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31 Old Dover Road
Canterbury
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From an Email received on 11 October, 2012.
Greetings from Charleston, South Carolina here on the
southeast coast of America!
I've attached a photo of an interesting sign that I've seen, but I can't
find any information online about it. It measures 31 inches by 45 inches
and weighs about 40 pounds. I have to opportunity to buy it but am
cautious until I can find out any information.
Can you tell just by looking at it if it is an original sign? It does
look old to me. Might you know the timeframe that it's from?
I'd be very appreciative of any information you can provide.
Sincerely,
John Lewis
 
That wasn't the only email I received regarding the same signs, I
received this one as well.
Sir,
Good afternoon from the US!
I am the proud owner of what I believe is an English Pub sign
promoting Fremlin's Ale and the "Bridge House". I acquired the sign a
number of years ago from an antique dealer in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina. The sign is approximately 45" high, 31" wide and weighs
approximately 40 pounds (US). It is a two sided sign.
The "best side" is in what I consider to be in relatively good shape.
There is definitely some peeling of the paint but not in areas that
really obscure the print or colors on the sign. The "poorer side" has
significant paint damage. However, since I have been displaying the sign
on a wall, the damage was of no real concern to me.
I happened upon your web site while I was attempting to learn more
about Fremlin's Ale. I am sending you photos of the sign in hopes of
learning more about Fremlin's (your web site has already been a great
deal of help!) and on the off chance that you might be familiar with the
"Bridge House" although I assume that is probably a fairly common pub
name. If you have an estimate of the signs age that too would be
appreciated.
Any information you are able to provide would be of great interest to
me. Additionally, any estimate of the signs value would be helpful since
I have not ruled out placing the sign up for sale.
With warmest regards,
Robert Neely
Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA. |
I also have reference to another "Bridge House" addressed at St.
Stephen's in 1863. This could well refer to the same one I have aklso found
address as in Fordwich.
At the end of the 18th century a dwelling house with outbuildings and 3
acres of pasture was built on this site and belonged to a saddler called
John Martyn.
The pub itself can be traced to 1830 when Simon Forstell gained a license
to sell ale.
1862 saw Thomas Young make alterations to the house and he gained a full
license and also the name of "Bridge House Tavern."
The pub was sold to Gardener's brewery of Ash in 1882, the annual rent at
this time was 19 guineas.
The pub was almost totally destroyed when a fire caught
hold in 1963, but after renovation it re-opened as the "Phoenix"
shortly after. In 1968 Whitbread/Fremlins took over the Gardener brewery.
The Inns of Canterbury by Edward Wilmot's,1988, mentions a document, date
circa 1945 that gives the description of clientele at the pub as being "Artisans
and labouring."
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From the Kentish Chronicle, 7 March, 1863.
CANTERBURY POLICE COURT. OFFENDING PUBLICANS.
On Monday, T. Barton, landlord of the “Brewer’s Delight” was fined 1s.
and expenses for having company drinking in his house at a quarter
before 12 o'clock a.m. on Sunday. There were five persons in the house,
three of whom were from Faversham, and the other two belonging to the
city.
Mr. Hogwood, landlord of the “Old City of Canterbury” public house was
also fined 1s. and costs for having two people drinking in his house at
five minutes before 12 o'clock on Sunday morning. Both offences were
proved by Superintendent Davies; who also reported that, during his tour
of inspection, on Sunday morning, he found people drinking in three
other houses—the “Bridge Inn”, the “Beehive” and the “Nag's Head,” but
as the landlords of those houses were not present the cases were not
gone into.
The Mayor remarked that if the Superintendent had warned some of the
offending landlords to attend, he ought to have warned all, as those who
had not been warned would be put to the expense of summonses.
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From the Kentish Chronicle, 28 March, 1863.
SUDDEN DEATH IN THE WORKHOUSE.
On Saturday evening Mr Delasaux, coroner, held an inquest, at the
“Bridge House Tavern,” Old Dover Road, on the body of Mary Ann Allen,
aged 40, an inmate of the Workhouse, who was found dead in bed on Friday
morning. It Appeared that, having been ailing, the deceased was placed
in the Infirmary about a fortnight ago. A woman who slept in the same
room said that the deceased appeared to be in about her usual state of
health on Thursday evening, and on the following morning about 7
o'clock, she was found dead. Mr. Callaway, surgeon, who had intended the deceased during her illness,
deposed that, in his opinion, death resulted from disease of the heart,
and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. |
LICENSEE LIST
FORSTELL Simon 1830+
YOUNG Thomas 1862-67+
YOUNG Charlotte 1871-82 dec'd (widow age 65 in 1881 )
DILNOT James 1882-91
KNIGHT Charles F 1891+ (age 27 in 1891)
LEE Charles (between these years)
FARRELL Robert Henry 1903+
 
SADLER George Edward 1911+ (age 60 in 1911)
WYVER Harry John 1913+
WYVER Mrs Nellie 1922-38+
  
https://pubwiki.co.uk/BridgeHouse.shtml
From the Post Office Directory 1874
Census
From the Post Office Directory 1891
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From the Post Office Directory 1938
Inns of Canterbury
by Edward Wilmot, 1988
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