Folkestone Express 23 August 1879.

Wednesday, August 20th: Before W. Bateman Esq., Aldermen Caister and Hoad, Captain Crowe, M. Bell, W.J. Jeffreason, and J. Clark Esqs.

Annual Licensing Session.

Application For New License:

House In St. John's Road.

Mr. Minter applied on behalf of Mr. George Thomas Tyas for a beer license for a house in St. John's Road, in the immediate neighbourhood of the Bradstone Hall.

Applicant said he was the owner of the house at the corner of St. John's Road, in the Bradstone Road, now used as a pork shop, and all the residents in the neighbourhood had signed in favour of a license being granted. He said he should not have applied for a license if he had known what else to do with the house.

Mr. Minter's application caused some amusement after the arguments he had used against the last application (Note: This was for the Bradstone Hall), and Mr. Mowll, who opposed, said Mr. Minter had relieved him from making any observations on the application.

The Bench retired to consider the application, and on their return the chairman announced that they had decided to refuse the application.

Mr. Tyas then applied for a license to sell off the premises, which was granted.

Folkestone Express 31 July 1880.

Notice.

To the Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Folkestone, in the Borough of Folkestone, and to the Superintendent of Police for the same Borough.

I. George Thomas Tyas, Beerhouse keeper, now residing at the Bradstone Tavern, Bradstone Road, in the Parish of Folkestone, in the Borough of Folkestone, do hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply at the General Annual Licensing Meeting to be holden at the Town Hall in the said Borough, on the twenty fifth day of August next, for a licence to hold any excise license or licenses to sell by retail under “The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act, 1828” all intoxicating liquors to be consumed either on or off the House and Premises thereunto belonging, situate at Bradstone Road, in the Borough aforesaid, of which I am the owner. And I herby give you further notice that in the event of my said application being refused, it is my intention to apply at the said meeting for a license to hold an excise license to sell by retail Beer, Cider and Wine to be consumed on the said premises.

Given under my hand this Twentieth day of July, One Thousand Eight Hundraed and Eighty.

G.T. Tyas.

Folkestone Express 28 August 1880.

Wednesday, August 25th: Before The Mayor, Captain Crowe, and Aldermen Caister and Hoad.

Annual Licensing Day.

Application for New License:

The Bradstone Tavern.

Mr. Mowll also applied on behalf of Mr. George Thomas Tyas, for a license for this house, urging that there was a largely increasing population there, and putting in a memorial signed by 400 persons.

Mr. Dennis and Mr. Minter opposed, and the Mayor announced that the Magistrates had unanimously decided to refuse the application.

Folkestone Express 27 August 1881.

Wednesday, August 24th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Caister, W. Bateman, A.M. Watkin, J. Boykett and J. Clark Esqs.

Annual Licensing Day.

Mrs. Alice Owen Tyas applied for a license for the Bradstone Tavern. Applicant said the rating of the premises was £35. There were nine rooms in the house. Her husband had applied two or three times previously for a license. The neighbourhood had been growing ever since, and it would be a great convenience.

Mr. Mowll opposed, urging that the wants of the neighbourhood were sufficiently supplied, and the Bench decided not to grant an indoor license, but renewed the off license.

Folkestone Express 9 September 1882.

Auction Advertisement.

By Order Of Trustees.

Folkestone, Kent.

Auction Sale of a Freehold Corner Beer and Ale House, with frontages to Bradstone Road and St. John's Road of 62½ feet, known as the Bradstone Tavern.

Mr. John Banks is instructed by the Trustees of the Will of the late Alice Owen Tyas to sell by Auction at the Clarendon Hotel, Folkestone, on Wednesday, September 27th at Seven o'clock in the evening, all that brick, slate and cement built corner Freehold Tavern, with the goodwill of the Business, situate at the corner of Bradstone and St. John's Road, Dover Road, Folkestone.

Containing in Basement – Dry Cellar.

Ground Floor – Double Fronted Bar, Parlour, Kitchen, Yard, and W.C.

First Floor – Drawing Room, Two Bedrooms and W.C.

Second Floor – Three Bedrooms

Possession will be given on completion of the purchase.

The trade fixtures, fittings, and utensils in trade, together with the blinds and rollers will have to be taken at the price named by the Auctioneer at the time of Sale, an inventory of which will be produced.

