Cherry Garden Tavern, Cherry Gardens c1750 - 1863

Above postcard of Cherry Gardens perhaps showing the Cherry Garden Tavern

Licensees

William Hogben Listed 1842

John Smith Mentioned 1853

Henry Parks c 1854 1863

Dover Chronicle 4-7-1835 

East Kent Quarter Sessions: Tuesday, 30^th June, before W. Deedes Esq.

Henry Jeffery, charged with stealing from the person of Thomas Swaine, at Folkestone, two sovereigns, two half sovereigns, and a silk purse of the value of two pence. The prisoner was a respectable looking and well dressed young man who had been admitted to bail and surrendered himself to take his trial.

It appeared in evidence that on Whit Monday there was a dance at the Cherry Orchard public house, at Folkestone, that the prosecutor went there in the evening and met some of his acquaintances, they stopped all night, that there was was a quarrel and fight between the prosecutor and the prisoner in the morning, and that the former, by the testimony of himself and witnesses, lost the property stated in the indictment.

Mr. Walsh appeared for the prisoner and cross-examined the witnesses for the prosecution at great length, and called several witnesses for the prisoner, who gave direct contradictory evidence in several material points to which the prosecutor`s witness had sworn.

The Chairman, after a few minutes observation on the evidence given on both sides, was about to sum up, when the Jury intimated that they would not trouble him to do so, as they had paid great attention to the evidence and were satisfied, and after a short consultation acquitted the prisoner.

The trial lasted between three and four hours. Mr. Bond, of Folkestone, was prisoner`s attorney.

Dover Telegraph 4-7-1835 

East Kent Midsummer Sessions: These Sessions commenced at St. Augustine`s, on Tuesday, before the Chairman, William Deedes Esq., and a full bench of Magistrates.

Henry Jeffry was indicted for stealing from Thomas Swain two sovereigns, two half-sovereigns and a purse, at the Cherry Garden public house, Folkestone, on the morning of Whit Tuesday. This case was rather curious from the strong conflicting evidence; the prosecutor producing several witnesses, who swore positively to the prisoner committing the robbery and an assault. On the other hand, the prisoner called as much evidence to rebut the testimony adduced against him. It appeared that all the parties had been holiday-making, which terminated in a general fight, on which this charge was grounded. The Chairman said it was always distressing to hear a case such as this – a case in which it was clear there must be, on one side or the other, wilful perjury. He was proceeding to read his notes of evidence, when the Jury intimated that they had watched the case sufficiently to save the Chairman that trouble. In a few minutes they brought in a verdict of Not Guilty.

Kentish Chronicle 7-7-1835 

East Kent Quarter Sessions: These Sessions commenced on Tuesday last, 30^th June, before Wm. Deedes Esq., Chairman.

Henry Jeffery, charged with stealing from the person of Thomas Swaine, at Folkestone, two sovereigns, two half sovereigns, and a silk purse of the value of two pence. 

It appeared in evidence that on Whit Monday there was a dance at the Cherry Orchard public house, at Folkestone, that the prosecutor went there in the evening and met some of his acquaintances, they stopped all night, that there was was a quarrel and fight between the prosecutor and the prisoner in the morning, and that the former, by the testimony of himself and witnesses, lost the property stated in the indictment.

The Chairman, after a few minutes observation on the evidence given on both sides, was about to sum up, when the Jury intimated that they would not trouble him to do so, as they had paid great attention to the evidence and were satisfied, and after a short consultation acquitted the prisoner.

The trial lasted between three and four hours. Mr. Bond, of Folkestone, was prisoner`s attorney.

Maidstone Gazette 10-6-1851

Advertisement: Cherry Gardens, Folkestone. Wanted, a respectable and industrious man and his wife to conduct a public house and pleasure ground, situate as above. The man will be required to make himself generally useful. It is indispensable that the woman should be able to manage a dairy.

For particulars apply to Mr. Mickle, Nursery Gardens, Folkestone.

