Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

An 18th Century inn, which was demolished in 1930 and built further back from the road. This inn was then destroyed my enemy bombing action in 1942, and was rebuilt after the war and reopened in 1959.

has now been extended in order to make it a hotel as well as the inn.

Monument Types

• INN (C18, Post Medieval to Modern - 1700 AD? to 1930 AD (at some time))
• INN (Modern - 1931 AD to 1942 AD)
• INN (Now, Modern to Unknown - 1959 AD)

Full description

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The Canterbury UAD states that this inn was a Fremlins/Whitbread inn.

The Nag's Head was an 18th century inn. Mr Enderby discovered an old 18th century deed of Nag's Head, 'heretofore the Lilypot' and an 1801 account book talks of a tenement in Dover Street, formerly The Lilypot.

A Canterbury Directory called it The Nag's Head in 1865. In the Canterbury Directory of 1878 John Kemp is given as innkeeper. That inn was extended to become an inn and hotel and it was an imposing building standing right on the pavement of Dover Street. It was also listed in Steven's Directory for 1882; Bedwell's Directory for 1888-89 and Pikes Directory for 1897-98 the latter two giving T. Rogers as licensee. The building had been extended to become an inn and a hotel.

That building was demolished in 1930 and rebuilt further back from the road frontage roughly where the present 'Gators' is. Kelly's Directories for 1931 & 1939 give J. A Clarke as licensee.

The inn was destroyed by enemy bombing action on 31st May 1942. Following the bombing the Nag's Head probably became one of the tiniest inns in Kent, in a pre-fabricated 'bungalow' measuring 18' x 14' where business was carried on.

The Kentish Gazette wrote after the war that The Nag's Head 'is to be re-built as part of Canterbury's £11 million development plan, lasting 20 years'. It was re-opened again on 31st March 1959. The innkeeper was Mr Eddie O'Connor. In July 1983 the name of the inn was changed to Gators.

Steven's Directories, 1882, Steven's Directory of Canterbury and Neighbourhood, with Faversham, Herne Bay, Whitstable and all villages within a circuit of six miles from Canterbury. (Article in serial). SKE29959.

Bedwells, 1889, Bedwells Directory of Canterbury (Article in serial). SKE29988.

Pikes Directories, 1897, Pikes Local Blue Book for Canterbury and District, Herne Bay & Whitstable (Article in serial). SKE29958.

Kelly's Directory, 1931, Kelly's Directory of Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, & with map (Article in serial). SKE29963.

Kelly's Directory, 1967, Kelly's Directory of Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, & with map (Article in serial). SKE30014.

Wilmot, E., 1988, Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29737.

Sources and further reading