Queen's Head spirit license refused (1868 and 1869)

Post date: Mar 19, 2013 10:37:28 AM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph, 12th September 1868.

PETTY SESSIONS.

Monday.—Before J. W. Stratford. Esq., (Chairman) Hon. and Rev. Sir Francis Stapleton, Bart., Hon. and Rev. E. V. Bligh. Admiral Randolph, W. Lee, Esq., M.P., and F. Geary, Esq. This was the general annual licensing meeting. There were 86 licenses renewed, and only one complaint made. Several applications for new licenses were made, and four granted.

APPLICATION FOR A new LICENSE AT WATERINGBURY.

William Walter Barton, landlord of the Queen's Head beerhouse Wateringbury, applied for a spirit license. Mr. W. S. Norton supported the applicant, and Mr. Hughes, of Maidstone, opposed on behalf of Mr Luther, innkeeper, Wateringbury.

Mr Norton said his client kept the Queen's Head beerhouse, Wateringbury. The house was situate the high road between Tunbridge and Maidstone. Wateringbury contained about 1,760 inhabitants. Further accommodation for the inhabitants and travellers was required. Mr Luther's was the only spirit house for a distance of seven miles on the road. During the time his client had the house, a Lodge of Oddfellows numbering over 50 members, had been established. Before Mr. Barton came to reside at Wateringbury he was a highly respectable resident of Maidstone. The memorials in favour of the applicant were handed to the Bench, signed by the following names amongst many others - Henry Brenchley,Rev. Robert Earl, Rev. G.R. Paulson, J. W. Fry, Henry White, Henry Marshall, Colonel Scott, J. Hollingworth, Alexander Randall, H. Cutbush, Thomas Wells, W. Howes, &c., &c. Mr Norton produced several plans of the buildings and stated that there was a large club room 38 feet by 11 feet.

Sir Francis Stapleton—The road is very narrow. A public house is a nuisance there, as there no room for vehicles to stand. Mr Barton —The road about 35 feet wide, and there is plenty of room for vehicles to be drawn up front of the house. The yard will hold six waggons. Mr Hughes;—According to the plan the road is 21 feet in width, measuring from the curb. Mr Barton cross-examined-I have had the house fifteen months. Mr J. B. Jude is the owner of it. The Duke's Head is not on the turnpike road. There are three inns at Wateringbury. My house is nearly a quarter of a mile from Mr Luther's. Mr Hughes said it was hardly necessary to make even a few observations to the Bench. Applications for license had been made from time to time and refused. There was no increase in the population, and circumstances to give reason for another inn. He did not oppose only on behalf of the King's Head, but also for Mr Lucas, the owner of considerable property at Wateringbury. It was not the general feeling of the parish that another house was required. Mr. Jude, the owner of the Queen's Head, was virtually the applicant. Mr. Norton -—It is eleven years ago since the last application was made, and since that time great additions have been made to the premises.

Chairman —The names attached to the memorials are very good. If there is occasion for a new house, the memorials should be more numerously signed by residents of the village. After some little consultation, the Bench decided not to grant a license.

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph of 11th September 1869 in relation to petty sessions at Malling of 6th September mainly devoted to licensing issues.

APPLICATIONS FOR SPIRIT LICENSES.

Mr Barton the Queen's Head Inn, Wateringbury, applied for a spirit license to his house. The application was supported by Mr T. Goodwin, and opposed by Mr Hughes.

Mr Goodwin opened the case by dwelling on the accommodation of the house for a license, and put in plans showing the rooms, coach-house, stabling, &c. He then read very influentially signed memorial praying for the license. He contended that as there were only three licensed houses in the parish of Wateringbury there was plenty of room for another. The houses already licensed were the King's Head, the Duke's Head, and the North Pole. Mr Hughes—Before Mr Goodwin proceeds with his case I must ask him to prove the service of the notices. Mr Goodwin—l will do so directly. Mr Bligh—l believe the objection on the last occasion was that there was no room in front of applicant's house for a wagon to pass if another was drawn up opposite his house. Mr Goodwin observed that there was plenty of room. When applicant applied last year there was good Lodge of Odd Fellows which had now left defendant's house because he had to close at 10 o'clock and there was not sufficient time for the transaction of the society's business.

Mr Barton was called and deposed to the eligibility of his house. He believed if the license was granted him the Lodge of Odd Fellows would return again. In cross examination by Mr Hughes applicant admitted that the road was only 22 feet wide from his house to Towner's wall opposite, out of which was one path about three feet wide.

After a few brief remarks from Mr Hughes in opposition the chairman, after short consultation, said that the bench would grant the license. One of the magistrates said that the chairman had made a mistake there were majority against the granting of the license. The chairman admitted, after counting the dissentients, that he was in error. The magistrates then retired to consider their decision, and on their return into court the chairman said that they had decided upon refusing the license in consequence of the narrowness of the road where applicant's house was situated.

At the 1869 Wateringbury regatta "Mr. Barton, of the Queen's Head, supplied refreshments upon the ground and was well patronised" (Maidstone Telegraph 7th August 1869).