Dover Telegraph 5-3-1853

The Cherry Gardens, Folkestone. During the past week this quiet retreat was full of activity and bustle, by the continual arrival of wagons, carts, &c., bringing ice from Uphill, Newington, Cheriton and Folkestone. Upwards of 40 vehicles were employed by the present landlord of the Cherry Tavern (Mr. John Smith), and in two or three days about 400 tons of ice were deposited in the ice-well, which was built by a few spirited individuals. Folkestone has in the summer months felt the want of ice very much, owing to the number of visitors, and none to be had except from London, at a great expense.  

Southeastern Gazette 8-11-1853, Dover Telegraph 12-11-1853

Advertisement: Folkestone. To let, with immediate possession, The Cherry Garden Tavern, with about 16 acres of land; and the Ice Well, capable of storing 250 cube yards of ice.

For particulars apply to Mr. Richard Hart, Solicitor, Folkestone, or to Mr. Smith, on the premises.

Folkestone, October, 1853.

Southeastern Gazette 14-2-1854

Advertisement: Folkestone, to be let, with immediate possession, the Cherry Garden Tavern, with about 16 acres of land and the ice well capable of storing upwards of 100 tons of ice, which is stored from the reservoir of the Water Works Company. This property is delightfully situate about a mile and a half from the town, and is well situated for the establishment for pleasure gardens, and to a party having a capital of about £300, it would prove a source of very considerable profit. Rent moderate and facilities afforded.

Apply to Mr. Richard Hart, Solicitor, Folkestone.

Folkestone Chronicle 13-10-1855

Tuesday October 9^th :- Present W. Major Esq., G. Kennicott Esq., and J. Kelcey Esq.

The Adjourned General Licencing Meeting was held this day, when the following licence was granted: Henry Parks, Cherry Garden Tavern

Folkestone Chronicle 29-3-1856

Cherry Gardens -  Now that this place is brought under the jurisdiction of the borough, we think that an occasional visit to the Tavern from our police on Sundays might not be unproductive of good, in checking some measure of the evil influence which seems to be extending itself to the juvenile portion of our population, who resort there in the afternoons. We were ourselves witness on Sunday afternoon last to a disgraceful exhibition of drunkenness in a boy of only about twelve years old, who was returning across the fields in a state of complete intoxication, and who, but for our interference, would have been subjected to gross ill-treatment from his companions, who had much difficulty to get him along – we being obliged to follow them into the town to see that he was safely got home.

Folkestone Chronicle 14-6-1856

Local News

Cherry Gardens

The band of the 5^th regiment Light Infantry, British German Legion, of which we have before spoken, gave an open air performance at this place on Thursday afternoon. We were told they offered their services to the proprietor of the Tavern, with a view to attract visitors. Had it not been for the Cricket Match, most likely there would have been many persons present; as it was, however, there were very few. The programme consisted chiefly of English music, which was very creditably performed.

Southeastern Gazette 18-11-1856

Advertisement: Cherry Gardens, in the parish of Folkestone. Notice of the sale of the whole of the household furniture, fixtures, kitchen utensils, 4-wheel van, hay stack, 4 fatting bullocks, 15 score hog, 3 goats, &c., &c. Mr. J. Banks begs to inform the public that he has received instructions from the proprietors to sell by auction on Thursday next, November 20^th, 1856, on the premises, Cherry Garden Tavern, in the parish of Folkestone.

The furniture comprises mahogany loo table, coffee and Pembroke tables, mahogany hair-seated chairs, 36 Windsor ditto, mahogany hair-seated couch, fenders and fire irons, gilt chimney glass, maps, Dutch carpet and hearth rugs, slate top table, 3 oil paintings, cups and saucers, basins and teapots, iron saucepans, iron boiler, Dutch oven, tin blower candlesticks, &c., &c.

The bar contains 8 spirit casks, taps and pipes, set shelf and counter, bottle rack, splendid six draught beer engine with pipes, taps and joints (by Baker of Folkestone), tumblers, rummers, ale and wine glasses, splendid spirit engine, 3 spirit measures and pewter funnel, brass scales and weights, decanters, shew-glasses and canister, copper coal shute, plate warmer, knives and forks, 2 table cloths, 4 tray ditto, and a very large variety of useful articles.

