DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Monday, 26 February, 2024.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1826

(Name from)

Two Sawyers

Open 2024+

2 Woolage Green

07702 040000

http://thetwosawyers.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/two-sawyers

Two Sawyers

Photo of Two Sawyers taken from Wikipedia until I can visit the pub myself.

Two Sawyers 2012

Photo taken 8 December 2012 from http://www.flickr.com by Jelltex.

Two Sawyers inside 2012

Photo taken 8 December 2012 from http://www.flickr.com by Jelltex.

Two Sawyers 1991

Above photo, December 2017, kindly sent by Henk van Roy from Australia.

Two Sawyers 2024

Above photo, 2024, kindly taken and sent by John Bainbridge.

Two Sawyers inside 2024

Above photo 2024, kindly taken and sent by Duncan Field.

Two Sawyers inside 2024

Above photo 2024, kindly taken and sent by Duncan Field.

Two Sawyers inside 2024

Above photo 2024, kindly taken and sent by Duncan Field.

Two Sawyers sign 1991Two Sawyers sign 2012

Two Sawyers sign left 2012, sign right, 2017.

Above with thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com

Two Sawyers sign 2024

Above sign 2024.

 

Known as the "Rose and Crown" in 1824 and changed name some time between then and 1926. Hopefully one day someone will let me know exactly when this happened.

In the 1841 census the pub operated as a beer house.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 18 October, 1935.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

Plans Approved

The Magistrates approved plans for the reconditioning of "The Two Sawyers," Woolage Green.

 

Dover Express, Friday 27 January 1950.

COUNTY OF KENT WINGHAM DIVISION. LICENSING (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1910.

To the Clerk to the Justices,

The Chairman of the Parish Council of Womanswould,

The Clerk to the Rating Authority,

The Superintendent of Police,

And to Whom it may Concern.

I, Arthur Henry Atkins of the "Two Sawyers," Woolwich Green near Canterbury in the County of Kent Licensed Victualler do hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply at the General Annual Licensing Meeting for the said Division to be holden at St. Augustine’s, Canterbury, on the 9th February 1950 for the grant to me of a Justices' Licence authorising me to apply for and hold an Excise Licence to sell by retail the following intoxicating liquors namely Wines by retail for consumption either on or off the premises situate at Woolwich Green aforesaid and known by the sign of the "Two Sawyers" and of which premises Fremlins Limited of Maidstone in the County of Kent are the Lessees of whom I rent them.

Dated this 16th day of January, 1950.

(Signed) A. H. Atkins.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 February, 1950.

ANNUAL LICENSING REPORT

Arthur H. Atkins, of the "Two Sawyers," Womanswould, represented by Mr. P. A. G. Aldington, was granted a wine license for the existing beerhouse.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 4 January, 1952.

"The Two Sawyers" Entertain.

Through the generosity of the customers of "The Two Sawyers" Inn, Woolage Green, the forty-one old age pensioners in the area received a present at Christmas time. In addition, about 25 old people enjoyed themselves at a lunch given at the inn on Saturday. Drinks were supplied as a present from Fremlin's, the brewer.

For 160 years the inn had been in the hands of the Fox family until during the summer when Mr. C. Jaynes became the licensee. One of those who received a present of 6/- was ninety-year-old Joe Fox who held the licence of "The Two Sawyers" 26 years ago.

The Christmas treat fund was organised by Mr. J. Stewart (Secretary) and Mrs. H. Hughes (Treasurer) and the feast was cooked by two lady customers of the inn.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 19 November, 1965.

Two Sawyers go top of the league.

Two Sawyers datrts team 1965

The Two Sawyers, captured above made the expected move back to the top of the Aylesham darts league on Friday.

Stuart Eaton emails me (1/June/2010) to say :-

Team members are:- extreme right, licensee Mick Johnson, next to him is my uncle George Travers; at the rear, 4th from right, is Sammy Ransley; again at the rear, 4th from left, is my Father Ivor 'Darby' Eaton. Front left kneeling is Freddie Ransley.

 

From the Kentish Gazette, 14 June 1974.

Two Sawyers darts team 1974

Darts team who won the Kent Cancer Research title at the Chantry Club, Canterbury, on Monday. They beat to the "King's Head" at Canterbury.

Left to right: J Bryan, D Mellin, R Hill and J Jenkins.

From the Gourmet Guide supplement in the Folkestone Herald, 22 August, 1996.

Woolage Green, near Nonington, is the setting for the "Two Sawyers" - a superb example of an English village pub.

Partners Mr. and Mrs. Marsh and Mrs. E. White have run the "Two Sawyers" for four and a half years.

The pub itself is 200 years old and although it has undergone soem modernisation it still retains its quaint and "old worlde" charm. The pub comfortably seats 26 people and meals include a traditional menu with peppered steaks, scampi etc. as well as catering splendidly for the vegetarian tastebuds.

Sunday lunch is also available and the garden is a lovely place to relax during summer months.

A good selection of real ales and a warm and friendly welcome are also assured at the "Two Sawyers" -  a classis, friendly place for all.

 

From the Dover Express, 6 February 2003. By Nadine Miller.

Two Sawyers Woolage Green landlord

Drastic measures.

Landlord drives his customers home.

THE police crackdown on drink driving has led Dover publican Rob Warren, to take drastic measures - he picks up the customers himself.

