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Ryarsh pub The Duke of Wellington marks 500th anniversary

Henry VIII was on the throne when this Ryarsh pub opened its doors for the first time.

Now punters have raised their glasses to celebrate the 500th birthday of The Duke of Wellington, which has been at the centre of village life since 1516.

To mark the occasion, more than 150 regulars and village families gathered for a special photoshoot, recreating a historic photo of the then regulars, taken around 90 years ago.

Punters celebrate its 500th birthday of the Duke of Kent
Punters celebrate its 500th birthday of the Duke of Kent

Jon Sutton, the pub’s landlord, said: “We have a number of historic pictures of the Duke on the walls of the pub, and we realised one in particular lent itself to having a modern version taken to mark our 500th birthday.

“It showed a group of villagers outside the pub in Sunday best, apparently before setting off on a charabanc trip. So, we invited as many of our friends and regulars as could make it to pose for a 2016 version.

“We were touched that so many turned up to have their place in the pub’s history recorded for posterity.”

Pub regulars recreated this historical photo to mark the occasion
Pub regulars recreated this historical photo to mark the occasion

The 2016 picture will be taking its place in the bar at the Duke of Wellington alongside those already there that trace the changes in décor and clientele over its long history.

Other celebrations planned throughout the year include various live bands, a beer festival on August 6 and 7 and a charity black tie dinner in aid of the Heart of Kent Hospice.

The historic photo shows the pub under the signage of Jude Hanbury and Co, a Wateringbury brewery which was taken over by Whitbread in 1929 and stopped brewing in 1933.

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