HISTORY OF FIGHTING COCKS HORTON KIRBY
The building of The Fighting Cocks in The Street, Horton Kirby, is said to have originated in 1776 as a farmhouse, subsequently being converted into an alehouse in 1818. The landlord at the time used to arrange cockfights, hence the name.
The landlord was incidentally fined on three seperate occasions for keeping a gaming house. In those days, cock fighting was OK, but wagering on the result was illegal!. A cockpit existed at the inn until the middle of the 19th century.
During the later part of the century, John Lewis was the innkeeper and was known locally for his benevolance. He was said to throw hot money and raisins to the village children in cold weather. He also happened to have been convicted in June 1890 for selling adulterated whisky and was fined 11s 6d.
Apart from the village's other pub, The Bull on Lombard Street, there are still two other buildings in existence in Horton Kirby that used to be public houses - The Royal Oak and The Churchgate next to the church. There may well be others in the parish.
The large number of public houses at one time in Horton Kirby arose from the area's connections with the smuggling trade. Horton Kirby used to be a staging post on the route of smuggled goods, particularly rum, being transported from Gravesend to South London.
The Fighting Cocks latest owners, Chris and Vanessa Maskery with partner Steve Prebble, took over the business in July 2008 and have since turned it into a multi-award winning drinking and dining venue, with a great atmosphere, copious facilities and many events throughout the year. Our new conservatory restaurant, traditional pub, and vast beer garden surrounded by nature make the Fighting Cocks a favourite amongst regulars, locals and new comers alike, plus our ample catering spaces and picturesque setting make our venue perfect for parties, events and weddings. But don't just take our work for it, have a read of our customer feedback and awards pages.
