From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 23 July, 1869.

DRUNKENNESS

Henry Couchman, William Dale, and Charles baker, three farm labourers, were charged with being drunk and disorderly early on the previous (Sunday) morning.

Police-constable Seager, of the Kent County Constabulary, stationed at Shepherdswell, said that on Sunday morning last, at half-past twelve, he saw the prisoners coming out of the "Bricklayer's Arms" public-house, Shepherdswell. They were singing and making a great noise. he requested them to go home quietly, but they refused, and made use of very obscene and abusive language. he did all he could to persuade them to go home, but they persisted in refusing. he caught hold of the prisoner Couchman's arm, when the other two came up. Couchman then struck him on the side of the face, while one of the other prisoners said, Smash the _____, there is only one here." Neither of the others struck witness; but they all turned up their shirt sleeves apparently with intention of doing so. The constable asked them to give him their names, but they refused, and he then, with assistance, apprehended them, and brought them to Dover. They all came along the road quietly enough.

The Magistrates fined the defendants 15s. 6d. each, including the costs; in default, seven days.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 22 December, 1922. Price 1½d.

LICENSING

The licensee of the "Bricklayer's Arms," Shepherdswell was granted an extension for the Sick and Benefit Club dinner that evening, till 11.30 p.m.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 22 October, 1937.

PUBLIC HOUSE ALTERATIONS

Plans for converting two bars into one and enlarging the private bar of the "Bricklayers Arms," Shepherdswell, were approved by the magistrates at the County Petty Sessions, held at Dover on Thursday.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 18 November, 1938.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

The licensee of the "Bricklayers Arms," Shepherdswell, was granted an extension till 10.30 p.m. on December 3rd, for a boxing tournament.

Dover Express 26th April 1946.

EAST KENT NEWS SHEPHERDSWELL.

Wedding of Miss K. Jaynes.

The wedding took place on Easter Monday at St. Andrew’s Church, Shepherdswell, of Miss Kathleen Jaynes, only daughter of Mr. & Mrs. C. Jaynes of the “Bricklayer’s Arms”, Shepherdswell, and Mr. Victor Hood, youngest son of Mr. Hood and the late Mrs. Hood of Paddington, London. The Rev. L. Elliott officiated at the fully choral service, with Mrs. Castle at the organ. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a white silk gown, headdress of orange blossom, a full length veil and carried a sheaf of lilies. She was attended by Miss Joan Hood (chief) (bridegroom’s sister), who wore a lavender satin gown, skull cap of lace and flowers, lace mittens and carried a bouquet of mixed tulips, and Miss Jean Woodgate and Miss Olive Gibbs, who wore quilted gowns of peach taffeta, coronets and veils to match, gold sandals and carried bouquets of tulips and little Miss Dilys Fox who was dressed in a gown of pale blue satin under silk net and lace headdress of rose-buds and blue plumes, lace mittens, white satin shoes and carried a posy of pink and blue anemones. The best man was Mr. S. Jaynes (bride’s brother). The cars were supplied by Mr. Hampshire.

Dover Express 2nd August 1946.

The Wingham Petty Sessions were held at Dover on Thursday before Viscount Hawarden.

The license of the “Bricklayer’s Arms, Shepherdswell was temporarily transferred to Mr. J. R. Fletcher.

From the Dover Express, 4 October 2001.

Day of fun honours Stuart's fund.

A FUNDRAISING day at the Bricklayers Arms pub in Shepherdswell on Saturday was in aid of the Stuart Clarke Orphanage Fund. It also commemorated 22-year-old-Stuart, who was killed in a car accident while serving with the British Army in Kenya. His sister, Cara Bywater, said: "During the final week of his life he helped build two classrooms at Nanyuki Children's Home and these have since been dedicated in his memory. "We have now sent in excess of £4,000 to help provide food and education for the children."

Left picture shows fun and games with Karen, Naiomi and landlady Cara in fancy dress, plus above, some odd skittle tactics at the Bricklayers Arm.

Pictures Vic Seymour Photographic Service.

From the Dover Express, 17 March 2007. By Jonathan Holden.

After pub lock-in.

THE landlord of a Shepherdswell pub has been given a police warning after up to 30 people were found boozing after hours.

