BUTCHERS ARMS INN Pub of Canterbury

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Canterbury, October, 2024.

Page Updated Canterbury:- Tuesday, 29 October, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton & Rory Kehoe

Earliest 1787-

Butcher's Arms Inn

Latest 1938+

10 Butchery Lane

Canterbury

Above photo, 1895. Kindly supplied by Rory Kehoe.

Above picture, 1904, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

The "City Arms" can just be shown on the left of the picture next to the Bull's head that can be seen on the wall.

Above photo, circa 1911, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, 1920s. Kindly supplied by Rory Kehoe.

I don't have a lot of information on this pub yet, apart from the licensing list found at the bottom of the page and an article from 1859.

The pub stood in Butchery Lane, and was owned by Rigden's of Faversham in 1900. At this time the narrow street, formerly called Angel Lane, still possessed three butcher's shops. One of these displayed a bull's head above the premises, which can be seen today. The pub was destroyed in a bombing raid on the night of 31st May/1st June 1942, which led to the discovery of a Roman pavement beneath the premises.

Opposite the demolished pub taken in 2015 the building owned by Timpson's is, or was, haunted by the spirit of a man skinned alive by devil worshipers in 1480.

Above photo 2015.

Above photo, 2017, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe, showing the location of the "Butcher's Arms" opposite the Timpsons the Key Cutters.

Kentish Gazette 26 October 1787.

BUTCHERS ARMS, BUTCHERY-LANE, CANTERBURY.

John Hills begs Leave to give Notice that he has taken the above House, where he hopes to have the Favour of those Persons who have been accustomed to make use of it; and assures both them and the Public in general, that he will take the utmost Pains to accommodate them, and having an old Stock of exceedingly good Beer, he hopes to meet with suitable Encouragement.

From the Kentish Gazette, 28 July 1846.

MILITIA CLUB, "BUTCHERS' ARMS," BUTCHERY LANE, CANTERBURY.

A GENERAL MEETING of the MEMBERS of this SOCIETY will be holden at the above House, on MONDAY, the 3rd of AUGUST next, at eight o’clock in the evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of dissolving the Society for the present year. By order of the Committee, THOMAS SOUTHEE.

Canterbury, July 24, 1846. Secretary.

From the Kentish Gazette, 11 August 1846.

Militia Club.

We understand that the club held at the "Butchers Arms," in Canterbury, at a general meeting held on Monday evening last, came to the determination of dissolving the society for this year, and that the contributions paid by the members were ordered to be paid back again, minus the expenses of conducting the society, amounting to 6d. each member.

Kentish Gazette, 24 February 1857.

CANTERBURY POLICE COURT.

Thursday, A Disorderly House.

George Hammond, jun., landlord of the "Butcher's Arms," Butchery-lane, was called up on a charge of allowing improper characters to assemble at his house and create a disturbance. Police constable Ealse deposed to seeing several prostitutes and soldiers go in and out of the house on the 13th — he heard them singing and shouting, and making a great noise, to the annoyance of the neighbourhood, which they continued, and rather increased, on emerging into the street at one o’clock in the morning. "When he accompanied Inspector Spratt to the house at half-past eleven o’clock he met five prostitutes coming out, and saw four others inside. In fact, it was a regular harbour for this description of characters, and had been so for some time, to the nuisance of every one in the neighbourhood.

This having been corroborated by the Inspector, defendant, in excuse, merely alleged that he had had a "Free-and-Easy" meeting on the evening in question which was kept up rather late, he could not help what class of characters came into his house, nor what they did out.

He was told, however, by the bench, that such conduct of a public house could not be allowed. This being his first offence, he would be fined only 20s. and costs. On a repetition it would be £5, and for a third offence a still heavier penalty, with deprivation of license; so that he must take due care for the future.

From a report to the Mayor and Magistrates in Guildhall on 17th April 1859.

"Sergeant Ells reports that he found the following number of Prostitutes at the following public houses and beer-shops yesterday morning:

"Butcher's Arms," Northgate, 2.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 12 May, 1860.

CANTERBURY POLICE COURT. Wednesday.

(Before the Mayor, and Alderman Sankey.)

