20 Harbour Street

Ramsgate

Above photo, 1898, kindly sent by Michael Mirams. Pub is shown with the square lamp.

Above photo 1905.

Above Google image 2017. Now apparently No 18.

Above photo showing Alderman Lazarus Hart, Mayor for two years (1896-97). He owned a number of buildings in Harbour Street including the "Richardson Hotel.

This pub has been found by author and historian Michael David Mirams.

The 1871 census shows William Fisher as at 20 Harbour Street, which was then a restaurant or eating house then i.e. not yet a licensed premises, and no business name prior to his 1882 hotel departure.

The assumption is made that the hotel's 2nd licensee Mr. WT Richardson is the source of the hotel's name that perpetuated for 30 years until its closure in 1912.

The closure of the hotel in 1912 was a result of a further license not being granted due to 16 other licensed premises located within 150 yards of the Richardson Hotel, most of which were much less than 150 yards away.

Circa 1913, Boots chemists acquired nos. 20-24 Harbour Street, the former "Richardson Hotel" and the bakery formerly at nos. 22 & 24. Boots moved to High & King Streets October 1970.

Arthur Albert Kirkaldie the hotel's last licensee was more popularly known in the town as a "storm warrior" mariner. One whose name was synonymous with Ramsgate's lifeboat service and later his ownership of the famous lugger "Champion", a private vessel that performed almost as many sea rescues as the lifeboats he served with. Likewise, his son Douglas Kirkaldie, who at the Richardson Hotel in the 1911 census then aged 22 was the hotel's barman. Kirkaldie senior ran an oyster bar and food outlets as well as the hotel's business, but it was the lifeboats and lugger services that etched both of their names in Ramsgate's history. Either working together as they often did, then after Arthur's death in January 1940, it was son Douglas who more than carried on the Kirkaldie tradition. Douglas died in 1969. The family home for several decades after the hotel's closure was at 4 Kent Place.

LICENSEE LIST

FISHER William F 1880-Sept/82

RICHARDSON Wt 1882-85

WILLIAMS Edwin Sen1886-23/Nov/90 dec'd

WILLIAMS Rosa (widow) 1890-82+

EPPS Edwin Jnr 1893-17/Mar/94

WILLIAMS Edwin Jnr 17/Mar-12/May/1894

WILLIAMS Ellen Mrs 12/May/1896-6/Mar/1897

HOLYER Charles 6/Mar/1897-7/Jan/1899

HOLYER Albert 7/Jan/1899-27/Jan/1909

KIRKALDIE Arthur Albert 27/Jan/1909-Mar/12