Old Brickmakers

Old Brickmakers is on the west corner of Lower Green with the High Street and was formerly a public house called The Brickmakers Arms. It was built by Henry Fuller in 1841 on land leased from the Penshurst Estate. Henry Fuller was the proprietor of the brickworks and yard at the bottom of Kiln Lane. Although it has been a private residence since 1950, the bricked up entrance to the cellars can be seen above the pavement on Lower Green. The pub entrance was on the High Street. At times beer was served from kegs on trestle tables outside the original front door so that men from the brick works could get a beer at lunch time. The house has unusual oval chimney stacks.

Between the two World Wars the pub was run by Mr.Roots. At that time there was sawdust on the floor and spittoons containing sawdust in one of the two bars. The pub was a beer house only, with no licence for spirits. There was a hall in the garden which was used for dances and where teas were served and enjoyed by boys from Tonbridge School. The only food served was bread and cheese and pickles.

Both the Brickmakers Arms and the Fleur de Lis were owned by Fremlins who, perhaps not unreasonbly, decided to close one of them. The Leigh British Legion was officially formed in 1946 in the bar of the Brickmakers Arms.