From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 5 June, 1885.

LENEY v. BARTLETT

This was a claim for £10 5s. for beer supplied.

In reply to the Judge, the defendant said he owed the money, and was willing to pay £1 per month.

Mr. Leney's Clerk pressed for a larger instalment.

The defendant said if that young gentleman represented the brewer he knew that he had an advantage over the beerseller. If the brewer gave credit he could sue for it, but if he (the beerseller) gave credit to his customers he could not sue them for it. He had to work hard behind his bar because he could not get what people owed him.

The Judge: How do you sell your beer; over the counter, or in the house?

The defendant said he sold it both ways. He had given trust for six and seven barrels of beer.

His Honour said that if the defendant acted foolishly, the brewer should be at the loss of it.

The Plaintiff's Clerk again pressed for a larger instalment.

The defendant: If you don't take that you will get none at all.

His Honour: if the plaintiff chooses to ask for payment forthwith he can have an order.

The defendant: There would be nothing to pay it with.

An order to pay £1 a month was made.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 11 February, 1887. Price 1d.

A man employed at Messrs. Leney and Co's brewery named Brittenden, met with an accident on Saturday and fractured his leg. He was at once taken to the Hospital, where he still remains and is progressing favourably.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 11 March, 1887. Price 1d.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

A painter named Stanley had a narrow escape on Saturday morning. He was engaged in doing some painting at Messrs. Leney and Co's Brewery in Dolphin Lane, when his apron caught in some shafting, and he was taken up in some machinery. The wheels of the machinery at the time were going at the rate of about 40 revolutions per minute, and as it took some little time to stop the engine, Stanley was carried round several times. The distance between the shafting and the ceiling above, under which he had to pass, is only about three feet, and the first time he went round he struck his head against the woodwork, cutting his temple. He called loudly for help, and his cries were heard by the engine driver, who as soon as possible stopped the machinery. When taken down Stanley had all his clothes, with the exception of his boots and stockings, torn from him. Strange to say, however, beyond a severe shaking and a few bruises, he had recovered with no other injuries.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 4 November, 1887. Price 1d.

MARRIAGE OF MR A. C. LENEY

On Thursday a large congregation assembled at St. Andrew's Deal, to witness the marriage of Miss. Bertha Backhouse Hulke, third daughter of the late Frederick Thomas Hulks, M.B., Lond., of Admiralty House, Deal, to Mr. A. C. Leney of Buckland House, Dover. The ceremony, which was choral, was performed by the Rev. C. E. S. Woolmer, Vicar of Sidcup, assisted by the Rev. R. Patterson, Rector of St. Andrew's. The bride, who was attired in an exquisite gown of rich white satin with court train, pearl ornaments, and passementerie, and a long tulle veil, carried a bouquet of gardenias, stephanotis, and other white flowers, and wore a gold bangle with a diamond horseshoe, both the gift of the bridegroom. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Lewis J. B. Hulke, (the Buffs); her bridesmaids were her four sisters, the Misses Edith, Mabel, Dora and Jessie Hulke, and Miss Florence leney, sister of the bridegroom. They wore stylish gowns of white Indian silk and gold braid, and white straw sailor hats trimmed with white ribbon and tulle; each carried a handsome bouquet of white and yellow flowers, and wore a gold bangle with horseshoe of pearls, the gifts of the bridegroom. Mr. Henry Leney, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man. The presents, which were very numerous and costly, included a case of nut crackers and plated tea-caddy, from the servants of Admiralty House, plaited marmalade jars and cruet from the servants at Buckland House, a Wedgewood afternoon tea service and a pair of Golconds ware vases, from Mr. Leney's Dover employees, silver cigar-case from Mr. Leney's London staff, and salt cellars from one of their old servants.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 January, 1888. Price 1d.

TERRIBLE FIRE IN CASTLE STREET

Early on Tuesday morning Castle Street, Dover, was the scene of one of the most disastrous fires that have occurred in Dover for several years. At the time of writing there is no distinct evidence as to how it broke out, but the centre of conflagration was the carriage manufactory of Messrs Hills and Son. There the work of destruction has been complete, and the fire has also done much damage to the stables of Mr. Leney and the back building of Mr. R. H. Forster, Chemist. The alarm seems to have been given a few minutes before four, and with terrible rapidly the fire spread so that a few minutes after that time the carriage factory, which runs to Dolphin Lane, was in a blaze. Mr. J. Hill, the occupier of Dolphin House, which immediately joins the carriage factory, says he awoke at 20 minutes to four and then all was quiet. Twenty-five minutes later he was aroused by a noise and a glare on the window. He was at once aware that there was a great fire; he aroused the house, and very quickly got into the back of the premises, and he found that the whole structure of the factory, which adjoins Dolphin Lane was like a burning cage. Miss. Pepper, one of the daughters of Mr. R. V. Pepper, was sleeping in a bedroom at the back on the third floor of their house in Castle Street, when about the same time she awoke and found a great fire raging in the back but a short distance from her window. By this time the whole neighbourhood was aroused, and there being a great many houses near, it was a terrible awakening. In some cases the inmates were so terrified that they could not dress, and in the others the shock to the system was so great that they were scarcely able to do anything to help themselves. The alarm to the police was promptly given to Police Constable Bass, who discovered the outbreak, and Superintendent Sanders and his Fire Brigade were soon on the scene. The police were on the spot at a quarter to four o'clock and had hydrants fixed in about five minutes. The water supply at first was not very effective - in fact it had no effect on Castle Street until the hose was carried up the fire escape ladder. It seems the hydrant's were defective, and the water instead of going into the hose came out of the bottom of the standpipe, and in one case, opposite 29, Castle Street, the pavement was washed up by the water. A good supply was obtained at the back, and an hour later, when the fire was in full career, threatening all the neighbourhood, the military arrived on the scene with three fire engines. One was fixed in Castle Street, taking water from the river by Brace's Mill, and the other two in Dolphin Lane, pumping from the river by the office of Messrs Leney's Brewery. It was generally admitted that the force of water from the engines was more effective than that from the water mains, and there is no question but that great credit is due to the soldiers, both officers and men, for the plucky way in which they worked.

