Property Timeline
1871
1871 Census - Occupants
William Waterman – 59 – Head
Beerseller born in Birling, Kent
Emily Waterman – 57 – Wife
Born in East Malling
Thomas Wickham – 23 – Son in Law
Carpenter born in West Malling, Kent
Ellen Wickham – 24 – Daughter
Born in West Malling, Kent
Emily Wickham – 1 – Daughter
Born in West Malling, Kent
Arthur Hubble – 8 Grandson
Scholar born in Sutton, Kent
1881
1881 Census - Occupants
William James Bartholomew living at Police Station Road
1891
1899 Census - Occupants
Wilfred W Gaulton – 30 – Head
Gardener and beerhouse keeper born in Dawlish, Dorset
Emily Gaulton – 31 – Wife
Born in East Malling, Kent
Rosa P Gaulton – 9 – Daughter
Scholar born in Canterbury, Kent
May Gaulton – 5 – Daughter
Scholar born in Canterbury, Kent
Leonard Gaulton – 4 – Son
Born in West Malling, Kent
Stanley R Gaulton – 5months – Son
Born in West Malling, Kent
Frederick Croswell – 30 – Lodger
Agricultural Labourer born in born in West Malling, Kent
James W Saunders – 27 – Lodger
Agricultural Labourer born in born in Addington, Kent
Julia Jennings – 13 – Servant
Servant (domestic) born in Ryarsh, Kent
1901
1901 Census - Occupants
George Helms – 79 – Head
Beerseller pub born in Darlington, Durham
Ellen Maskell – 61 – Servant
Housekeeper born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Frederick Jessup – 45 – Boarder
Carpenter born in Nettlestead, Kent
John King – 52 – Boarder
General farm labourer born in West Malling, Kent
George Herringdon – 44 – Boarder
General farm labourer born in Leybourne, Kent
Charles Pateman – 19 – Boarder
General farm labourer born in West Malling, Kent
James Pateman – 18 – Boarder
General farm labourer born in Ryarsh, Kent
1911
1911 Census - Occupants
Henry Dunn – 36 – Head
Butcher born in Deal, Kent
Beatrice Dunn – 32 – Wife
Born in East Farleigh, Kent
Alec Dunn – 12 – Son
Scholar born in South Kensington, London
Eva Dunn – 8 – Daughter
Born in West Malling, Kent
Eric Dunn – 4 – Son
Born in West Malling, Kent
Peter Fillery – 24 – Servant
Butcher born in Ticehurst, Sussex
Raymond Morley – 16 – Servant
Butcher born in High Halden
Millicent Billingham – 16 – Servant
General Servant (Domestic) born in East Malling
1921
1921 Census - Occupants
Henry Dunn – 44 – Head
Butcher born in Deal, Kent
Beatrice Dunn – 41 – Wife
Born in East Farleigh, Kent
Alec Dunn – 22 – Son
Assisting worker in butcher’s business born in South Kensington, London
Eric Dunn – 14 – Son
Assisting worker in butcher’s business born in West Malling, Kent
Joan Dunn – 22 – Daughter
Born in West Malling, Kent
Thomas Tapsfield – 78 – Father in Law
Widower born in East Farleigh, Kent
1939
1939 Register
Henry W Dunn – 64
Master Butcher
Esther Dunn – 50
Unpaid domestic duties
Eric H S Dunn – 33
Butcher’s Manager
The three High Street properties that are currently 84, 84A and 86 started life as a single property, most likely as a mediaeval hall house (see number 86 for more details about the properties origins). Exactly when the building was split into different units is not known but it appears to have remained as one property up until the 1939 register, when it was still occupied by the Dunn family.
The Nag’s Head
First recorded in 1870, the Nag’s Head beer house occupied the property for close to forty years before a renewal of its licence was declined. Known locally as the Hole in the Wall because the entrance to the public bar was via an opening at the side of the building, in West Street, it was one of numerous inns and beer houses that proliferated the town. At a time when the number of drinking venues, not just in West Malling but nationally, was being questioned, it found itself applying for its license renewal at a precarious time with every application being scrutinised to determine if the number of licensed properties could be reduced. We can see from the following newspaper report that in such a small area, the number of licensed properties in the High Street at the time was going to make it very difficult for the Nag’s Head to fight its corner…
THE NAG’S HEAD, WEST MALLING, TO BE REFERRED
Mr. R. T. Tatham applied on behalf of the owners (Messrs. Jude, Hanbury, and Co.), and the tenant (Mr. J. S. Brown) for the renewal of the Nag’s Head beerhouse, West Malling.
Police Sergt. Burbridge said the house in question contained eight rooms. The nearest licensed house was the George, which was 30 yards away.
Supt/ Ford: How many licensed houses are there in West Malling?-There are nine ale-houses, 8 beerhouses, and three off-licenses. There is a population of 2,312, which works out at one licensed house for every 115. The same brewers have two other houses close by, the Bear, which is nearly opposite and the King’s Arms in Back Street.
***
Despite the incumbent landlord having no convictions against his name and the house enjoying considerable trade, with 118 barrels of beer being consumed in the previous year, the Superintendent remained adamant that the license should not be renewed. The only witness that was called on behalf of the house’s representatives, Mr Dunn, lived opposite the pub at the time in, West Street. He vouched for the way the premises was operated and also pointed out how it was well used by a number of people who travelled in from Offham, as well residents from that side of the town. His involvement is an interesting one because following the eventual closure of the house, he would move his butcher’s business into the property.
Alongside the Nag’s Head, the drive to reduce the number of licensed premises in the town led to a further 3 closures with the Royal Oak (currently One Smile Oral Care), the Cricketer’s Arms (currently a private residence) and the Sportsman (also now a private residence) facing the same fate. Non-renewal compensation was awarded for these closures with the Nag’s Head receiving £488 10s, the equivalent of approximately £75k in 2023.
