Dover Castle

Demolished ????

53 (24) Church Street

Greenwich

Above photo 1930s.

Above photo 1973.

Above photo 1999.

At 53 Church Street by 1891, previously at 24 Church Street.

I have reference to another pub called the "Dover Castle" in Deptford.

In the 1930s the building was being used as the St. Peters Institute & 9th Greenwich Scouts. By 1973 it was a printers shop of Henry Richardson and by 1999 was and entrance for the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich station on the Docklands Light Railway.

31 July 1806.

KENT ASSIZES, MAIDSTONE, JULY 29. PARNELL v. EAMER.

This was an action to recover damages, for an assault and false imprisonment.

Mr. Serjeant Shepherd led the cause, and stated the case. The plaintiff, he said, was a poor man, a higler, and the defendant was no other than Sir John Eamer, Knight, Alderman of London, Colonel of Militia, and an eminent trader. It happened that on the 12th of June last, the plaintiff was going down to Greenwich in his one horse cart, and he was as near his proper side of the road as the bank would permit him to be. It was just opposite that part where the public house, the "Dover Castle," is situated, and there, if the Jury recollected, there was room for at least five carriages to pass abreast. What induced this City Knight to take the wrong side of the road, he could not tell, but so it was that he drove so close that the wheel of his curricle became locked in the wheel of the plaintiff's cart. Instead of his feeling, he ought to have done, that the accident was owing to his own negligence, he immediately jumped up and began to exercise his horsewhip most actively on the head and shoulders of the plaintiff's servant, who was driving the cart. The plaintiff then interfered, but instead of obtaining redress, the irritated City Colonel treated him with the like discipline - exclaiming - "I'll teach you to run against me - I'll let you know who I am - I am Sir John Eamer, Knight, late Lord Mayor of the City of London, an Alderman, and Lieutenant Colonel of Militia." His client was alarmed at all these titles, and instead of persisting, made most humble prayers for mercy.

Thomas Holford, the master of the "Dover Castle" public-house, in the Greenwich Road, corroborated some of the above statements.

Captain Clarke, of the London Militia, stated, that he was in the public-house, waiting for a brother Officer; he saw the transaction, and thought he was bound as an Englishman to interfere, he went out; addressing the defendant, he said, "Sir John, you are very much in the wrong, you have used the man very ill." Upon which Sir John replied, "If I have used him ill, I am very sorry for it." The man was taken to the watch-house, but the constable refused to take him in custody, saying, as he had reins to his horses he had no jurisdiction.

Mr. Garrow, for the defendant, entreated the Jury to compare the evidence with the statement of his Learned Friend. He had, in his opining, contrived to represent Sir John Eamer as a very ridiculous character; he was supposed to say, "I am Sir John Eamer, Knight, Colonel, and Alderman," not one word of which was in proof. In truth, Sir John Eamer was an honest, open-hearted, and liberal man as any of that hospitable Corporation, of which he was a worthy Member. he then deprecated the idea of giving heavy damages; the great object had been obtained; Sir John Eamer had been turned out for a day's sport, and they had had it. There was an old story of a black seaman being about to be flogged, and the Captain having first harangues him, concluded by ordering him to the gangway, upon which the black observed, "No preachee and floggee too." His learned Friend had preachee, but he hoped the Jury would not floggee too.

Verdict for plaintiff, damaged 10s.

Morning Advertiser 13 February 1857.

GREENWICH. COUNTERFEIT COIN.

Jeremiah and Patrick Donoghue, brothers, were brought up on remand before Mr. Traill, charged with uttering four pieces of counterfeit coin to Mr. Giles, landlord of the "Dover Castle, Greenwich.

Evidence having been given, the depositions were taken, and the prisoners fully committed for trial.

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 7 March 1863.

A disturbance occurred in Nelson Street, Greenwich, on Sunday night, between 10 Marines of the Woolwich Division and 20 civilians who have been drinking at the "Dover Castle" public house.

The soldiers fought with their belts, the disturbance being ultimately quelled by the police, when it was found that one of the soldiers, named Edmond Vagg, of the 28th company of Royal Marines, had his head severely cut.

He was removed to the Park Row Police-station, where the wounds were dressed by a surgeon, after which he was conveyed home by the remainder of his comrades.

After the affray, three soldiers' belts were picked up.

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 2 May 1863.

Greenwich Police Court. Saturday.

James Everson, of 11, Thames Street, Greenwich, was ordered to find bail in the sum of £10, for striking a young woman named Louisa Groves, at Mrs. Hubbard's, "Dover Castle," Church Street, Greenwich.

Morning Post 25 April 1900.

ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANIES SUMMONED.

At Greenwich Police Court yesterday the London Electric Supply Corporation (Limited) appeared to seven adjourned summonses at the instance of Thomas Allen Shaddick, the occupier of the "Dover Castle" public-house, Broadway, Deptford, for making default in supplying electrical energy to the premises. What was contended was that during the winter the company neglected to supply Deptford while they were supplying the west-end. The defence was that the default was due to "force majeure" - circumstances beyond the control of the company, and was caused by the failure of a contractor to supply boilers, and also to difficulties about coal supply. The magistrate reserved his decision.

LICENSEE LIST

HOLFORD Thomas 1801-06+

PRESTON James 1840-48+

GILES James 1849+61+ (also waterman age 53 in 1861)