As soon as the fire broke out, Mr. Graham, the foreman, started of to inform Mr. Hills, who resides in Park Avenue, and in the meantime Mrs. Graham, seeing her furniture, which was not insured, in danger, at once began carrying it downstairs. She made three journeys to Pay's, on the other side of the street, and the last time she was nearly suffocated with the smoke. Spectators speak of the scene of the fire at this time as being most terrifying. Mr. Pay, who lives nearly opposite, was one of the first to see the fire, and he assisted the police in getting the fourteen horses out of Mr. Leney's stables. The fire seemed to have broken out in the corner of the carriage manufactory near the stables, and it very soon got hold of the latter. It terrified the horses so that their noise was distressing. It was a very difficult task to get them out. Another eyewitness tells us that he was on the scene as soon as the alarm was given and that the fire appeared to have started in the place above described; that it spread so rapidly that the whole place was alight and the flames issuing from Castle Street windows in less than half an hour. The police directed their first attack on the opening near Mr. Leney's stables, as that was the seat of the fire. They got ladders and tried to work down on it from above, but the heat was too fierce to allow it. After spreading to Castle Street the fire worked round Dolphin Lane, opposite the Gas Works Yard, and in a very short time the carriage factory was down, the large workshops being reduced to blazing heaps of debris, and blacked outside walls threatening to fall. The excellent way that the block on the Castle Street frontage is built was the only reason why it was saved. Mr. Pepper on the one side and Mr. Forster on the other formed the two boundary walls of a fiercely heated oven, and if the walls had not been thick and strong they could not have escaped. As it was both the houses escaped with but slight damage from fire, but the water did a good deal of harm, and a portion of the upper part of Mr. Forster's house was caught by the flames, and a good deal of damage was done to his outbuildings and a stable in the rear. The occupants of the house at Dolphin Lane, at the back of the carriage works, were in great danger, and very hurriedly cleared out their furniture. Between the factory and Dolphin House, occupied by Mr. Hill, there was a small carriage house with rooms over, which have not been recently used. The fire got into this place and was threatening Dolphin House, because it was not possible to get into the closed rooms. At length Mr. Hill knocked a hole in the roof, and the fire was stopped at this spot, the hose being carried through the entrance lobby.

Nothing at all seems to have been saved out of the carriage factory where there were about forty carriages in different stages of construction, but three or four carriages which were in the showroom were taken out safely. As far as we can learn there was no accident at all during the morning, and there was plenty of time for all to escape - in fact the only dwelling house actually burnt out was that of the foreman of the factory, which was on the first floor overlooking Castle Street. We believe all the property was insured except the household furniture of the foreman and the tools of the coachbuilders. The whole of the hands of the carriage factory must of necessity be thrown out of employment.

