Picture credit: John Zienteck, circa 1948.
So far the earliest report of the George & Dragon is 1848, when the licence was transferred from John Davis to James Yates.
As with many beerhouses and inns, inquests were often and the George & Dragon seemed to have more than its fair share.
Many tragic inquest accidents were held here, as in 1871 when a loader on the railways fell between two carriages which crushed his chest.
A year earlier, another railway worker, Thomas Ashton, – a ‘shunter’ – was struck by a passenger train. According to the press, his left arm and side were ‘crushed almost to jelly’.
Again in 1871, Samuel Atkins, whilst working on a steam powered plane, was caught in one of the belt drives, fatally injuring him.
In June 1868, an inquest was held in view of the body. John Gilham was out netting fish with four-five other men when he was approached by the master of Crow Mills George Keene, who shouted ‘If any one moves I’ll blow their brains out. Gilham, who was kneeling by the water, stood up, at which Keene shot him in the head. The post mortem showed 30-40 shot wounds in his head, some penetrating his brain. Keene was found guilty of manslaughter.
1967 and purports to show 3-9 Kent St. If so, the partly demolished building on right is what’s left of the George & Dragon, which is unusual as the pub was usually one of the last buildings to be demolished. Nevertheless, it is worth including for what remains of the Chicane Club (see left) entrance.
The George & Dragon originally brewed its own beer, before being owned by Woodcock, Neeham & Crick and in 1891 LBM.
The George and Dragon was altered in 1937.