Local History
Picture of the Battle of Bossenden Wood and Sir William Courtenay
There is some local history about Dunkirk, it was the scene of the last Civil uprising in the UK, when Sir William Courtenay led his rebels after shooting the local Constable, the Militia were called out from Canterbury and a battle ensued in Bossenden Wood which led to the killing of the rebel Courtenay and left a Lieutenant of Militia, Lieutenant Bennett dead.
Courtenay's body was laid out so that members of the Public could pay to see that he actually was dead and to show that the price of rebellion was death. It is reported that his heart was cut out of his body and that he was laid to rest in the Hernhill Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
Image of the body of Sir William Courtenay's body laid out in the Stable at the Red Lion Public House
Image of other dead bodies of the people involved laid out in the stable of the Red Lion Public House
It was reported that the body of Lieutenant Bennet was laid out in what is now a bedroom of the Red Lion Public House which is reputed to be haunted by Courtenay to this day.
Image of the Red Lion as it was at the time of the rebellion
Photograph of the Red Lion Public House as it is today.