Smallholders Club, Spyglass & Kettle, The Queens Head - Published in March 1972
Smallholders Club
Late in the last century the land around the hamlet of Wigmore was occupied by a number of smallholders, cultivating fruit and vegetables. These people sold their products from a shed attached to a big house in what is now Woodside Road. It was their habit on these occasions to get in a barrel of beer for their own consumption. After a few years they formed a club and took over the house. As the land was gradually sold off for building the sale of vegetables etc grew less but the club membership increased. There were then no other licenced houses in the locality. Later in spite of the opening of two new pubs on either side, the “Smallholders Club” continued to progress and now boasts a membership of over 1000. The old building was demolished and about 3 years ago the present well equipped and spacious club rooms came into use. Other organisations in the area use the rooms for their activities. My Senior Citizen colleague will be glad to know, that being close to the Post Office, quite a number of retired gents (and a few ladies) regularly use the Club as a rest centre. Membership fee to them is 25p per year (50p for the not so old).
Spyglass & Kettle
We now find ourselves in the “Spy Glass & Kettle” at the western end of Woodside Road, Old Wigmore. This imposing hostelry (see sketch) was built about 1936, too new of course to have a history. It received its name from the combined names of the two pubs closed down in Gillingham at this time. The “Lord Nelson” & the “Steam Engine”. The inn sign shows a cut out of Nelson(‘?) with his telescope and an early road steam kettle. Incidently the only pub in Britain with this name. A spacious car park and a fast developing grill room with other hot and cold meals and snacks.
The sketch below was from 1972. Notice the entrance seems to be in a different location to now. Pub sign shows as Fremlins.
Photo below from 2003
The Queens Head
Next is the Queens Head in what was once called Bowley Lane (now Maidstone Rd). The Queens Head is Wigmore and Wigmore is the Queens Head. The house was built about 1933, the 400th anniversary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth I whose head is depicted on the inn sign. Also too modern to have a history it is now mainly noted for its cuisine from a Ploughmans Lunch (bread, cheese, onion & beer) to a 6 course dinner with wines. It is RAC listed and with a happy and jolly staff (no nonsense) it is one of the places to call at.
NOTE: A change of licencee at the White Horse Inn in High Street means no more indiscriminate pop singing and dancing.
