Farningham pub history index
This pub had closed by the 1930s and the premises are now in use as a private residence. **
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Kent .
Bricklayers Arms, High Street, Farningham - in December 2012
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address.
Around 1668-70, William Sharp, arrived in Farningham and ran a Coaching Inn (not identified, but listed on his probate’s inventory following his death in 1676. ]. For many years a subsequent generation of the Sharp family ran an ‘ale house’ in Farningham . A century or so later, Sharp brothers had a bricklaying business and built the Bricklayers Arms around 1781. A ‘Mr Sharp’ occupied the Bricklayers until the property’s freehold was offered for sale in 1808. *
In 1812, at the end of Mr Sharp’s “31-year lease”, the Bricklayers was next occupied by William Parsons and his wife Sarah whose mother was Mary nee Sharp. *
1816 – now widowed, Sarah Parsons remarried to William French. In 1838 their daughter Sarah Holt French married Samuel Wallis who is listed 1840 to 1874 as the Bricklayer’s Innholder. *
1829/William French/../../../Pigot’s London & Provincial Directory 1828-29 **
1839/William French/../../../Pigot’s Directory **
1840/Samuel Wallis/../../../Pigot’s Directory **
1847/Samuel Wallis/../../../Bagshaw’s Directory **
1855/Samuel Wallis/../../../Post Office Directory **
1874/Samuel Wallis/../../../Post Office Directory
1881/Sarah Wallis, 62, widow, Innkeeper / born Farningham - census *
1881/Ellen Wallis,36, daughter, unmarried, born Farningham
1881/Frank Wallis, 32, son, unmarried, Ostler Inn Servant, born Farningham
1881/Sarah Wallis, 28, daughter, unmarried, born Farningham
1881/Ernest George Hills, 14, grandson, born Farningham
1881/Lilian Kate Hills, 10, granddaughter, born Farningham
1891/Alfred Wallis/../../../Post Office Directory
1891 census - Sarah’s eldest son Alfred Wallis was Licensee at the Bricklayers, until his death in November 1892, aged 53. *
1893 - the license transferred to Alfred’s brother Frank Wallis / Bromley Journal and West Kent Herald, Friday 27 January 1893 *
1898 - the License was transferred in 1898 // Bromley & District Times, Friday, 20 May 1898, when Frank was aged 50. This appears to be the last event in the history since 1781, of four-five generations of the Sharp family and descendants at the Bricklayers Arms. *
1899 – 1903 Edward Howey listed as Licensee, at the Bricklayers, formerly of the Kings Head, 126 Blackstock Road, London.*
1899/Edward Howey/../../../Kelly’s Directory **
1903/Edward Howey/../../../Post Office Directory
1913/Wm T Jennings/../../../Post Office Directory
1922/Wm T Jennings/../../../Post Office Directory
* Provided By Hilary Cook and information from Sharp family researchers and The Farningham and Eynsford Local History Society
** Provided By Stephen Harris