The Ship on Shore Photo Gallery by Trevor Edwards at pbase.com

The Ship on Shore

This is where my Ship on Shore (and the Grotto) pictures are:

"I am told that a ship full of portland cement in barrels once sank in the Thames estuary off Sheerness. For some reason people thought the barrels were full of whisky, and rushed to rescue them. Unfortunately by the time they got the barrels on shore they found the contents were rocklike. So they piled them up and built a pub; it’s called the Ship on shore, and it is allegedly built from the solid barrel-shaped chunks of cement."

Apr11-009	Ship on Shore	tScan-065rs	The Ship Ashore
Early pic	The Grotto	Grotto	ScanT_152
T-Scan492	Grotto	Seabreeze	ScanT_012
ScanT_006	ScanT_001	Ship On Shore made partly of cement barrels	Closer Picture
The Grotto	The.Grotto, Ship.on.Shore.1920s	Ship.on Shore	The Grotto 1907
Ship - on - Shore 1932	The Grotto 1913	The.Grotto	The.Grotto, Ship.on.Shore.1946
Ship Ashore	Ship On Shore	The Grotto	The Grotto
Ship on Shore	Ship on Shore	The Grotto, Ship on Shore	The Grotto
Grotto 1910	The Grotto 1912	T-Scan027	T-Scan107
T-Scan122	Sheppey061	Grotto	T-Scan-330
T-Scan-498	NewScan012	NewScan013	NewScan014

comment |

petehr		06-Oct-2023 12:09
This message is for Pat and Peter (Hills) who both replied to my post made on 20/12/2008. I am sorry not have replied sooner. I am descended through William Hills' Daughter Annie Victoria Hills (1887-1969) who married Mr John Gibney in 1907. John was in the Military and they were relocated to Liverpool where they had seven children, the last of which was Muriel, my Mother born in 1928. My Mother died peacefully at the end of 2022.

Trousse de toilette		06-Aug-2015 07:13
More beautiful photos like that please:)

Geoff Wheatley		06-Mar-2014 12:58
Peter, were you in Miss Rice's class, Sep 1950 at Alexander Rd? I was along with Angela Washford. Have a photo of her and I in the alley behind our homes before setting off on that most frightening of days!!!Regards Geoff Wheatley

Peter Hills		05-Mar-2014 16:59
My name is also Peter, and my great grandfather was William Hills, who was more than just the landlord. I am descended through his son Henry and grandson Geoffrey. It is good to know that I have cousins (Peter and Pat) I never knew about. I went to Alexander Road Infants School 1950-52, Delemark Road 1952-56 and the Tech 1956-63, before going off to be successively a teacher, army officer and, since 1988, Methodist minister, including 11 years as an army padre.

Joanne Butler		09-May-2013 15:09
Memories of my childhood: 1970's Every Fri afternoon my parents loaded up the old Ford Van (orange!!) and we set off to our caravan on SeaBreeze Caravan Park. Saturday night was a treat as I was allowed to sit in The Grotto of The Ship On Shore with my glass bottle of Coke and a straw whilst my parents were next door in the pub!

Geoff Wheatley		26-Apr-2013 15:32
You are right, Les too over the True Brit from my Grandfather, Bill Wheatley. It happened during the time my parents, Ron and Midge Wheatley, had the Man of Kent, in Clyde Street. Reading some of this is really bringing home memories.

p.turner		05-Sep-2011 09:15
Les Jarrett never owned the ship-on-shore, he owned the true briton and the playa, his brother-in-law, joe park owned the ship-on-shore for many years and when he dies his family sold the pub on and quite right, the plates are now on display in the flying dutchman

Pat		17-Mar-2011 11:11
Read that Peter is Bill Hills great grandfather. My grandmother is Edith Emily Hills - William Jw. Hills' daughter. Her mother was Sarah A. He was born 1844 and she in 1845. They had eight children, including my grandmother. Which of their children would be your grandparent? Guest

Eric Gardener		19-Dec-2009 22:47
My mother used to tell me how her grandfather who owned "The Grotto" used to chase her father away when he came courting her mother. He lost the battle and his daughter Edith Emily who was a local school teacher married my grandfather John Thomas Matthews. They lived in Unity Street, Sheerness and the union was blessed with 7 children (5 girls and 2 boys) John Thomas Matthews served with distinction in WW1 and was awarded the military medal for "Bravery in the Field". I have many happy memories of holidays spent with my grandmother in Sheerness and a few treasured photographs handed down by my mother Marjorie

Peter		20-Dec-2008 00:37
My great grandfather (Bill Hills) was the landlord of the Ship on Shore during the late 1800's/early 1900's - I am seeking further sources of information of family history, the causes for changes to the buildings and the general social history of the period.

Guest		17-Oct-2008 22:40
As I remember it, all the plates ended up in The Flying Dutchman when Les Jarrett sold the Ship on Shore. It was my local for a good few years.

Guest		09-Jul-2008 10:48
It was my Grandfather's favourite pub!

guest		15-Apr-2008 16:19
Does anyone remember the plates around the bar, with the crests of naval ships on them ? They were painted by my uncle !!

Roger Betts		30-Nov-2006 10:38
I read somewhere that the original "Grotto" was built for the benefit of the local coastguards. I wonder if anyone can puy an actual date on it?

Guest		14-Mar-2006 18:06
Interesting pictures - these will make me look again at the building (inside and out) James.

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