Martin Mill

According to Michael David Mirams 1987 book "Kent Inns and Inn Signs" the "Station Hotel" was called this before the trains came through the village, which definitely sound feasible, although I don't know what year that would have been yet.

The following was taken from Wikipedia:-

The original Martin Mill railway was constructed and operated by Pearson & Son in 1897 for the construction of the Admiralty harbour. The line was laid to standard gauge from Martin Mill station and needed very little earth works until it reached the cliffs where terraces with a gradient of about 1 in 25 where cut into the cliff face to form a switch back path down to the harbour. The line was in use until completion of the harbour and eventually dismantled in 1937 after the intention of using it as a passenger line failed.

During the second world war the line was relaid again to standard gauge following the original course to a point north of Fan Bay Battery, from there two new lines where laid eastwards either side of the Dover to St Margaret's road and both terminating at St Margaret's. The northern line supplied the 14" guns "Winnie" and "Pooh" and was also laid with two curved firing spurs for the 13.5" rail mounted guns Gladiator, Scene Shifter and Piece Maker.

Above photo showing the railway that ran to the Eastern Docks, date unknown.

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