Hop Pole, Farningham

The Hop Pole was a originally a coaching inn on Farningham Hill (Road), known to have been trading by 1825. With the coming of the railway in the 1860s its trade plummeted and it closed becoming, successively, a private residence (Broomfield Hall), then an organ factory. The building still survives (2018).

The licence was transferred to a newly built pub round the corner in Button Street. Like most of the neighbouring pubs it was owned by Courage in the mid-20th century and when for some reason Courage had to surrender one of its licences, the choice was between The Lamb in Swanley Village and The Hop Pole. The latter was chosen, probably because of its remote situation, and after about 100 years of service to the somewhat scattered local community time was called permanently in 1967. The building still stands and is a private residence (thanks to www.dover-uk.com for the photograph).

If anyone has a photo of The Hop Pole when it was still a pub we would be delighted to hear from you - please use the feedback form.