A Fremlins/Whitbread inn.

An early inn stood here. It has formerly been called Compasses and Carpenters Arms. In 1692 it was listed in the Licensing List as Carpenters Arms and in 1693 the Billeting List stated room for 6 soldiers.

In 1700 a meeting of the Carpenters' Guild was, 'Holden at the Widdow Webb commonly known by the sign of the Compasses in St. peter's'.

Mr Enderby found an amusing extract from the Kentish Weekly Post & Journal, Vol. 1 No. 55 dated 2nd October 1769 from the Canterbury news items:

'On Saturday night last 12 persons supped off of a boiled leg of mutton and turnips at the 3 Compasses in this city, whos ages, put together, amounted upwards of 768 years. After spending the evening in a jocose manner they parted about eleven o'clock in the greatest good humour and cordiality, neither of them the least disguised with liquor'.

Wilmot, E., 1988, Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29737.