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of a traditional village pub while providing quality home cooked food are the aims of Ann Westermann and Mary Hackett.

The sisters recently took over as landladies of The Three Tuns pub at Staple and are looking forward to the future.

"We want this to be a village pub that does food rather than a restaurant with a bar," said Ann.

They have already started a sympathetic programme of improvements to retain the traditional features and character of the building.

Providing good food in a friendly family atmosphere is essential to the sisters, who are being supported in their venture by their respective husbands.

As well as having the benefits of a separate dining room, customers are welcome to eat anywhere they wish within the bar area.

"We want people to sit wherever they feel comfortable and provide them with a wide choice of freshly cooked foods," said Mary.

Visitors to The Three Tuns can enjoy a three-course feast or choose a lighter option from the snacks board.

Diners can select from starters like rainbow trout and crispy-coated deep-fried Brie followed by main courses featuring steaks or fish or something from the extensive specials board.

Children are well catered for with their own range of meals and Mary and Ann have plans to provide an outdoor play area for next summer.

"We welcome families and want them to feel they can come and enjoy a meal in a relaxed, child-friendly atmosphere," said Ann.

Accommodation also plays an important part at The Three Tuns with bed and breakfast on offer in rooms in the main building, and five self contained chalets.

As well as offering meals at lunchtime and during the evening Ann and Mary can cater for the corporate client with breakfast meetings.

Opening times are 11.30am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 11pm Monday to Thursday and all day Friday, Saturday and, Sunday.

From the Dover Mercury, 11 March, 2004.

Penny's appeal for village views

DEAL artist Penny Bearman has just started her next project: a portrait of an east Kent village, with pictures going on show in the local pub, The Three Tuns.

Penny plans to paint a series of small paintings of Staple for an exhibition due to start at Easter.

She is inviting Mercury readers to nominate their favourite views of the village for her to paint. The person nominating the best view will receive a framed painting.

Penny, of Downs Road, said: "This follows the success of last summer's A Portrait of Deal exhibition at Deal library, where Mercury readers nominated views which I painted.

"This project came about after I had a call from Ann Westermann, one of the pub's proprietors, wanting some paintings to display.

"I thought we ought to make an exhibition of it, and suggested the portrait of Staple idea. Ann was all for it."

Photo above shows Ann Westermann, Penny Bearman and Mary Hackett with the new sign at the Three Tuns, Staple Ref: pd 552920.

Ann and her sister, Mary Hackett, took over the pub in June last year, having both worked in the licensing trade several years ago. Ann's husband, Guus, is a plumber and central heating engineer, and Mary's husband, Ted, works for an imports/exports company.

Ann said: "The competition is a wonderful idea, and we hope it gets a lot of support."

One piece of Penny's work is. already on view at The Three Tuns, as she has just repainted the pub sign - which depicts country folk revelling - after the previous one blew down in a recent gale.

The competition is open to residents and non-residents of Staple, with entry forms available from The Three Tuns (01304 812317).

Penny is planning a Face of Deal portrait exhibition next year, and is asking for people to volunteer for one to two hour sittings. Anyone interested is asked to contact her on 369332.