Search goes on for pub’s missing sign
acole@thekmgroup.co.uk It’s a piece of collectable Maidstone history which was meant to be displayed in pride of place at a new housing development.
But the pub sign which once hung over the Saxon Chief mysteriously disappeared after scaffolding was erected to demolish the building.
Work started six months ago on the Queen’s Road development, which was built on the site of the disused pub.
Cllr David Pickett (Lib Dem) who had worked closely with developers and planners on the project throughout, unveiled the new placard for the Saxon Mews development on Friday.
And he put out a hopeful appeal for the orignal sign to be handed back.
Cllr Pickett, a keen amateur historian, said hopefully: “Maybe someone rescued it. Perhaps they could see it was an important bit of history and they thought it might be lost forever so rescued it. It might be sitting in someone’s garden.”
Old pub signs, which are viewed as highly collectable, can fetch several hundred pounds. Even licensee details which hang over the doorway are wanted by collectors.
Cllr Pickett added: “If anyone has knowledge of the whereabouts of the sign, the developers would like it back – no questions asked.”
The development has six two, three and four bedroom homes off Queen’s Road in Allington.
There had been plans to incorporate the sign into the site, but in its absence a new sign was created.
Paul Skelton, who runs the Dover Kent Archives website, which has an interest in pub signs, said he did not think the sign was in very good condition, and would only be valued at around £50.
He added: “However, old ones can be collectable, no matter what their condition. Many seem to end up going to America.”