A sergeant of the 3rd Dragoons charged a young man whom he had given into custody at the "Butchers' Arms with being a deserter from the 1st Royal Dragoons. The prisoner admitted the fact, and the usual order for his committal was made out.

From the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser, 21 September, 1861. Price 1 1/2d.

CANTERBURY POLICE COURT. MONDAY.

Mr. J Penn, auctioneer, and Mr. Duthoit, butcher, tendered themselves as bail for Mr. J. F. Avann, who was some weeks ago, committed to the city gaol, in default of finding sureties, for being guilty of drunken and disorderly conduct.

Mr. Aris informed the applicants that a writ had been issued against Mr Avann with a view to the commencement of civil proceedings.

Mr. Penn said that he and Mr. Dulhoit were perfectly aware of that, and that it was for the purpose ff getting the writ served that they made the present application. The effect of it would only be to get Mr. Avann removed from the criminal to the civil side of the prison.
The Mayor promised to attend the gaol after the rising of the court to accept the bail tendered.

Mr. Davies, Superintendent of Police, informed the bench that damage had been done to premises occupied by Mr Jennings in Butchery-lane, in consequence of bricks and stones being thrown over from, as he believed, the yard of the “Butchers' Arms,” public-house. On Friday he sent Inspector Spratt to inquire into the circumstances. At that time Mr. Hammond the landlord was away from home, and Mrs. Hammond being confined to her room by ill-health, a man named Guest was left in charge to attend to the business. When Inspector Spratt went into the “Butcher’s Arms” he found Guest engaged in scrubbing pots in the yard. No one else was there; but he observed a quantity of bricks, lime &c, lying in a heap near where Guest was working. After leaving the “Butcher’s Arms” the Inspector went to Mr. Jenning's yard and almost immediately a large piece of brick came over the building from the direction were Guest was at work, falling at a place were Police sergeant Andrews had been standing a few seconds previously. The Inspector returned to Guest, who was still working at the pots and who said that no one but himself had been in the yard in the interval from the direction it was impossible for the brick to have come from any other place except the yard where Guest was at work.

The magistrates directed Guest to be sent for, and on his arrival Inspector Spratt made a statement of the circumstances as above detailed; but Guest strongly denied ever having thrown anything over the building. In fact, he said, he never thought of such a thing he could take an oath it was not him.

The Mayor said the circumstantial evidence was very strong against Guest, though perhaps it was impossible to bring the case home to him. The complaint would be recorded, and if he should ever be brought up and a case made out he might expect to be severely punished.

From the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser, 16 November, 1861. Price 1 1/2d.

TUESDAY.

Alexander Todd was charged with assaulting — Boswell.

The complainant said:— I gave the defendant, who is my son-in-law, a dog to keep for me till I wanted it. Yesterday I went to the “Butcher's Arms,” in Butchery Lane, and asked for my dog, which he refused to give me. I put my hand on the dog, when another man, not in custody, threw me down, and the prisoner kicked me in the mouth and knocked three of my teeth out.

The magistrates considered it a most brutal assault, and committed the prisoner for two mouths’ hard labour.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 31 May, 1862.

CANTERBURY PETTY SESSIONS. Monday.

A private soldier named O’Shea, was brought up in custody, charged with creating a disturbance and assaulting the police on Saturday night. It appeared that Police-constable Charrison was called into the "Butcher's Arms" to assist the landlord to clear his house. The prisoner refused to leave. As he resisted the officer in the execution of his duty and struck him he was taken into custody. On the way to the station he was very violent, and he severely hit the thumb of another policeman who had gone to Charrison’s assistance.

The bench fined the defendant 10s. and 7s. costs, or, in default of payment 14 days imprisonment.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 18 April, 1863.

CANTERBURY POLICE COURT.

John Baker Woodward and Elizabeth his wife were charged with stealing a quantity of knives and forks and blankets.

