History of the Red Cow, Folkestone

HISTORY

The second oldest pub in Folkestone, the Red Cow was built in 1682 during the reign of Charles II. Located in the village of Foord, the pub served its first pint of ale in 1683. The first licensee, Thomas Pay, took over the pub in 1741. Over the years it has passed through many owners, ultimately ending up with Louis and Mary Bennett in the late 1980s. Their son Louis Jr. and his partner Casey Huntley now run the pub.

The chalybeate springs discovered near the pub in the early 18th century created much interest in the area as a potential spa. A hundred years later there was an effort by John Holmes to bottle the mineral waters from the springs, but the plan failed. For a short time at the end of the 1700s the pub was renamed the Plough but was soon restored to its original name.

In the late 19th century a new Victorian facade was added to the original structure along with a new roof and an addition in the rear. It was around this time that a woman perished on the premises. Although the death occurred in the front room upstairs, the woman's ghost seems to prefer the pub downstairs where she's regularly observed by staff and customers.

The Red Cow was badly flooded three times in the last century when the Pent Stream overflowed its banks, first on the 29th of October in 1909 and again on the same day in 1939. The last time, on the 12th of August in 1996, the water level reached the height of the lower bar ceiling, and the pub's entire stock was lost except for two boxes of crisps. The pub was completely refurbished and upgraded and reopened on October 11th of the same year. A few years later the conservatory was added.

Today the Red Cow stands as a testament to the survival and resilience of the English pub. Although steeped in history it welcomes 21st Century patrons with ease.