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Swanley pub history index
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Lamb, Swanley Village Road, Swanley - in July 2013
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address.
1881/John Chilmaid/Beer Retailer/60/Southfleet, Kent/Census
1881/Eliza Chilmaid/Wife/60/Sutton at Hone, Kent/Census
1881/Charlotte Chilmaid/Daughter/25/Sutton at Hone, Kent/Census
1881/George Chilmaid/Son, Ag Labourer/21/Sutton at Hone, Kent/Census
1899/Mrs Eliza Chilmaid /Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory **
1901/Eliza Chilmaid/Beer House Keeper, Widow/80/Sutton at Hone, Kent/Census
1901/Charlotte Chilmaid/Daughter, Barmaid/44/Sutton at Hone, Kent/Census
1901/Alice Perkins/Grand Daughter, General Servant/27/Bexley Heath, Kent/Census
1903/Mrs E Chilmaid /Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory **
1911/George Chilmaid/Beer House Keeper & Carman/51/Swanley, Kent/Census
1911/Charlotte Chilmaid/Wife/50/Swanley, Kent/Census
1911/Ernest Chilmaid/Son, General Labourer/16/Swanley, Kent/Census
1913/George Chilmaid/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory **
In 1921 census at The Lamb, Swanley
George Chilmaid, Farmer Carmn & Contractor, Widow, aged 61 years 5 months, and born in Sutton, Kent, Employer
Ernest J Chilmaid, Son, Assisting Father In General Farm Work, aged 27 years, and born in Sutton, Kent
Ellen Chilmaid, Daughter-in-law, Home Duties, aged 25 years 4 months, and born in Rotherhithe, London
1930/George Chilmaid/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory **
1934/Ernest Chilmaid/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory **
1938/Ernest Chilmaid/Lamb/../../Kellys Directory **
The Lamb Swanley village in the 1970’s was pretty close to perfect. A beer only house, with two bars - each the size of a postage stamp. Don’t recall any seating in the smaller bar. *
There were benches in the other bar for domino players.
Great Courage beer, no music and no food - not sure he even served crisps. Customers consisted of farm workers with tractors abandoned outside, a butcher, dentist doctor and surveyor.
No ladies toilet , dear Ernie Chilmaid the charming landlord whose family held the licence since 1866, would allow ladies to use his loo in emergencies.The gents was outside - a urinal only.
A copy of The laughing Cavalier and an early licence of the Chilmaid’s were amongst the sparse decoration.
My father Arthur Thomas Hopkins ran the ship , puddledock lane , Wilmington 1970 - 1983 for courages. ( my uncle Jim Conroy ran the Woodman, in swanley lane). *
Ernie was a friend and in strike times used to lend us barrels of beer . The cellar had a spiral staircase and it was very awkward getting beef out. He had a flap for deliveries. On the ceiling of the cellar in the late 1970’s he still had a ‘black hat’ . This was a contraption where spilt beer would go direct from the drip tray under the beer tap through a gauze or leather/muslin type bag direct in the beer. I Am told it was common many years ago but illegal for many years! A young courage area manager bumped his head on it without realising what it was!
Ernie was charming and a great cellar man, he served excellent beer. Had to, no spirit licence. When a young man he tried for one but courage felt the pub too small with poor trade and refused to help him install a ladies toilet and improve the gents facilities. Much later courage’s relented but Ernie was now old and didn’t want the hassle, the extra money would have been useful when he was young.you could say the lamb was a small little joint !
Interestly he didn’t drink beer, but would occasionally sip whisky from a glass discreetly hidden under the bar.
Early CAMRA meetings held there.
It really was a smashing pub, full of character and unchanged for many years. On his death shepherd Neame took it over and extended the pub.
Despite my letter above not sure if he really did serve crisps ! But it was very basic , certainly no cooked good or sandwiches.
Regulars included Neil hearnden a surveyor for BW Brazier in Hextable ( who built a lot of Biggin hill) , Roger Nash a dentist,and michaelcsutton who had a farm near the plough at Wilmington and would arrive by tractor ( and leave in the dark with no lights!).
2018, The Lamb Inn, Swanley Village Road, Swanley BR8 7NN
* Provided By John Hopkins
** Provided By Stephen Harris