This is one in a series of
caches remembering old pubs in Kent, unfortunately now
closed.
The King’s Arms Hotel
closed in the 1980s, it was right next door to the Town House, now
called the Highwayman. The current building, now called
King’s Court, dates from 1843 but there was a pub on the site
from 1632. The old pub was connected with smuggling, some of the
‘Hawkhurst Gang’ met here. One of the gang, William Fairall,
was arrested outside the pub in January 1749, hanged, and the body
gibbetted near to the King’s Arms, in Gibbet Lane.
The cache is a nano and stealth
is required, I would suggest maybe retiring to the pub next door to
sign the log.
** If you intend to do this on
the Sunday of the Horsmonden Horse Fair which takes place annually
in September then EXTREME stealth is required. Notices posted on
the green by the Parish Council warn the public to stay
away. It can be a
daunting event and all the pubs for miles around will be closed but
we enjoy it, it is an unusual experience, almost like a trip into
the past or to another country, even some of the language sounds
foreign. Watch out for pony and trap races down the road and
don’t join in the gambling!.
If anybody would like to expand
the Kent Lost Pubs series please do, we would just ask that you let
LVT know first so we can keep track of the Pub numbers and names,
to avoid duplication. Please avoid pubs that have become
restaurants.