Eliza Hopkins said:- My husband keeps the “Butcher's Arm” in Butchery-lane. We have lost 7 knives and 7 forks during the last three months. I can swear to the knives and forks produced. I have missed a pair of blankets, one white counterpane, and one coloured one. We had 30 knives, which we took of Mr. Andrews, who formerly kept the house. We had 42 forks, seven of which are missing now. The female prisoner was cook at the house when we went and she remained in the same occupation until the week before last. I have examined the blanket produced, but I cannot swear to it as there is no private mark. Both the prisoners lodged in my house till about a fortnight ago. The day before the prisoners left my house, the female prisoner went over the house with me, and we then discovered that one pair of blankets was gone. I had missed the knives some time before the prisoners left. I missed a counterpane. The value of the knives and forks is 4s.

By the prisoners:- I can swear that I have had these knives in my house. You asked me about nine o'clock at night to look over your things, I said “if you have only your own things there is no necessity.” This was the night before you left. You did not ask me a week before to take your keys and look over your boxes. When we took the house I asked you to let your wife stay a fortnight because the children were ill.

By the female prisoner:- I told you that I counted all the blankets when they went to the wash.

P.S. Ells:- Yesterday morning I went to Woodward’s house in Guildhall street. The Superintendent told the female prisoner that there had been several things lost from the “Butcher’s Arms,” and he suspected she had got them, and asked if she had any objection to our searching the house. She said “No, not the least.” We went upstairs, and Mr. Hopkins picked out the knives produced, and said they were his properly. The female prisoner said that Mrs. Anderson had lent them to her. I searched the bed and found the blanket produced, and took her into custody. She said Mrs. Anderson lent that to her also. I asked whether, when she borrowed it of Mrs. Anderson, she knew it belonged to Hopkins, and she said “Yes.” The male prisoner came upstairs and was asked if he could give any account of the knives and forks, and he said he knew nothing about household affairs.

The prisoners called Ann Anderson:- I received these things three or four days before Mr. Hopkins went into the house. I have known the prisoners for four years, and never heard anything against them.

Mr. Brent said there was some doubt in the case, and they would be discharged.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 21 April 1900. Price 1d.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS HIS OWN COAT.

Charles Whitlock, living at 4, Golden Square, was charged with stealing a coat from the "Butcher's Arms," on the previous afternoon, the property of Frederick Hill, a decorator carrying on business at 15, Canterbury Lane.

Prosecutor deposed that he was working at the "Butcher's Arms" on the previous day, and he put his coat down on a seat in the bar. The prisoner entered the house during the afternoon. He went to prisoner's house with P.C. Ormonde subsequently, and found the coat there. The value of the coat was 10s.

Prisoner pleaded guilty to taking the coat, but said he thought it was his own.

The Bench fined prisoner 10s and 14s costs, or 14 days' hard labour.

From the Whitstable Times, 13 December, 1902.

REFUSING TO QUIT.

Henry George Palmer was summoned for refusing to quit licensed premises—the “Butchers' Arms”—when requested to do so by the proprietress, Mrs. Mary Ann Potter. Defendant pleaded not guilty.

Mr. P. Maylam, who prosecuted on behalf of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers' Association, said he had been requested by that association to say, what he thought would be admitted by the Bench, that they endeavoured to carry out their business properly, but they could only do so, having regard to the difficulties and pitfalls by which they were surrounded, by the support of the magistrates.

Agnes Robinson, head barmaid at the “Butchers’ Arms”, proved that defendant came in on Sunday and called for beer; he was the worse for drink, and she refused to serve him. He used very bad language, and would not go away.

Mrs. Potter gave similar evidence, and P.C. Holness said he put defendant out once, but ten minutes later witness was sent for again, and found defendant there “arguing the point.”

Defendant denied that he was drunk, and called John Carter as a witness, but he did not know anything about the case.

The magistrates fined defendant 5s. and 15s. costs, or 14 days.

James Twyman was summoned for a similar offence. Defendant pleaded guilty.

Mr. Maylam said the defendant went into the saloon bar of the “Butcher’s Arms”, and not being in a fit condition he was refused to he served.

Defendant said he had never had such a thing happen before, and he hoped the Bench would be as lenient as possible.

The Bench fined defendant 2s. 6d. and 10s. 6d. costs.

LICENSEE LIST

HILLS John 1787+

MILLS Solomon 1824-28+