Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
HERNE BAY
The Ship Inn is so old it was serving pints before Herne Bay was even established as a town. Sylvia Mckean, of Herne & Broomfield Local History Group, says an early licensee in 1795 was Thomas Norris. Around this time the whole coast was a paradise for local smuggling gangs as the small inlets and beaches made their trade easy. Although most of the smuggling gangs were broken up by 1815, for a short period around 1820 there was a resurgence of violence as the local smugglers tried to hold onto their livelihood.
In April 1821, two armed groups of smugglers were waiting on the beach at Herne Bay for a shipment to arrive. When the boat came ashore, a Royal Navy patrol commanded by midshipman Snow surprised the party. Snow challenged the smugglers and drew his pistol, but it misfired and he fell down, fatally wounded. He was carried to the Ship Inn and a surgeon was called but it was too late and he died. His grave is on the west side of Herne churchyard, at the foot of the tower. Several engravings of 1823 show the landing area on the beach, and the early development of the town centred on The Ship.
The pub was close to the shore and the busy landing point for trading vessels. As the settlement grew, Herne Bay became established as a town in about 1832, says Ms Mckean, with enough residents to support shops, a flour mill, a post office and bakery.
At the turn of the 20th century it was also used to hold inquests, including that of 18-year-old plumber’s assistant Charles Edward Collins. The Whitstable Times reported on July 28, 1900: “It appeared that the deceased was bathing along the coast after seven o’clock in the evening, when a cane was thrown into the sea. “Arthur Coppin Jr, who was also bathing, and the deceased both went for the cane and the latter got to it first, when he went under. He opened his mouth and the water ran in and he sank.”
The jury returned a verdict of “accidentally drowned whilst bathing”.
It is thought the Grade-ii listed building may date back to the 1600s.
It still operates as a pub today in Central Parade.