The destruction of the Dover Proprietary Library is a calamity that will cause general regret, because it contained works of great value. After the fire had transverse the workshops, they made their first attack on the Library owing to its being situated on the second floor, just in the sweep of the flames. Very soon it was evident to the onlookers that the interior was fast becoming a wreck, and the smoke and fire shortly debauched from the windows over Castle Street. There was no check to the destruction until the whole of the interior had been gutted. There may be some of the works left in a damaged state, but the greater portion is totally destroyed. We are indebted to Mr. J. Bolton for the loan of a copy of the catalogue that is corrected down to March 1886. The collection consisted of valuable works on Antiquity and Topography, Biography, Memoirs and Correspondence,  Lexicography, History and Geography, Voyages and travels, Poetry and Drama, Novels and Romances, Law and Parliamentary Papers, Divinity and Ecclesiastical History, Natural History and Science, Atlases and Maps, Periodicals, miscellaneous and foreign literature. Many of the works on Antiquity were, we believe, very rare. Amongst these was a valuable copy of the Antiquities Rutupinæ, date 1745, which was given to the Library; also a complete set of the publications of the Camden Society from the commencement of 1838; Antiquities of Canterbury, Doomsday Book of Kent, Darells Dover Castle, Puckles Castle and Fortress, Worthington's Plan of Dover Harbour, Lyons History of Dover, Histories of Deal, Faversham, Folkestone, Gravesend, Maidstone, Rochester, Sandwich, Thanet, Tunbridge Wells, Weald of Kent, Surrey, Ports and Forts of Kent, Palace of Eltham, Kentish Genealogies, Lambard's Perambulation of Kent, Harris' Hasteds Iceland, Kilburne's Histories of Kent, Knockers Grand Court of Shepway, Ruskins Seven Lamps of Architecture, and many other works which it would be difficult and in some cases impossible to replace. The list of biographical works was a very full one, including some rare works and some of the best modern ones. The collection of lexicography included the dictionaries of Lowndes, Rose, Lempriere, Ure, Hadyn, Murray, Bailey, Crabb, Collier, Johnson, Todd, Lower and Lewis. The catalogue of History runs over many pages, forming a rare collection, while many of them are the best modern writers. The histories of own county include those of Rapin, Tindall, Froude, Macauley, Hume, Smollett, and others. The travels too are a very choice selection. A very fine collection of British Poets is gone. The novels and romances are of the old and curious sort, modern fiction not being very largely represented, but there were complete sets of Dicken's, Scott's, - and Disraeli's novels. Under the Head of Law reports are one on Harbours of Refuge and a Charter relating to Cinque Ports dated 1668, and another dated 1662; also a parliamentary report on Dover Harbour dated 1819. In the natural history section was Mantell's Geology of Sussex. Amongst the miscellaneous collection is a poll book for Dover of 1841. This library was established in 1844, and was the rallying point of the best informed leading men of Dover of the generation that is now passing away. The news that this valuable collection of books has come to this sad end will be a source of regret to many old Doverites who are now located in various parts of the world. The regret at the loss of this valuable collection is keener on account of the fact that enterprise could have saved the books had some one had the presence of mind to throw them into the street, as the fire was raging quite half an hour before they were burnt. It is not possible to estimate the value of the books, but they are insured for £1,000. They were the property of the proprietors of the library who number about 50 gentlemen. The President of the Library is the Rev. J. B. Bampton, the Vice President Dr. Parsons, the Rev. F. A. Hammond is the Librarian, Mr. Alexander Bottle the Treasurer, and Mr. J. Bolton, King Street, is the Secretary. A special meeting of the Committee of the Library met on Thursday afternoon at Mr. Lewis's office, Castle Street, to consider the circumstances in which they are placed.

The fire was practically extinguished at ten o'clock, but the police found it necessary to keep the hose going all day to prevent outbreaks; and during last night the Library building again ignited but was soon got under, the police being on watch all night.

The damage done by the fire is roughly estimated at £25,000.
 

The fire. A concert is being arranged to take place on Friday 13th inst. in aid of the employees of Mr. Hills, Coach Builders, Castle Street who has lost their valuable tools by the fire which occurred on Thursday morning last. The proceeds will be handed over to the Mayor for distribution. It is also proposed to give another concert in recognition of the valuable services of the military at the fire on the following Friday January the 20th. (1888)

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 20 April, 1888. Price 1d.

SKETCHES OF DOVER

MESSRS LENEY'S BREWERY

A good sample of the commercial enterprise of Dover is afforded by Messrs. Alfred Leney and Co's Phoenix Brewery. It is situated on the margin of the Dour, in Dolphin Lane, a few paces from the Market Place, and in its near vicinity and worked as part on the concern are four large malt houses. It is the boast of this firm, that their Dover Ales, which are widely celebrated, are brewed from malt and hops only, and as it is their custom, seldom departed from, to purchase both hops and barley of East Kent growth, it may be truly said that they do their best keep to trade in the district. The importance of this item of local commerce will be best understood by looking at the vast consumption of material that is continually going on here. The barley used in the four malting houses during the season from September to May, amounts to several thousands of quarters. Some hundreds of pockets of hops are used during the twelvemonth, and the various furnaces consume between 700 and 800 tons of coal and coke. This will give a general idea of the extent of the business, which I shall now describe in detail, taking malting first and then brewing, both of which processes as described by my guides were full of interest. The four malt houses were shown to me by Mr. A. Leney, jun., who devotes special attention to this branch of the business. One malt house abuts on Castle Street, a second adjoins the east end of the brewery, a third has recently been fitted up on the site formerly occupied by Poulter's brewery in Russell Street, and the fourth occupies the area between St. James' Place and the Gas Works yard. This latter malt house was built some ten or twelve years ago for this firm by the late Mr. Philip Stiff, and as it is so well arranged that the whole process is seen at a glance, of this one I shall give a more particular description. It goes without saying that to make good malt there must be good barley; the grain must contain full germinating power, and there are on these premises a simple but very effective test the percentage of vital grains in any sample. When the barley is brought in by the farmers' wagons, it is hoisted to the top of the malt house now referred to, and deposited in a bin holding about 800 quarters. Immediately under this bin, on the lower floor, is the steeping cistern, running from side to side, and here the barley is steeped in water for a certain period varying from forty to sixty hours. After that stage of probation the water not absorbed, is drawn off and the grain in thrown in a deep heap on the floor in front of the cistern, and this, the second, stage is called couching. There the mass generates heat and sweating begins, by which germination is induced. The next day it is floored. The floor is of cement, polished and smooth as marble. Over this the grain is spread and here the process of germination is seen in the form of little rootlets. The grain is turned and spread; and, later on, in addition to the rootlets, the practised eye of the maltster detects what is termed the acrospire, really the incipient plumula or stem of the seed growing underneath the husk. When the judgement of the maltster tells him that the right stage has been reached, germination is checked by subjecting the grain to heat , which is called kiln-drying. The kiln is at the further end of the house, which is divided into three parts. In the basement is the pit in which are fires of over burnt coke and Welsh coal. Over this hot region are two kilns, one above the other, the grain in its damp state being puts first on the top kiln, which is of the lowest temperature, and after drying there, is brought to the bottom kiln on the lower level to be finished. The kilns in this one malt house will dry 20 quarters at a time. During the last stage of drying the men, shod with particularly shaped patterns, tread the malt to detach the rootlets called combings, which are, however, left mixed with the malt, as it keeps better in their company. Having now passed through the four processes of steeping, couching, flooring, and drying, the malt is made, and is stored in large bins in the top story, which, in the malt house which I am describing has capacity for more than a thousand quarters. In the other three malt houses the same process is continually going on during the season, which extends from September till May, after which the men employed in this department, are usually engaged in brewery work.

