The Village Lockup

The following article by Syd Thomsett is reprinted from Wateringbury People and Places (1996).

The village Lockup (also known as The Cage) is sited at the top of Bow Road in front of the public car park and adjoining Pipers Garage. It is part ragstone construction and part brick, with a stone slab roof. The original building was of timber construction, with a wooden roof. It was built around 1812 from Paris rates. During the time of the Parish Constables it was used to detain prisoners until they could be taken before a Magistrate.

At this time there were also stocks near the Cage. They are mentioned by George Newman in his book about Wateringbury and also in a letter written to Rev. Livett in 1896 by Henry Harris. This letter is among the Parish records held in the Centre for Kentish Studies. Around 1840 the timber building was replaced by the present building and the stocks were removed. In his letter Harris mentions that the rebuilding was required because a tramp detained for the theft of cherries escaped through the roof and was seen no more!

The Lockup seems to have been taken over by the Parish Council on its creation in 1896 and is now listed as a Grade II building of historic and architectural interest.

In 1828 "an Irishman whose name is not known died in the cage" (the village lock-up) aged "about 55 years".

TAB postcript : in Kent archives there is the following correspondence (reference CKS C/PL/2/AHI):

On 31^st January 1973 Mrs B.R. Watson, Clerk to Wateringbury parish council wrote to the Surveyor Malling Rural District Council asking that “The Old Lock Up” be included on the Parish list of Buildings of special architectural or historical interest.

The surveyor passed it onto the County Planning Officer who in turn on 23^rd February 1973 wrote to the Chief Inspector of Historic buildings “I have inspected the building to find that although somewhat insignificant, the building retains the original walling and door but the roof has been removed and replaced with a flat roof; however, owing to its historic associations and relatively good condition you may consider that it is a building which you could accept for inclusion in the Statutory list.

In 1856 a survey was undertaken of lock-ups in towns and villages across the county was undertaken showing there were 15 (including West Malling, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Wrotham ) but Wateringbury was not included. County jails were built at Canterbury in 1808 and at Maidstone in 1812-18 which subsequently in 1878 came under central government control.

The Parish Council after its formation took up the issue of the cage at its Meeting of February 14, 1896 which minuted

The Clerk was requested to obtain the key of the Old Lock Up (The Cage) and if in use by any authority to make application for a payment of one shilling per year rent.

Mr. Whitmore proposed and Mr Shepherd seconded that the ‘lock up or cage’ be converted into a mortuary for the parish. Carried nem con.