The stock consists of 4 fatting bullocks, a 15 score hog, about 7 tons of hay, 4 wheel van, 3 goats, &c.

The goods may be viewed on the morning of the day of sale. Sale to commence at twelve o`clock, without reserve. 

Folkestone Chronicle 3-10-1857

Wednesday September 30^th:- Before the Mayor, and T. Golder, W. Major, J. Tolputt, G. Kennicott, and J. Kelcey esqs.

This being the adjourned general annual licencing meeting, the following licence was renewed, viz.:- Henry Parkes, for the house at the Cherry Garden.

Folkestone Chronicle 20-8-1859 

Advertisement: W. Parkes, Refreshment House, Cherry Gardens, in returning thanks to the visitors and inhabitants of Folkestone and neighbourhood, begs to acquaint them that he is now licensed to sell beer, wines and spirits. Every accommodation provided for picnic and tea parties.

Note: If this IS, as I suspect, the Cherry Garden Tavern, then “W. Parkes” is unknown. Henry Parkes was there between 1857 and 1863.

Southeastern Gazette 28-5-1861

Last week Mr. Thomas Griffen, farmer, Broadmead, went to Sandgate to transact some business, and put up his horse near the Royal Kent Hotel. On returning towards Folkestone, with his man and Mr. Sparks (sic), of the Cherry Gardens, he had not proceeded further than the Ship Hotel, when the wheel ran off, in consequence of some malicious person having drawn the lynch-pin. All the parties were thrown out, but fortunately none of them hurt. The cart, which was smashed to pieces, had only just come out of the coachmaker`s hands with new axles.

Folkestone Chronicle 28-3-1863

Advertisement

H. Parks desires to return his sincere thanks to the public for past favours at the Cherry Gardens, and solicits a continuance of their support at the above place as a Tea Garden. At the request of the Directors of the Folkestone Water Works Company the business of a Tavern Keeper, carried on by him at the above place will be discontinued from this notice.

March 26^th, 1863

Folkestone Express 24-12-1892

Letter

Dear Sir,

I do not know whether the fol­lowing has been published before. I copied it some years ago from a manuscript very kindly lent to me by an old inhabitant, and as it relates to the source of the water supply prior to the water works, it may prove interesting: “2nd February, 1821 - Bail water. Anxious to know not only where is the head of this parent stream, but also to where it went, I went this morning to Broadmead and then to where I before found the junction with the bail water; then pursuing it to the end, I found a stream to come to it under a bridge on the road which runs at the north end of Broadmead wood, and that that stream appeared to come in a direction west of the Cherry Gardens, where a labouring man had just told me there was a lake from which this water flowed, and as on my right hand I saw another stream turn to the eastward, I followed that until I came to a stile over which we pass to the Cherry Gardens, Here I found a stream in a direct line from thence. I pursued the stream towards the Cherry Gardens, as near as I could, and at the Cherry Gardens (Castle Hill on my right hand), I found a large lake in shape almost triangular; not far from each other I found two springs, which issued from the mountains adjacent, which emptied themselves into the lake, at the N.W. corner of which I found another larger discharge into it, and from which the inhabitants of the Cherry Garden (it appears from the descending steps made into it) supply themselves with water. Here a reservoir has been scooped out, but probably finding it            inconvenient, a wooden pipe, like those in use in London, has been inserted, so that there are two copious discharges of water, one above the other, so that the place here seems tapped, and on the whole an immense body of water gushes from this place into the lake. From hence went into the cherry grounds, where stands the crooked sign-post, with a board, on which is inscribed “The Thatched Tavern” or the “Friend’s Goodwill”. I can hardly take leave of my subject, without this reflection, “How happy is Folkestone with respect to water, having so many ample sources of supply”. Some long residents may have heard of “The Thatched Tavern”, in the Cherry Gardens, and the original j lake, and be able to confirm the above description.

           

Hardric Morphyn.