The malt being made, the next process is brewing. I was shown through this , from the malt crushing to the final barrelling, by Mr. Hall, the brewer of the establishment, whose position must be a critical and important one, as the quality of the article produced, depends in a great measure on the watchfulness bestowed on the various stages of production. The first thing is crushing the malt. This was being done in a large room facing the Market Place, where there is a hoisting apparatus to take up the malt. Just under the room where the malt is deposited is the mill to which the material descends by a shoot, into which a fan sends a strong draught to clear away the malt dust called combings, which are brought into a heap behind the mill, and are eventually disposed of for cattle feeding. The malt, thus separated from the lighter parts, travels down towards the crushers, but en route it passes over a surface where there are some powerful magnets which immediately attract any bits of metal, such as nails, &c., which, if they went any further, would make havoc with the rollers, and by striking sparks would be a source of danger. This magnetic device, which is the invention of Schaeffer, a German engineer, is most effective, as was illustrated by an omnum gatherum of all sorts of metal scraps in a box, which the magnets had successfully kept out of mischief. The malt passes on through the steel rollers, which are constructed to crush, not grind, and thus the material is brought into a state called grist, and is collected in a malt-case over the mashing tuns which are on the floor immediately below. The case being filled with fifty quarters, enough for a brewing, it is let down by hoppers into the tuns, and through a perforated bottom is let in hot water, which had been heated in large cast iron tanks by steam. In this department a large additional talk of this kind has recently been erected, holding 180 barrels. The water and malt having been brought together, the mixing or mashing is done by machinery. In the olden times this was done by hand with rakes and paddles; the rakes are still retained, but they are fixed on revolving arms which move round the tun while the rakes have a second motion on their own axis. The necessary agitation is thus produced and the virtue of the malt is infused into the liquor, which subsequently is allowed to run off into a large vessel below called the under-back. It may be as well to explain that in the phraseology of the brewer, a cistern or reservoir for liquor is a “back.” After the liquor is run off from the tuns the grain left there is termed “goods,” and by infusion of water of a higher temperature, it yields further strength, and after being sufficiently exhausted it is cleared away and disposed of for feeding purposes. Following the liquor which is now called “wort,” we find it being pumped from the under-back to the coppers of which there is a series on a higher level. There the hops are put into the “wort,” the rousing agitation necessary to bring out the full flavour of the hops is kept up by a boiling fountain inserted in the centre of the vessel, through which the wort from the bottom is continually rushing up and being diffused on the surface of the liquid by a brimmed cap on the top fountain. The heat here is obtained from the furnace fires immediately under the coppers, steam heating not producing a sufficiently high temperature to concentrate the wort and bring out the hop extracts which impart so agreeable a flavour. The quantity of the hops put in depends on their quality, and the kind of liquor that is being brewed. After boiling, the “wort” is run off from the coppers to the hop-back, situated in a large airy room, having ventilating shutters and a northern aspect, it being important that the next process, cooling, should be expeditiously done. The old plan was to run the liquor into a number of shallow vessels, but recent inventions have greatly improved this process. In this brewery the principal cooling agents are two patent refrigerators by different makers, varying in detail, but both working on the principal of running hot wort over a series of pipes filled with cold water. Each of the refrigerators have the appearance of a screen, some six feet square, standing on two legs. The first examined, which is Lawrence's patent, consists of two copper corrugated plates fastened together, a little distance apart, with a stream of cold water running through the interior, and the hop wort running down the outside, and owing to its adhering to the surface, travelling in and out of the corrugated indentations, passing as it descends over a wide cooling area. The other refrigerator, very much the same in appearance, is a French patent by Baudelot. In this case the cooling surface is a series of tubes, through which cold water is driven by a force pump, while the hot wort runs down the outside. In passing over this refrigerator the wort is in a few seconds cooled from 180 down to 60. These refrigerators will cool 40 barrels of wort each in an hour. In the meantime the heat is transmitted to the cold water in the pipes, which becomes quite hot by the time it has travelled through, and as a happy thought the water thus heated is utilised by being carried away by a pipe over Dolphin Lane to scald the casks in the cask yard. It may be mentioned that the rapid cooling of the wort has much to do with producing a palatable ale, as slow cooling would induce a chemical change causing acidity and known in the trade as “foxing.” The manipulation of the wort at this critical stage in this brewery means to be brought, by the use of the most modern appliances, to a high state of perfection. From the cooling room the wort is conducted by a large pipe down to the fermenting room, where there are large square vessels of various sizes; in one row there are three, each holding 60 barrels; there are others of different capacities to suit the quantity of wort in the brew. The wort being brought into these square vats here the yeast is added, and fermenting sets in. The wort which had been cooled down to between fifty and sixty degrees, would, by the heat generated in fermentation, again rise in temperature, but to check this a coil of copper tubing containing cold water is immersed in the wort and the temperature thus regulated. The important process of fermentation depends in a great measure on the quality of the yeast, and to ensure its being good, the brewer has a powerful microscope by which he examines the cells, and is able to judge of its fitness for inducing healthy fermentation. In fact it seems, unless he works by the rule of thumb, to be a brewer a man must be a tolerable expert chemist. When the process of fermenting has reached the proper stage it is checked, the wort being conveyed to other vessels in the cleansing room, where the yeast on the top works up through a hatch from which it is taken away for further use. Some of it is employed in future brewing, but as they do not require anything like the quantity which they produce, yeast forms an important bye-product of the brewery, and is sold, some to bakers in the vicinity, whilst the residue is put through one of Johnstone's patent yeast presses by which all the liquid is removed, and the yeast like a stiff curd is fit for exportation to the continent, which is the destination of a considerable portion of it. When the cleansing process has been finished the brewing is practically done, and subsequently the manufactured article finds its way into innumerable casks, filling an almost interminable underground area of which outsiders could hardly form any idea. “Here in cool grot” is kept the stock-in-trade, and by the aid of artificial light may be seen the long rows of casks, barrels and hogsheads filling the space underneath the brewery. Following on, we go down a passage intersected with short headings running in both directions, also full of barrels, and farther away still under the malt house we come to a vast area stored in the same way. Turning in another direction we come to another. In the passages there are smooth iron rails laid, down which the barrels are slid to their destination. While I was wondering how many barrels could be stored away in these recesses we came upon the clerk of the cellars at his desk, and in a few seconds he was able to tell us that the quantity in store at that time was 3,000 barrels. Leaving the cellar we crossed the yard to the hop loft, in which are stowed piles of hop pockets emitting a most fragrant perfume, and all of them bearing the Kent brand. We have now been through the whole process but I have so far omitted to mention two points which must not be passed over. The first is the water supply. No doubt the original idea of fixing the brewery on the margin of the river was to take the supply from that source, but owing to the increase of pollution up stream that would be out of the question now, and another source which eminent analysts pronounce to be equal to Burton water is obtained from deep artesian wells driven a few yards from the mash tuns in the brewery floor down through a hundred feet of chalk where a most copious and perfectly pure supply is obtained from a flint bed. The supply is practically inexhaustible, and although it could not be purer than our town supply, chemically it is better, having a less admixture of chalk. This water is pumped up in to a large reservoir on the top of the brewery. The mention of pumping brings in the other omitted point, the steam power. In the engine room there is a first-class modern horizontal engine of 12-horse power, and a somewhat smaller auxiliary engine for use in busy times, and to the latter there is fixed an attachment for screwing on a fire hose that can be used in case of fire in the brewery or adjoining premises it having been used very effectively at the recent fire at Messrs. Hills carriage manufactory. Then alongside these modern engines there is also, now disused, but in working order, an old beam engine, erected in the year 1808 by Mr. Walker, the former proprietor, and this is believed to have been the first steam engine erected in Dover.