Particulars and Conditions of Sale may be had at the office of the Auctioneer, Tontine Street, and of Mr. H.B. Bradley, Solicitor, 69, Sandgate Road, Folkestone.

Folkestone Express 30 September 1882.

Local News.

On Wednesday evening Mr. John Banks held an Auction Sale of freehold property at the Clarendon Hotel. The freehold house known as the Bradstone Tavern, having an off license, was sold for £530.

Folkestone Express 7 October 1882.

Auction Advertisement.

Sale by Auction by Mr. John Banks.

Bradstone Tavern, Bradstone Road, Folkestone.

Auction Sale of the Household Furniture and Effects, consisting of iron French Bedsteads, Palliasses, Mattresses, Feather Beds, Bolsters, Pillows, Washstands, Tables, Chairs, Blankets, Counterpanes, Tapestry Carpets, Chests Of Drawers, Chamber Services, Hearth Rug, Fenders, Fire Irons, Suite of Walnut Furniture, Loo, Pembroke Dining Tables, Chimney Glasses, Pictures, Chiffonieres, China, Glass, Earthenware, and Culinary Articles.

Which under instructions received from the Trustees of Alice Owen Tyas, Mr. John Banks will sell by Auction on the above premises, on Monday, October 16th, 1882, the above clean and useful furniture.

On view the morning of sale.

Sale to commence precisely at One O'Clock.

Folkestone Express 1 August 1891.

Wednesday, July 29th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Banks, Capt. Crowe, H.W. Poole and W.G. Herbert Esqs.

Joseph Etheridge (16) and Arthur Pay (14) were charged with stealing a till and £2 11s. 8¼d. from the Bradstone Tavern on Monday evening.

Sergt. Butcher said about 10.30 he went to No. 6, Young's Road, occupied by a man named Crumby, where Mrs. Etheridge and her son lodged. He found Etheridge there in a room on the first floor. He was asleep. He asked if anyone else occupied the room, and he said “No”. He told him to get up and dress himself, and he did so. Witness searched the room, and under the mattress he found a purse containing £1 11s. 3½d., comprising three florins, a crown piece, 26 sixpences, 25 threepenny bits, 7 halpennies and 36 farthings. Etheridge, when charged with stealing a till from the Bradsone Tavern, said “Yes”. He asked him if that was all, and he said “No, the Pay boy had some”. He went with the prisoner to a shed in a meadow near the Black Bull, and Etheridge called out “Arthur, come out. It's no good, old man. We're caught”. Pay came out and was charged with being concerned with the prisoner in the robbery at the Bradstone Tavern. At the police station he found on Pay a purse containing £1 0s. 4½d. That morning he found the till in a meadow between the Pavilion Gardens and the Viaduct hid behind some pea sticks. He took it to the Bradstone Tavern and Mr. Wilson identified it.

Thomas Wilson said he knew Etheridge, and saw him in his shop at five o'clock on Monday evening. The till was under the counter near the beer engine. It was safe at half past ten on Monday evening, and ten minutes after he missed it. The shop had been left unattended for about five minutes. The till contained about £3. In a purse was half a sovereign – the other money was in silver and bronze. The till produced he identified as the one he lost.

The prisoners pleaded Guilty. Etheridge, it appeared, had absconded from an industrial school, and Pay ran away from home. They were both remanded until Saturday in order that further enquiries might be made.

Folkestone Express 8 August 1891.

Saturday, August 1st: Before The Mayor, Col. De Crespigny, Ald. Banks, W. Wightwick, J. Brooke and W.G. Herbert Esqs.

The boys Arthur John Pay and Richard Etheridge were again placed in the dock, charged with stealing a till and money, the property of Mr. Wilson, of the Bradstone Tavern.

Pay had absconded from home, and Etheridge from an industrial school.

Etheridge was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and Pay to ten days' imprisonment and to four years in a reformatory.

Folkestone Express 2 November 1901.

Saturday, October 26th: Before W. Wightwick Esq., and Col. Hamilton.

A temporary transfer of an off beer licence in Bradstone Road was granted to Mr. Percy Earl.

Folkestone Express 7 December 1901.

