The Grenadier, Riding Lane
The
Grenadier pub was built in 1858 and was located between Gardeners Hope Cottages and Stone Cottages in
Riding Lane. Attached to one side was a small grocery shop.
Most of the following information was researched by Denis Scott, who lived in the house built, in 1962, on the site where the Grenadier once stood:
The first landlord was Charles Thorn, the address was listed as Grenadier, Hollanden, Leigh, Tonbridge.
From the Leigh Census of 1861:
Charles Thorn, Publican and Grocer, aged 34, born in St. Giles, Dorset. Wife's name was Mary, aged 33, born in Shipbourne. Plus 3 children. Also, Thomas (brother, aged 19) unmarried agricultural worker, and Caroline Everest, aged 13, servant, born in Leigh. Charles was licensee from 1858-1861.
From the Leigh Census of 1871:
William Peacock, Publican, aged 35, born in Shipbourne. Wife's name was Eliza, aged 32. Plus 2 children.
William was licensee from 1871 until 1908.
Other Publicans:
George Thomas Miles 1909-1913
W. Miles 1914-1916
George Thomas Miles (again) 1918-1919
P.E. Cunnington 1919
George A. Finch 1922
Charles Moore 1923-1928
Daniel Stanbury Harvey 1929
Frederick Southin 1931-1941
The first landlord was Charles Thorn, the address was listed as Grenadier, Hollanden, Leigh, Tonbridge.
From the Leigh Census of 1861:
Charles Thorn, Publican and Grocer, aged 34, born in St. Giles, Dorset. Wife's name was Mary, aged 33, born in Shipbourne. Plus 3 children. Also, Thomas (brother, aged 19) unmarried agricultural worker, and Caroline Everest, aged 13, servant, born in Leigh. Charles was licensee from 1858-1861.
From the Leigh Census of 1871:
William Peacock, Publican, aged 35, born in Shipbourne. Wife's name was Eliza, aged 32. Plus 2 children.
William was licensee from 1871 until 1908.
Other Publicans:
George Thomas Miles 1909-1913
W. Miles 1914-1916
George Thomas Miles (again) 1918-1919
P.E. Cunnington 1919
George A. Finch 1922
Charles Moore 1923-1928
Daniel Stanbury Harvey 1929
Frederick Southin 1931-1941
It was destroyed by a bomb at 9pm on Saturday April 19th, 1941. The landlord, Frederick Southin, was in the cellar at the time, tapping a fresh barrel of beer.
A Mrs K.E. Taylor, who lived nearby at No3 Stone Cottages,
remembered the aftermath. “The men all ran to dig out people buried in the
rubble. The landlord and his sons were rescued. The next thing they got out was
the beer.”