We now pass out of the brewery through the counting house, where a number of clerks toil at bulky ledgers, and proceed across Dolphin Lane to the cask yard, where are congregated all the empties as they arrive from customers. The pipe before mentioned, conveying hot water from the cooling room is here brought into use as scour and scald each cask, in which special care is taken, cleanliness being a point strictly insisted upon at this brewery. On the Castle Street side of the yard is the cooperage, where there were men employed in repairing the casks. Across the lane we come to the stables recently burnt down, but now restored. Here are kept twelve horses employed in the vans in use at Dover, and there are also four at Folkestone and four in London. Thus it will be seen that the establishment of Messrs. Leney and Co. is a very important local industry, finding work for a large number of employers of various grades, and, seeing that in addition to its purely local trade a considerable outside business is done, the Phoenix Brewery may be set down at another of those thriving businesses which helps to increase the commercial prosperity of Dover.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 19 December, 1890. Price 1d.

NEW OFFICES

Messrs. Leney's New Offices in Castle Street were opened this week. They are without exception, the finest and best arranged business premises in Dover.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 1 June, 1900.

PAINTERS FATAL FALL

On Tuesday a young man, Albert Brown, a painter, who was at work in connection with the alterations and additions going on at Messrs. Leney and Co. Brewery, in Dolphin Place, met with his death by falling from the scaffold to the ground as he was leaving work. He was moved to the Hospital, but died before reaching there.

An inquest was held at the Town Hall yesterday by the Borough Coroner, Sydenham Payn, Esq., and the following Jury: Messrs. R. Denne (foreman) J. B. Green, W. Winch, J. Hatton, J. Baker, T. Chandler, A. Couzens, J. C. Clifford, F. Pearce, G. Eastry, A. Dawes, G. Turnhill, W. Giraud, H. R. Pile, and F. Tucker.

Mr. Eugene Carder, who appeared on behalf of Mr. W. J. Adcock, deceased's late employer, said, that he had been asked to express heartfelt sympathy with the poor widow and children on behalf of Mr. Adcock.

