DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Canterbury, September, 2024.

Page Updated:- Tuesday, 17 September, 2024.
PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1862

(Name from)

 Don Jon House

Closed 1907

Castle Row (Worthgate Street 1868Greens Canterbury Directory 1868)

Canterbury

Don John House

Above photo, date unknown.
Don Jon House

Above picture showing the Don Jon House from Google March 2009.
Castle Hotel 1920s

Above photo, circa 1920, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.
Canterbury map 1874

Above map 1874 identified by Rory Kehoe.
Dohn Jon House sign

Above showing the sign of the house.

 

I don't know much more about this house apart from it was serving from between 1865 and I am informed it closed in 1907.

The pub sign appears to be three hands. (Or are they feet?)

The building itself is a Grade 2 listed building having been listed on 14th September 1976 and is described as follows:- "2 parallel range. Front range dated 1774, rear range of earlier origin. 2 storeys colour-washed. Slate roof with crenulated Parapet. Stringcourse. 2 sashes with 'Gothick' heads. Door-case set in right side passage extension with curved gable over. Rectangular fanlight with 'Gothick' glazing. 4 panelled. door. This building was a Public House called the "Bell" in the C18."

A directory dated 1865 identify this as "Don John House, Commercial Hotel."

I am told the pub faced the Dane John Gates.

 

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 1 January 1870.

STEALING A JACKET.

Charles Kemsey and Sarah his wife, were charged with stealing a monkey jacket, value £1, the property of Mr. Wilkinson, clothier, Parade.

Inspector Else produced a jacket, which was identified by the prosecutor, who missed if from his shop. The inspector proceeded to state that having received information inducing him to suspect the defendants, he made enquiries as to their whereabouts and found them at the "Don John" public-house. They consented to accompany him to there lodgings in Fortune's Passage and on searching the room he found the coat concealed under the bed clothes. In defence, the male defendant stated that he knew nothing about the theft. The woman took the coat home and put it on him. The female defendant admitted taking the coat from the shop. When she got home the man tried it on and said he had had his eye upon it some time.

It appeared that there was a doubt whether the parties were actually married.

The man was discharged and the woman was committed for trial.

 

Kentish Gazette November 1875.

Charge of Refusing to Leave a Public House.

George Woolett and William Turmaine were summoned by Richard Keeler, of the "Don John Tavern," on a charge of having been disorderly in the house on the 10th instant, and refused to leave when requested to do so.

The complaint's agent said about 3 o'clock on Monday afternoon, the defendant Turmaine forced himself in at the private door of his house and assaulted him. He injected him, and he then went in at the other door and asked for a glass of ale which was refused. Woollett then came in and both used bad language to threatened to "corpse" the complainant, and would not leave to a policeman came.
Turmaine said the landlord handle him, or he should not have asked him to "come out."

The magistrates dismissed the case.

 

Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette, Saturday 23 September 1882.

Singular Application.

A young woman applied to the magistrates for an order for an interview with her stepmother (Mrs. Cook) who is now living at the "Don John Tavern."

The applicant said she had come from Scotland to see her step mother, but when she went to the inn the landlady shut Mrs. Cook up in a closet and held her hand over her mouth to prevent her speaking.

In answer to the Mayor, and man who accompanied the applicant said Mrs. Cook was 63 years of age and ran away from her husband. She had about £300 a year. A husband (who was 76 years old,) tried to see her on the previous day, and was so upset because he was unable to do so that he had gone home.

The Magistrates' Clerk:- Did not you go to Mr. Delasaux for advice?

Applicant:- He advised me that my father could break open the door.

Superintendent McBean said that Mrs. Cook's husband had an idea that she was kept at the house in a state of
drunkenness.
The Magistrates Clerk:- The magistrates cannot give you any advice.
The man who accompanied the applicant said Mr. Delasaux advised him to apply to the Bench.

Mr. Fill:- I do not see why a policemen or the Superintendent could not go to the house.

Superintendent Mcbean:- The relatives want the police to interfere.

The Magistrates' Clerk:- It is not the duty of the police to take action in the matter; but if the Superintendent likes to walk up in a friendly sort of way he can do so.

Applicant:- We do not wish to remove Mrs. Cook if she is happy. The landlady refuses to allow me to have an interview with her unless she stands on on one side of the bar and I on the other.

The Magistrates' Clerk said the Bench could not advise the applicant how to act in the matter.

 

 

LICENSEE LIST

USHER John 1862+

USHER Mrs 1865+

FLEURY J 1868+ Greens Canterbury Directory 1868

ATTWELL Daniel 1871+ (age 41 in 1871Census)

RANDALL James William 1874+

KEELER Richard 1875+

BISSELL William 1881-82+ (age 50 in 1881Census)

https://pubwiki.co.uk/DonJonHouse.shtml

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/donjon.html

 

Greens Canterbury Directory 1868Greens Canterbury Directory 1868

CensusCensus