Takings at the Two Sawyers, in Woolage Green, near Shepherdswell, dropped as more and more regulars heeded warnings about being caught over the legal limit. Mr Warren, 26, and his wife Helen decided to start up a free taxi scheme to collect diners and drinkers across the district.

The service runs from Sandwich and Deal to Dover and Folkestone.

To promote the free rides scheme, more than 3,000 leaflets have been printed and will soon be distributed.

Mr Warren, who has been at the Two Sawyers for nine months, said: "People do not come out this far without taking their car and drink driving was hit really hard this year with the police cracking down on it. We decided we had to do something about it."

The traditional country pub gave lifts home to the local customers who live in a three or four mile radius but wanted to expand the circle of trade.

Diners who now book a place in the restaurant will be picked up from home in a luxury car and given a bottle of bubbly.

Those who simply want a few jars are collected in a Land Rover.

A police spokesman said: "People who like going to nice country pubs face the dilemma about how to get there.

"That means that many people might have to take it in turns to be the designated driver.

"The scheme Rob and Helen started sounds like a wonderful idea for both the pub and customers. It also promotes safety on the roads:"

For more information about the Two Sawyers service, call 01304 830295.

 

From an email received 10 June 2013.

Your last entry had the pub being owned by Rob and Helen Warren. Unfortunately, they were unable to make a success of the business, and in 2004, with the pub under threat of closure, and the possibility of it being sold for residential use, it was purchased at auction by Brenda Hutton.

Brenda was born in nearby Elvington, and has many family members still living in the area. She was originally trained in catering in the RAF, and has over 30 years experience of running clubs and pubs.

The purchase at auction was featured in the TV programme ‘Homes under the hammer', and the cameras returned to the pub about 12 months later to check on progress.

Under Brenda's ownership and management, the business has gone from strength to strength. It is still a traditional village pub, with darts, pool and bar billiards teams, and the dining room offers home-made and affordable ‘pub grub' which has proved very popular.

Brenda has added a conservatory, which is used as a function room for weddings and parties, and for community events. It is now also used as the Polling Station!

In an era when so many rural pubs are having to close, it is encouraging that there are still some that are able to survive.

Adrian Wicken.

 

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Gerry Warren, 19 November 2019.

Bid to close Two Sawyers pub at Woolage Green opposed by village.

The owners of a village pub have been astonished to discover a planning application has been lodged to turn it into a house.

Brenda Hutton runs the Two Sawyers at Woolage Green but has decided to retire and is marketing the Grade II-listed 18th century inn as a going concern.

She is passionate about the business having saved it from closure in 2005 with the backing of a village campaign and turned it into a popular community hub.

But a speculative application has now been submitted to the city council from a Londoner for its residential conversion.

Louis Cayzer says the only changes that he will be make to the property are the removal of the bar and some re-decoration to the bedrooms and downstairs living area.

He also wants to erect a new fence to the boundary of the property.

But the proposals have caught Brenda and partner Adrian Wicken by surprise as their aim is to find a buyer who will keep it going.

Mr Wicken said: "We have never met this chap although I believe he came in some time ago with the agent when we were not there to have a look around.

"But no one has talked to us about it and Brenda is very keen to find a buyer to keep it going as a business.

"We will both be 70 next year and understandably Brenda is keen to retire. But the business is still very viable and we are sure it could flourish if someone new took it on with fresh energy and ideas."

Villagers are also unlikely to welcome the loss of the pub which they campaigned so hard to keep almost 15 years ago.

It was discussed by members of Womenswold Parish Council on Tuesday night who agreed to object to the planning application on the grounds that the Two Sawyers is a “valuable asset to the community” and the only pub for miles around.

The inn is on the market with a guide price of £350,000.

 

From their web site accessed 21 July 2020.

I regret that The Two Sawyers will not be reopening on 4th July.

After applying the restrictions necessary to make the business effectively COVID secure, I do not think I can offer a pub-going experience that enough customers will appreciate to make it a viable proposition. My customers’ safety is paramount, and I also need to consider that, as a 70 year old with some health issues, I am also vulnerable.

I will keep the situation under review. I look forward to welcoming customers back to The Two Sawyers, and will do so as soon as I can be sure I can offer a safe and pleasant experience.

Brenda Hutton – Landlady

 

Closed for a time in 2020, and opened again July 2023.

 

LICENSEE LIST

From the "Rose and Crown"

FOX William 1841+ (aged 36 in 1841Census)

FOX Margaret to Nov/1881 Dover Express

FOX James Nov/1881-91+ (also retired woodnam age 48 in 1891Census) Dover Express

FOX Joe 1926

FOX Walter 1939+ (age 68 in 1939)

ATKINS Arthur Henry 1950+ Dover Express

JAYNES Charles summer/1951-Dec/54 Dover Express

MUIRHEAD John R A Dec/1954+ Dover Express

JOHNSON Mick 1960s-early 70s

JOHNSON Mrs Pam to 1977+

MARSH Mr Andy & Mrs and WHITE Mrs E Feb/1982-86+

WARREN Rob & Helen May/2002-04

HUTTON Brenda 2004-July/20

FIELD Duncan & GOLDSMITH Lesley 7/June/2023-24+

 

It has been passed to me that Mick Johnson was originally from Buxton and unfortunately died from a heart attack, but his wife carried on until just after 1977.

 

Dover ExpressFrom the Dover Express

 

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

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