Mr. Aldington appeared on behalf of the widow.

Charles E. Cotterell, of Hesketh House, Lauriston Place, Dover, brother-in-law of the deceased, identified him as Albert Brown, who was a painter, and aged 37 years. Deceased had enjoyed good health, and was not liable to fits, etc.

John R. Cole, carpenter in the employ of Mr. Adcock, said: I have worked with deceased on Leney's Brewery – the erection of the upper storey – for about a month. Deceased was a painter, doing general work. On Tuesday, about 12 noon, I got out of the window on to the scaffold in front of deceased, and had just stepped off the scaffold on to the ladder when I heard a stumble. I shouted out to Brown, but it was too late, and I next saw him falling down. I slid down the ladder and found that two of my mates had picked him up. Deceased was practically dead, but I ran at once for the doctor. My conviction is that the man caught his toe in one of the boards of the scaffold that overlap the other boards in the ordinary way.

The Coroner: he might have tripped from the window?

Witness: I can't think he did that, as he would then have pitched forward on to the scaffold, but he had gone along the window towards the ladder. Witness went on to explain from a photograph the manner in which the deceased fell.

The Coroner: I see from the photo that there is no rail. Should not there be one?

Witness: Well, I believe so, but we don't ask for one, and don't require one. We take the risk.

Mr. Carder: This scaffold is constructed in the ordinary way?

Witness: Yes; but there should be a rail.

Mr. Carder: Is there not a rail in front of the window?

Witness: Yes, but it is to strengthen it for hauling.

Mr. Carder: Is not this scaffold constructed in the usual way in practice about here?

Witness: Yes, the construction is all right, but there should be a rail.

In reply to the Coroner, witness said there was no particular hurry that day to get off to dinner.

Albert Hardiman, a painter, at work on the upper part of Mrssrs. Leney's building, said he went first down the ladder, and then saw deceased bounce on the bridge of the scaffold and thence to the ground. The scaffold was a safe one, though the boards overlapped, as they must do. Witness was up there afterwards, and did not see anything likely to cause deceased to fall from the window as he got out. Witness considered that a rail on the scaffold would be awkward for them when they were getting stuff up. Deceased was a very steady man, and in good health.

Walter Bowman, a carpenter at work with the deceased on Tuesday, described how he had just alighted from the ladder when the deceased fell to the ground close beside him.

Henry Beer, foreman of the painters, in the employ of Mr. Adcock, said that the scaffold was the usual sort and perfectly safe. He had never worked on a better scaffold. The work had been in progress about five months. Witness did not consider that a railing was necessary. The height of the scaffold from which he fell was 40 feet 3 inches.

In reply to the foreman, witness explained that the boards run lengthways, and deceased, if he tripped over the end, would have had to walk along from the window. Deceased only started work there on Monday.

Dr. Softly, House Surgeon at the Hospital, said, deceased was admitted at 12.15 p.m. on Tuesday in an unconscious condition. His head was wounded and his skull fractured right round from front to back. He died 25 minutes after admittance. His right arm was also broken, and he had a severe bruise on his back, so that he must have received two blows in falling.

The Coroner, commenting on the case in summing up, referred to the evidence as to the rail. It might or might not be that would be dangerous in itself and liable to cause an accident. His own option was that a rail would be better.

The Jury returned a verdict of “Death from Misadventure.”

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 11 January, 1901. Price 1d.

MR ALFRED LENEY

The will of Mr. Alfred Leney, of Buckland House, Dover, and of the firm of A. Leney and Co., Limited, Phoenix Brewery; Dover, a Governor of Dover Hospital, and a Director of the Dover promenade Pier Co., who died November 4th last, aged 63 years, has been proved at £177,112 18s. 5s., net, £188,138 18s. 10d. gross. To his wife Mr. Leney left £2,000, his household effects, horses and carriages, and a life annuity of £2,000, to secure which he left in trust 520 debentures of £50 each of A. Leney and Co., Limited, and 1,200 shares of £10 each. Subject to Mrs. Leney's life interest, the 1,200 shares are not to be in trust for his sons, Alfred Charles, and Hugh and Frank, and the 520 debentures of £50 each are to be in trust for his sons Walter and Harry, and his daughters Florence Maud Leney, and Kate Naomi, wife of John Pickering Thompson. Mr. Leney's residuary estate is left in trust in equal shares for his said seven children, and he desired that his son Walter should be chosen as a director of A. Leney and Co., Ltd. Mrs. Leney is to have the use and enjoyment of the Kearsney property, which Mr. Leney had lately bought. The executors of his will are his son Alfred Charles Leney, of Cranbourne, Dover, and testator's brother-in-law.

From the Folkestone Express, Saturday, 12 January, 1901.

THE WILL OF MR A LENEY

Mr. Alfred Leney, of Buckland House, Dover, and of A. Leney and Co. (Limited), Phoenix Brewery, Dover, a governor of the Dover Hospital, and a director of the Dover Promenade Pier Company, who died on Nov. 4th last, aged sixty-three years, leaving personal estate of the net valve of £177,112, the gross value of the whole being £188,138, gave to his wife a life annuity of £2,000, to secure which he left in trust 520 debentures of £50 each of A. Leney and Co. (Limited) and 1,200 shares of £10 each. Subject to Mrs. Leney's life interest the 1,200 ‘shares are to be in trust for his sons, Alfred Charles and Hugh and Frank, and the 520 debentures of £50 each are to be in trust for his sons Walter and Harry and his daughters Florence Maud Leney and Kate Naomi, wife of John Pickering Thompson. Mr. Leney's residuary estate is left in trust in equal shares for his said seven children, and he desired that his son Walter should be chosen as a director of A. Leney and Co. (Limited).

