Remember French prisoners of war. The Old Jail once held them overnight. They were on their way to Maidstone during the Napoleonic era. Today The Old Jail stands as a Grade II listed building. It dates back to the 18th century.
The Old Jail is located in Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Westerham. It is found in the London Borough of Bromley. Sadly The Old Jail is permanently closed. Its future remains uncertain.
Let’s explore The Old Jail’s past. The Bromley Borough Local History Society and Biggin Hill History Group offer some insights. The Old Jail belonged to the Fox Brewery of Green Street Green. The brewery closed in 1908. In 1909, Truman, Hanbury and Buxton bought The Old Jail at auction.
Many people held licenses at The Old Jail. In 1869, the Wine and Beerhouse Act changed things. Anyone selling alcohol needed a license. This included off-licenses. Beer Retailer or Licensed Victualler became the official descriptions.
Here are some of The Old Jail’s licensees: Edmund Prince was a labourer in 1851. William Lewis was a Beer Retailer and shopkeeper from 1855 to 1861. He was also a farmer. Thomas Lewis followed him from 1881 to 1882. Richard Cowlard was next. He was a baker and ran The Old Jail from 1891 to 1913. Leon Dupere took over in 1936. Leonard Alfred Dupere followed from 1939 to 1961. From 1960 to 1970, Cederic Motley managed The Old Jail for Ind Coope.
Let’s look closer at William Lewis. He was a Beer Retailer and shopkeeper. The 1861 census provides details. He was a widower aged 55 from Chevening, Kent. His son Thomas was a 24-year-old labourer. Another son Christopher was a 22-year-old gardener. His daughters Sarah, Kezia, and Ann Elizabeth lived there too. His son Silas was a 26-year-old brewer.
Court records mention The Old Jail. In 1860, a shoemaker sued William Lewis. The case involved a shoe club held at The Old Jail. The plaintiff sought to recover money for goods. The court ruled in favour of the plaintiff for a reduced amount.
In 1892, The Standard newspaper ran an ad. It announced an auction of The Old Jail Inn. The sale included about eight acres of meadow and market garden land.
Photographs from 1900-1976 show The Old Jail’s history. The inn was once a pair of cottages. It still had two front doors. The name’s origin is uncertain. It likely refers to its use for prisoners long ago.
Though The Old Jail is now closed its stories live on. Imagine the echoes of French prisoners. Think of the licensees who poured pints. Remember the court cases and auctions. The Old Jail remains a piece of Biggin Hill’s history.