Wednesday, December 4th: Before J. Stainer, G. Peden, and T.J. Vaughan Esqs., and Col. W.K. Westropp.

A special licensing sessions was held, when Mr. Earl was granted transfer of the licence for an off beer licence of the Bradstone Tavern.

Folkestone Express 26 December 1908.

Inquest.

On Tuesday afternoon Mr. Thomas Willson, of Folkestone, was returning from the races at Westenhanger, when he collapsed and died on the platform at the station. The body was removed to Folkestone the same night, and an inquest was held at the Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. G.W. Haines (Borough Coroner) conducting the inquiry.

John Willson, residing at Sidney Villa, Denmark Street, a labourer, said he identified the body as that of his father, Thomas Willson, who lived at the same address as witness. He was a retired publican, and was about seventy years of age. Deceased had not enjoyed very good health lately, and had complained of shortness of breath. Witness last saw deceased at 11.30 on Tuesday morning. He was then going to the races at Westenhanger. He had attended race meetings on previous occasions. Deceased, who went alone, appeared to be in his usual state of health. Witness did not see any more of deceased until he heard of his death.

Dr. Thornton Gilbert, honorary medical offiver to the Folkestone Racing Club, said on Tuesday, as he got into the train at Westenhanger, he was told a medical man was wanted. He got out of the down side, and saw deceased laying on the floor dead. He had known deceased for a good many years. He had made a post mortem examination The heart was very much enlarged, and in his opinion death was due to fatty degeneration of the heart. Failure of the heart might have been brought on by excessive exercise. The story was that deceased had hurried to the station. There were no marks of a fall or injury.

James Albert Port, of 77, High Street, Cheriton, a jobbing gardener, said he was a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. He was on duty at the racecourse, under the direction of Dr. Gilbert. On Tuesday, about 3.35, he left the racecourse, and was proceeding to the old station, when he passed deceased. Witness was accompanied by Alfred Downs, who was also a member of the Ambulance Brigade. Deceased, who was alone, was staggering, and they told him to “buck up” or he would miss the train. They did not think he was ill. He replied “All right. I shall catch the train”. They went on about half a dozen paces, when they heard something fall, and turning round saw deceased on the ground. They helped him up and assisted him towards the station. When they got to the steps to go on to the bridge, deceased said “Stop a minute, till I get my breath”. On the bridge he stopped again. They went across the road to go down the steps and when they got to the bottom of the steps deceased collapsed. They assisted him to the platform. Subsequently witness felt deceased's hands and they were clammy and his breathing ceased. Witness then sent for a doctor. Deceased's speech was clear.

Sergt. Martin, K.C.C., said shortly after four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon he was on duty, accompanied by Supt. Hollands, outside Westenhanger Station, when they were informed that a man had died on the down platform. Witness proceeded there and saw the body of deceased, who was quite dead. They were told that Dr. Gilbert had seen him and had pronounced life extinct, and they also ascertained that deceased was a resident of Folkestone. Witness, with assistance, took deceased to a brake van, and in the meantime his relatives were communicated with, Superintendent Hollands stating that if they chose to remove the body that night and take it home he should not raise any objection. If it remained there until the morning it would be reported to the County Coroner. The body was removed to Folkestone Mortuary on Tuesday night. Deceased had in his possession a purse containing £2 17s. 4d.

The Coroner asked the sergeant whether it was part of his instructions when a body was found to give the relatives the option of removing it out of the Coroner's jurisdiction before the next morning, and after the morning if the body had not been taken away, to communicate with the Coroner?

Sergt. Martin said those were not his instructions.

The Coroner: As a matter of fact, it is not for you to say whether the body shall be removed out of the Coroner's jurisdiction. It is for the Coroner.

The Coroner asked whether the County Coroner was communicated with before the removal of the body to Folkestone.

The sergeant said he should not think he was.

The Coroner said he should have to make some further inquiries about the matter. It seemed to him that the body was out of the jurisdiction of the borough of Folkestone, and yet Folkestone was put to the expense of holding an inquiry. Supt. Hollands gave the relatives the option of removing the body out of the County Coroner's jurisdiction, but if it was left till the morning then he should communicate with the County Coroner. Immediately the body was dead it was under the County Coroner's jurisdiction.