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 1 March, 1901. Price 1d.

SKELETONS AND OTHER RELICS FOUND

During the past week, during excavations underneath a portion of the loading platform at Leney's Brewery, Dover, for the purpose of enlarging the stores, there was exhumed the skeleton of a large man, with feet towards the south, arms partly outstretched, and head raised. The measurements from the top of pelvis to the top of shoulder-bone was 21 inches. About half a yard lower, immediately under the lower part of the former, were found pieces of the skull of another person firmly embedded in the sea sand. On the same level as the man's skeleton, lying abreast, and about three feet from it, was the skeleton of a much smaller person, apparently of a woman. A few Roman tiles were found at the same spot. There was also found in the sand part of the upper jaw of an animal, supposed to be a horse, and various fragments of ancient earthenware.

The place where those discoveries were made was in ancient time the tidal estuary of the Dour, and it was near the spot when excavating for a gas holder at the Russell Street gas station that a curious oak platform of supposed Roman make was found buried in the ancient river bed. There is no doubt that if excavations were made extensively in this neighbourhood, and the results carefully recorded, much hidden history of ancient Dover might be revealed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 17 May, 1901. Price 1d.

THE LATE MR ALFRED LENEY

MEMORIAL WINDOW AT BUCKLAND

A memorial stained glass window to the memory of the late Mr. Alfred Leney was last night unveiled in Buckland Church. The window, which had been subscribed for by the late Mr. Leney's tenants, is situated close to the door on the north side of the church. It is properly a double window, the one half representing Christ at the wedding turning water into wine, under which is the text, “Whatsoever He sayeth unto you, do it,” and the other half of the window representing another scene in the Lord's life, the text being, “This is of a truth that prophet which should come into the world.” Underneath the window is the inscription, “To the glory of God and in memory of Alfred Leney, who fell asleep November 4th, 1900, this window id dedicated by his tenants.” The window was put up by Messrs. Heaton, Buller and Baynes, of Covent Garden, and cost £50. The service was conducted by the Rev. T. Evans, the clergy and choir, prior to the evening service, walking in procession to the window, which was veiled and surrounded by the tenants. The Rev. T. Evans then offered the dedicatory prayer, and at the same time Mr. T. Appleton unveiled the window. A prayer for the late Mr. Leney completed the special part of the service. There was a large congregation in the church.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 2 December, 1910

TRANSFER OF THE PHOENIX BREWERY

At the Dover Police Court this (Friday) morning, before M. Pepper (in the chair), W. Emden, P. W. J. Mackenzie, Edward Chitty, F. G. Wright, H. W. Thorpe Esqrs., and Captain R. B. Cay. The license of the "Phoenix Brewery," Castle Street, was transferred from William George Wood to Alfred Bertrand Charles Wilson, secretary  Alfred Leney and Co. Ltd.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 February, 1914. Price 1d.

WILFUL DAMAGE BY DRUNKEN MEN

At the Dover Police Court on Monday, before Messrs. T. A. Terson in the chair, and J. Scott.

Frederick Coe and Thomas Charles Ward were charged with being concerned together with wilfully breaking three pint bottles, the property of Messrs. Leney and Co., Castle Street, brewers, by pulling a crate out of a van in Liverpool Street, and smashing them on the ground, doing damage to the amount of sixpence.

Mr. W. Pascall, a carman in the employ of Messrs. Leney and Co., said: On Saturday about 3.30 p.m., whilst in Liverpool Street with my van I saw one of the prisoners riding a lady's tricycle, and the other man pushing him along. They were too drunk to ride properly, and left the tricycle in the gutter. As I came up one of them said, “Here's a ride.” I said that they would not ride on my van. Coe swore, and they rushed after my van. Coe pulled off a crate containing nine empty bottles, and smashed three of them in the road. I telephoned for the Police from the Yacht Club. I went towards East Cliff and there saw P.C. Scutt, and told him what had occurred. I drove him along East Cliff where he saw Coe throw something over into a garden. P.C. Scutt detained the prisoners whilst I went to see what they had thrown over. I found a missionary box in the garden of 6, East Cliff. P.C. Scutt brought the prisoners to the Police Station, and I charged them.

P.C. Scutt said: About 3.15 p.m. on Saturday I was on the Sea Front when I received a complaint from Mr Pascall about the prisoners smashing some bottles from off his van. I accompanied him to East Cliff, and he there gave them into custody. Coe became violent, and, with the assistance of P.C. Lawrence, I handcuffed him. They said that they came off a barge in the Admiralty Harbour. Wars came very quietly to the police Station.

Prisoners said they had not been ashore all the week. They had a little drop of drink and did not know what they were doing.

The Chief Constable said that the missionary box was taken, with some cake, from 33, Marine Parade, but the lady did not wish to charge the prisoners. It contained 7d., but only a penny was found in the garden. Coe, in the name of Mead, had been charged seven times before. He did not know anything about Ward.