Nicholas Ervine, of the Brickmakers Arms in Cox Hill, was present when police and licensing officers visited his pub at 12.15am on Saturday morning.

Between 20 and 30 people were found inside the pub and loud music could be heard from outside.

It followed a string of complaints to Shepherdswell's rural warden from residents unhappy about noise and other disturbance during the early hours.

Some drinkers grew agitated when police asked them to leave and Mr Ervine was also warned about allowing drunkenness on the premises.

Using the example of one patron, PC Hayden Kemp told him he was concerned about what would happen when the drinkers headed out into the night.

He said: "If he walks out into the street and somebody tells him and his mates to be quiet he's going to cause trouble because of the state he's in."

Some drinkers claimed the lock-in was a private birthday party while others said it was part of a golf tournament.

Mr Ervine was told no further action would be taken on this occasion, but it would be taken into consideration when his licence came up for renewal.

However, PC Kemp told him it was unlikely to affect future applications - provided there were no more breaches.

The visit by police and district council licensing and environmental health staff was part of an antisocial behaviour crackdown called Operation Detour.

The officers visited pubs and clubs as well as carrying out vehicle checks in Dover and Deal.

The landlord of the "Roman Quay" in Stembrook, Dover, will also get a warning after police found under-age drinkers in the pub.

Visits to the "Eight Bells", in Cannon Street, the "Louis Armstrong", in Maison Dieu Road, and the "Prince of Orange", in New Street, found no problems.

The "Studio One" nightclub in Adrian Street also met police approval for its improved security regime.

Soon after 10pm on Saturday, door staff apprehended a woman suspected of carrying ecstasy and she was handed over to police.

The operation also saw warnings and fixed penalties given to motorists for speeding, driving without seatbelts and, in one case, playing loud music during the early hours.

From the Dover Express, 24 July 2008.

Above showing the pub in 2008.

From the Dover Express, 16 April 2015. By Jordan Bluer.

Did ghost hurl pint glass across bar of busy pub?

Staff and regulars left spooked by inexplicable occurrence.

A COUPLE were left stunned after a pint glass flew from the middle of a pub table, seemingly of its own accord.

Spooky CCTV footage from the Bricklayers Arms in Shepherdwell showed the drink move, prompting petrified punters to jump out of their chairs in fright.

The pub’s landlady of three years, Anne Hurst, told the Express that the table was dry, very sturdy, and there were no arms or legs near the pint.

Freaky.

Karen Megsen and her partner were at the pub at the time.

She said: “We were all very freaked out as the pint was in the middle of the table.

“We all stopped talking and could hear the glass grinding on the table.”

Her partner, a former solider, was reportedly so petrified that he returned home and slept night with the lights and the television on all night.

From the Dover Express, 7 April 2016. By Rebecca Smith.

Villagers vow to fight to reopen their village pub.

Pressure group hopes to stop the sale of community asset as home.

The Bricklayers Arms Action Group was formed following the pub’s closure in September.

The 18th century pub, which is Grade II listed shut when landlady Ann Hirst closed.

The owner, Shepherd Neame, has since put the pub on the market ‘with potential for development’.

Value.

The pub has been listed as an Asset of Community Value since January 2014 and any application for redevelopment must be approved by Dover District Council.

The Bricklayers Arms Action Group have been working with their district councillors, Protect Pubs, CAMRA, The Plunkett Foundation and MP Charlie Elphicke to trigger a moratorium on any sale.

The group has also formed a Community Interest Company with the aim of protecting all six Assets of Community Value in the village including the Co-op store, Post Office, the "Bell" pub and doctors surgery - all of which are still open.

A group spokesman said: “The government has recognised the importance of pubs to communities, particularly in rural areas. Pubs Minister, Marcus Jones MP recently announced funding of £3.62 million to help support community groups to buy their pubs to slow the pace at which we are losing pubs in this country, estimated to be around 30 each week.

“Community owned pubs provide much needed social space for all members of a community and because they are free of tie can buy in high quality real ale, which is now enjoying a big revival throughout the country “We want The Bricklayers Arms to be owned and run by the village and become a much needed village hub that we can all be proud of.”

Recently, villagers in Ash were successful in their fight to prevent their pub, the "Chequer Inn," from being redeveloped and The Bricklayers Arms Action Group has now joined forces with them to share information and offer support.