The Coroner produced a telegram sent by Superintendent Hollands to the relatives, and after reading it, he said it bore out what the sergeant had said. The telegram said that the body could be removed that (Tuesday) night by the relatives, but if deferred until the morning he must communicate with the Coroner.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes”.

Folkestone Express 31 January 1914.

Friday, January 23rd: Before W.G. Herbert Esq., Lieut. Col. Fynmore, G.I. Swoffer, R.J. Linton, G. Boyd, E.T. Morrison, and A. Stace Esqs.

The off licence of the Bradstone Tavern was transferred from Mr. Earl to Mr. G. Cooper, who has recently come from London.

Folkestone Express 18 August 1917.

Local News.

On Wednesday at the Police Court the following licence was transferred; the Bradstone Tavern, an off licence, from Mr. J. Hartridge to Mr. P. Deal.

Folkestone Express 12 May 1923.

Local News.

A protection order was granted on Tuesday morning at the Police Court to Mr. Thomas Henry Jones, an insurance agent, 9, St. Francis Road, Morehall, for the off beer licence, Bradstone Tavern, Bradstone Road, from Mr. Percy Deal. Mr. Jones previously held the licence of the Britannia Inn, Horn Street, for sixteen years.

Folkestone Express 27 January 1934.

Inquest.

“I cannot stand this pain and misery any longer” was the last message written by Mrs. Catherine Rhodes, the wife of Mr. N.J. Rhodes, of the Bradstone Tavern, Bradstone Road, Folkestone, and who, on Sunday morning, was discovered lying on the floor of the kitchen with her head in the gas oven, the taps of which were fully turned on. She was found by her husband. Artificial respiration was tried but without result, and Dr. Billings, who was called, was only able to pronounce that life was extinct.

Mrs. Rhodes had suffered with ulcerated legs, but for some time she had not been troubled so much with them, until Wednesday of last week, when she had to stop practically in bed the whole of the day, and since then she had complained of the pain.

Mr. G.W. Haines, the Borough Coroner, conducted an inquiry into the sad and tragic circumstances at an inquest on Tuesday afternoon at the Folkestone Town Hall. In the course of the proceeding, he read extracts from a letter which had been left by the deceased, who wrote that she was disappointed that the ulcers on her legs had broken out again so soon. One extract was “God forgive me for taking my life, but I cannot stand this pain and misery any longer”.

Mr. Norman James Rhodes, a grocer and licensed victualler, of 8, Bradstone Road, said he had been married twenty years. His wife, who was 48 years of age, had suffered with her legs on and off for the past nine years, she being troubled with varicose veins. On Wednesday of last week she stopped in bed practically the whole of the day. She used to dress her legs herself. She had not seen a doctor since the last outbreak. She finished with the doctor a little over three months ago. He had not noticed her very depressed, but she suffered great pain. She had never mentioned that her life was unbearable or that she had contemplated suicide. On Sunday morning last she got up at six o'clock. It was dark at the time. It occurred to him that she was feeling better. She asked him if he wanted a cup of tea, but he said he would have one at 8.30. He got up at 8.50 and went straight into the kitchen. The kitchen door was closed, and as soon as he opened it he noticed a strong smell of gas. The blinds were up and he then saw his wife lying on the floor with her head resting inside the gas oven. Her head was resting on a cushion. He pulled her out immediately and she was quite warm. He turned off the gas, opened the windows and doors, and then sent for a doctor. He found a note on the kitchen table in her handwriting. They had always had a very happy life.

Dr. B.R. Billings said the deceased was a patient of his. She informed him that she suffered from chronic ulcerated legs, for which he treated her. He last saw her on September 5th, when he discharged her as cured, and he had not been called since, although he warned her that the trouble might break out again. On Sunday morning about nine o'clock he was called and proceeded to 8, Bradstone Road. On arrival he found the police there and they informed him that they had applied artificial respiration. On examination he found her to be dead, the artificial respiration having proved ineffective. There was still a rather strong smell of gas in the kitchen. She showed all the characteristic symptoms of gas poisoning.

The Coroner said, functioning as a jury, he thought there was no doubt, on reading the letter that the deceased had written, that she intended taking her own life. The deceased, he continued, poisoned herself by taking carbon monoxide through the gas cooking stove whilst temporarily insane.