The magistrates sent Coe to prison for seven days with hard labour, and dismissed Ward with a caution.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 21 December, 1923. Price 1½d.

KENTISH PUBLIC HOUSES

Acting under the instructions of Messrs. Leney and Co., who, having acquired the controlling interest in Messrs. Flint's Brewery, are disposing of the outlying properties, Messrs. Wickenden and Sons, of Tunbridge Wells, in conjunction with Messrs. Worsfold and Hayward, of Dover, held an auction sale at the “Saracen's Head,” Ashford, on Tuesday, when, of nineteen licensed houses put up, twelve were sold, making a total of £18,350. Prices realised were:-

At Peasmarsh-

The “Hare and Hounds” £1,600.

At Rye-

The “King's Head” £1,900.

The “Bedford Arms” £1,000.

The “Union Inn” £1,750.

The “Old Bell” £1,000.

The “Pipemaker's Arms” £2,000.

The “Sussex Stores” £850.

At Winchelsea-

The “Old Castle Inn” £2,800.

At Brookland-

The “Woolpack Inn” £500.

At New Romney-

The “Warren Inn” £1,300.

At Ashford-

Off-licence at 115, Station Road £1,650.

At Wye-

The “King's Head” £2,000.

The above were freehold, except the “Bedford Arms,” Rye. The other licensed properties advertised were not sold.

The “Eagle House,” Rye, fetched £925; the “Eagle Brewery Stores,” £350; the yard adjoining, £375; a stable and garage at Landgate, Rye, £200; a warehouse, £90; and a plot of land, 140ft. frontage to Eagle Road, £425.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 14 January, 1927. Price 1½d.

MESSRS. LENEY AND CO. AND MESSRS. FREMLIN.

MOTOR TRANSPORT A BOTTLING BUSINESS TO BE REMOVED TO CANTERBURY

During an application, the second by Messrs. Flint and Co., brewers, of St. Dunstan's, Canterbury, at the Canterbury Police Court on Friday last, for possession of 35, St. Dunstan's Street, Canterbury, now in the occupation of Mr. Charles Newlys, some interesting information was given by Mr. A. C. Leney, managing director of Messrs. Leney and Co.

Mr. G. M. Kingsford appeared in support of the application, and Mr. S. Shea appeared for the tenant of the cottage, Mr. Charles Newlyn.

Mr. Kingsford and Mr. Newlyn was in the employ of the firm as a cooper from 1903 until 1924. This cottage was let to him in May of 1911. In 1912 the rent was reduced by 3s. 3d. per week until February of 1921, when an increase of 6d per week was made, and it remained at that rental until now. After Messrs. Leney took over

From the Dover Express 18 November, 1955.

Death of Mrs. A. C. Leney.

Widow of Mr. A. C. Leney, of Dover, Garden House, Saltwood, and Rhodes House, Sellenge, Mrs. Bertha Backhouse Leney died at 11, Godwyn Road, Folkestone, on Thursday last week in her 91st year.

Third daughter of Dr. Frederick Hulke, who lived at Admiralty House, Deal, she married Mr. Leney in 1887, and they celebrated their diamond wedding in 1947.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs Algernon Pearson, of Coolville house, Clogheen, and Mrs. Raymond Grubb, of Castle Grace, Clogheen.

The funeral took place privately at Charing Crematorium on Monday.

From the Dover Express 6 September 1963.

Old Brewery May Be Up For Sale.

AN area of centrally situated land in Dover - which could very well attract the interest of developers - is likely to become vacant in the not too-far-distant future. The property-owned by Fremlins - is the office in Castle street and the old brewery bounded by Dolphin Lane and Dolphin Passage. This is only a few yards from the Market Square and at the back of Dolphin House flats.

At one time the brewery area, then owned by Messrs. A. Leney and Company, covered over five acres, and the cellars had space for 5,000 barrels.

The firm amalgamated with Fremlins of Maidstone in the mid-1920's, and brewing ceased at Dover.

Fremlins have purchased a former depository in Maxton Road, and have plans for converting it into their new store.

When the move to Maxton Road is made, the office, and other property, it is believed, will become vacant for other use.

In the Dover Re-development Plan prepared in conjunction with Professor Abercrombie, soon after the war, it was suggested that this was the site for an omnibus station and garage with access to Castle Street and King Street. Like many other of the proposals at that time it has not been proceeded with.

A spokesman at Fremlins, Maidstone, asked about the company's proposals, said there was no person available to comment.

From the Dover Express 26 June 1964.

Brewery sold.

Phoenix Brewery has been sold to Craigton Combined Securities Ltd., a development company which will be carrying out a large scale redevelopment scheme in the Market-square and Castle St. areas of Dover.

The site with its war-damaged buildings, covers an area of about three-quarters of an acre. The sale has been negotiated by Flashman and Co. Ltd. of Dover.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 27 August, 1965.

Demolition in progress on the Phoenix Brewery site this week. The tractor is pulling down large sections of brickwork with a wire rope. The cleared site, which is to be used for a bowling alley, is likely to remain vacant for sometime due to, the Government's credit squeeze.

As we know, the bowling alley never did arrive, and the site is still vacant almost 50 years later. That's some government squeeze, I can tell you. Paul Skelton.