Man of Kent

For full details, please see Exploring Clewer.

In 1939, the landlord was Thomas Hitchin, with his wife Elizabeth. At the start of WW2, he was recalled to the Navy. In late 1942, he was serving on HMS Ben Rossal, which sank, killing him and the cook, John Walsh. It was a requisitioned fishing trawler that operated as a boom vessel at Scapa Flow, being based at HMS Proserpine at Lyness. He is buried in St Peter, Burnham. His wife, Elizabeth, continued as the landlady until 1951.

By 1960, there were only the pub and a store left in Green Lane. It is thought that John and Norah Little were the last to close the doors. It was replaced by a residential block of flats.

9 Jul 1959, Horne v Pond, Berks Petty Sessions

This was also a summons to recover the possession of a house at Clewer called “The Man of Kent.” Mr Lawrence, instructed by Mr Phillips, appeared for the palintiff. The defendant appeared in person, and said he was not aware that he was a monthly tenant until this moment,, and was willing to give up possession when he could get another house. The execution of the agreement and service of the notice to quit having been proved, his Honour ordered possessions to be given forthwith with costs.

25 Feb 1860, Freehold Beerhouse and Five Cottages

Messrs Buckland & Son have received instructions from the Mortgagee, under a power of sale, to sell by auction on Friday, March 2nd, 1860, at two for three o’clock, at the Star and Garter Inn, Windsor.

A freehold beerhouse, known as the “Man of Kent”, at Clewer New Town, held on a lease by the executors of the late Mr Edwards, at the yearly rate of £24. Also, five well-built cottages, contiguous, in the occupation of Mrs Porter, Smith, and others, at a gross rental of £37 per annum.

28 Dec 1957, Counting the Coppers

Counting out the midewed pennies in the almost deserted bar of a Windsor public house may not sound like a part of a reporter’s job, bit that is what a colleagure found himself going at the Man of Kent last week.

The occasion was the official knocking-down ceremony of a pile of pennies which has been accumulating over the past year.

My colleague entered the public bar expecting to see a large crows of cstomers, but the only peple there wee Mr FI Fuzzens and Mr L Dunne, who had gone to collect the money on nehalf of the building fund of Windsor Old People;s Welfare Committee.

The licensee, Mr R Scarbro, was of course behind the bar, and despite the absence of a proper audience, Mr Fuzzens made an official “thank you” speech.

Although a trifle disappointed at the lack of support, the two colleagues agreed that it was the customers’ generousity – the ple totally £8 13s 6d – rather than their attendane, which counted.

22 Aug 1958, Little Damage

Windsor Fire Brigade went ti a small fire at the Man of Kent, Clewer, jast after 5 pm in Friday, August 15. The blaze, which was sooon put out was in the frame of a window in a fground floor room. Little damage was done.

A Costly Pint Indeed

In June 1894, the landlord Benjamin Fuller had an issue with one of the locals, Thomas Hatch who was refusing to leave the pub. Thomas was charged with “refusing to quit” the pub and being drunk. He plead guilty and was fined 10s. and 2s. 6d. respectively. He also paid costs of 22s. 6d. – a costly mistake.

Boom – boom – boompity – boom – boom -boom

Any newspaper report that starts with such words needs to be followed. On this occasion, Malcolm Scarbrow and some friends had created a skiffle band and were laying regularly on a Friday evening in the Man of Kent. “It was great fun and we get lots of amusement from playing this skiffle music”, he commented.