Baker's Cross
Encyclopedia
Baker's Cross is a settlement in Kent
, England
. It is part of the village of Cranbrook
, situated on the eastern edge of the village.
Legend links John Baker
, Chancellor of the Exchequer
under Queen Mary
, and known locally within The Weald as "Bloody Baker", to Baker's Cross.
Legend firstly holds that he was riding on his way to Cranbrook, in order to have two local Protestants executed upon order of the Privy Council
, when the news reached him (various versions of the legend having it that he heard the parish church bells ringing, or that he was met by a messenger) that Queen Mary was dead, and he turned back. The place where this happened was, in the words of biographer and historian Arthur Irwin Dasent, "at a place where three roads meet, known to this day as Baker's Cross".
Popular legend also has it that Baker was killed at Baker's Cross; although in fact he died in his house in London.
The brewery Sharpe & Winch was established in Baker's Cross at some point prior to 1846 by William Barling Sharpe (who is buried with his wife, Ann, in the cemetery at Westwell
, and his daughter, Elizabeth Louisa, who married William Francis Winch). The brewery assumed the name Sharpe & Winch in 1892, and was purchased and taken over by Frederick Leney & Sons Ltd, a Wateringbury
company, in 1927. The brewery were responsible for the mock-Tutor extension to the 18th century Baker's Cross House (a Grade II listed building).
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is part of the village of Cranbrook
Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook is a small town in Kent in South East England which was granted a charter in 1290 by Archbishop Peckham, allowing it to hold a market in the High Street. Located on the Maidstone to Hastings road, it is five miles north of Hawkhurst. The smaller settlements of Swattenden, Colliers...
, situated on the eastern edge of the village.
"Bloody Baker" legend
John Baker (English statesman)
Sir John Baker was an English politician, and served as a Chancellor of the Exchequer, having previously been Speaker of the House of Commons of England.-Early life:...
, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
under Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
, and known locally within The Weald as "Bloody Baker", to Baker's Cross.
Legend firstly holds that he was riding on his way to Cranbrook, in order to have two local Protestants executed upon order of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, when the news reached him (various versions of the legend having it that he heard the parish church bells ringing, or that he was met by a messenger) that Queen Mary was dead, and he turned back. The place where this happened was, in the words of biographer and historian Arthur Irwin Dasent, "at a place where three roads meet, known to this day as Baker's Cross".
Popular legend also has it that Baker was killed at Baker's Cross; although in fact he died in his house in London.
Brewery
The Tooth family of Great Swifts, near Cranbrook, established a brewery at Baker's Cross. A large part of their trade was the export of beer to Australia. Subsequently, John Tooth emigrated to Australia in the early 1830s, traded for a time as a general merchant, and then in 1835, with a his brother-in-law, John Newnham, opened a brewery in Sydney. He named the brewery Kent Brewery, which continued to 1985. meanwhile, the brewery at Cranbrook had been sold to one William Barling Sharpe, whose daughter had married the local estate agent, William Winch.The brewery Sharpe & Winch was established in Baker's Cross at some point prior to 1846 by William Barling Sharpe (who is buried with his wife, Ann, in the cemetery at Westwell
Westwell, Kent
Westwell is a village and civil parish with a population of 740, located north of Ashford in Kent, South East England.The Pilgrims' Way runs close to the village on the Downs and was travelled by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury...
, and his daughter, Elizabeth Louisa, who married William Francis Winch). The brewery assumed the name Sharpe & Winch in 1892, and was purchased and taken over by Frederick Leney & Sons Ltd, a Wateringbury
Wateringbury
Wateringbury is a village near the town of Maidstone in Kent, England. The Wateringbury Stream flows into the River Medway just above Bow Bridge. It formerly powered three watermills in the village, one of which survives. Wateringbury railway station is on the Medway Valley Line.- Demography :As...
company, in 1927. The brewery were responsible for the mock-Tutor extension to the 18th century Baker's Cross House (a Grade II listed building).