Above photo, date unknown showing the original "Jolly Fisherman".

From Barclay, Perkin's Anchor Magazine, Volume XVI, No.1, January 1936. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, circa 1939, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, circa 1952, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, 1967, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard circa 1975. Kindly submitted by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo 2014.

Above photo 2019.

Above sign 2015, kindly sent by Brian Curtis.

From the Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Tuesday 2 December 1862.

Dungeness. A mystery.

On Monday and inquest was held before Edwin Cock, Esq., coroner, on the body of Mr. John Adams, landlord of the "Jolly Fisherman," who was found drowned in a well near his house.

From the evidence it appeared that the deceased left home on Saturday morning for the purpose, according to his usual custom, of walking to New Romney, to see if there were any letters for Dungeness. Not returning at the usual time, his wife became alarmed, and a messenger was dispatched to Romney to see if he had been to the Post-office. It was ascertained he had not, and the search was forthwith made.

About 2 o'clock one of the coastguardsmen, Edward Hooker, bethought him to look into the well, which is about 250 yards from the deceased's house. In doing so he was horrified to find the poor fellow head downwards, partly immersed in water. Assistance was at once procured, and he was removed to his house, quite dead. There was about 4 feet of water in the well.

In the absence of any testimony to establish the inference of suicide, and open verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned. The deceased was about 50 years of age.

It has been stated that the deceased had of light been rather abstracted, but no evidence was adduced to establish the truth of this assertion.

From the Thanet Advertiser, Saturday 18 May, 1878.

Dungeness. Sad case of suicide.

On Saturday and inquest was held at the "Jolly Fisherman Inn," touching the death of a fisherman, named Robert Ditton, who had lived at Dungeness for about eight years. The evidence of Mr. W. L. George, innkeeper, and Mr. J. Haigs, landlord of the "Jolly Fisherman Inn," showed that he had been in low spirits for some months, through poverty. He had no poles for his fishing nets, and no money to buy any, and consequently had been earning nothing. The poor man had often intimated to his friends that in all probability he should make away with himself if such bad fortune continued. On Thursday, at about noon, when returning from his nets, he met his wife and child. After taking the child in his arms, and kissing it in a most affectionate manor, he returned it to its mother, and then went back to work. He was last seen late on Thursday evening, greatly depressed in mind. On Saturday morning he was missed, and, on search being made, he was found quite dead in a well belonging to the "Jolly Fisherman Inn," feet uppermost, his head being under the water. The unfortunate man was 45 years of age, and had been married only about a year. The jury found a verdict of "Found Dead."

Information below from their web site.

History: The Jolly Fisherman Pub

There has been a "Jolly Fisherman" pub in Greatstone for over 450 years, since the 16th century.

Above photo shows the old "Jolly Fisherman" circa 1920.

The Old Jolly Fisherman

The pub is shown on old 1908 Ordnance Survey map which confirms its location has being on the now Dungeness Nature Reserve, to the west of Leonard Road and just before Hull Road.

This location is some 2 miles to the south of where the now "Jolly Fisherman" stands.

It ceased being a pub at that location when its license was transferred to the present day "Jolly Fisherman" in c1935.

Nothing remains of the old site today (2010).

Above photo showing the original "Jolly Fisherman" circa 1935.

The Present Jolly Fisherman

The present Jolly Fisherman pub is located in the centre of Greatstone at the junction of Dunes Road and The Parade.

This was built by the brewers Style and Winch Ltd, who owned the old "Jolly Fisherman," in about 1935 as a pub and hotel. It was to form part of a major development scheme for Greatstone.

It was given a grand opening, with Cllr C E Andrews, who owned and developed the Greatstone area estate, the Mayors of New Romney and Lydd and other local dignitaries attending. Directors of Style and Winch, including Colonel G B Winch, who presided over the opening event, also attended.

The first licensees were Mr and Mrs D H Smith.

Above showing the "Jolly Fisherman" circa 1935.

On opening the pub, or country hotel as it was referred to, had a large saloon bar with its circular window and an extensive lounge bar leading to the cosy dining room on the ground floor. Above were delightful balconies overlooking the dunes and giving a fine view of the English Channel.

On each side of the corridor there were about 12 single and double bedrooms, each with hot and cold water. There was a large tea lounge on this floor, above which was a roof garden providing even better views of the surrounding area.

Locals, who were about at the time, say that the pub was to be called 'The Ship'. Indeed they say that if you look at the pub side-on, it does resemble a ship, bows, bridge and all.

Be that as it may, there was already a "Ship" pub at Lydd-on-Sea, so the new pub took over the licence from the old "Jolly Fisherman" and thus became The "Jolly Fisherman."

The Jolly Fisherman Today

The pub today still thrives today as the centre of the local community. The present licensees Steve and Shirley Wilmott took over in January 1995 and have run the pub ever since, together with their son Lee.

From Barclay, Perkin's Anchor Magazine, Volume XVI, No.1, January 1936.

The "Jolly Fishermen" at Dungeness, Kent.

The transfer of the Jolly Fishermen at Dungeness, Kent, has been approved and a new house of this name is in the course of erection at Greatstone, an area between Dungeness and Littlestone-on-Sea, which is being rapidly developed. There could not be a greater contrast between the old and the new houses. The present one is of weather-boarding and surrounded by little but pebbles, in an area used almost exclusively by the few fishermen who live on the beach. The new house, of ultra-modern design, will be fitted for every comfort for holiday and resident visitors and will meet the growing needs of the district. Mr Percy G Searles, FRIBA, Surveyor to Mssrs. Style & Winch, is the Architect.

History doesn't record if the local fishermen were very jolly about their local being closed/replaced with the new "ultra-modern" pub. I doubt it!