From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 21 January, 1865.

FAMILY TROUBLES

Elizabeth Friend, a respectably-attired female, was charged with stealing some chimney ornaments, the property of Sarah Friend, her mother-in-law, and the keeper of the "Donkey" beer-house, at Ewell, and William Hopkins was charged with receiving the same, knowing them to have been stolen. Mr. Minter defended the accused.

William Friend, a labourer living at Ewell, said he was sent for on the previous afternoon by his mother. When he arrived at her house, he found his mother crying. Elizabeth Friend was also there. A Mrs. Smith said some things had been broken and some chimney ornaments taken away. He then went for a policeman and charged the prisoner with stealing the ornaments and Hopkins with receiving them. The value o the articles was 1s. 6d.

By Mr. Minter: Elizabeth Friend was his brother's wife. He went into their house once, and could swear that he did not see the ornaments there, nor had he ever heard they were their property. He knew Mrs. Friend's husband had left Ewell; but did not know whether he had run away from his wife, or did he know that his things had been removed to his mother's house. His mother told him to give the prisoner into custody.

Sarah Friend, the prosecutrix, said she was a widow, and kept the "Donkey" public-house. The prisoner Friend was her daughter-in-law. Her husband had gone away from Ewell. About three o'clock the previous afternoon, the prisoner came with a Mrs. Smith, to her door, and asked for their things. She replied she had no things belonging to them in her house, when Mrs. Smith knocked her down with her fist, and Mrs. Friend went upstairs into her bedroom and came down with the chimney ornaments in her hand, which she handed to Hopkins. The ornaments were her own property; she bought them and paid for them; and they had never been from her house. Hopkins took the things away, and the women remained there until her son came and gave them into custody of the police.

By Mr. Minter: Her son had gone away because of the illusage of his wife (the female prisoner). When he went away, his furniture was sold. She gave half-a-crown for the ornaments produced, and bought them off her son, the prisoner's husband. When the prisoner came on Wednesday, Mrs. Friend said that as her husband would not support her, she wanted her clothes. The prisoner did not say when she came down stairs that the ornaments were hers, and she should take them away.

The presiding magistrate ( W. P. Elsted, Esq.,) said that without hearing any further evidence, he should dismiss the charge of robbery.

The prosecutrix then charged Elizabeth Smith, the mother of the defendant Friend, with an assault.

Complainant deposed that the defendant, Mrs. Friend, and Hopkins, came into her house on Wednesday, knocking her down, inflicting several bruises upon her arms and body, and took a handful of silver coin from a saucer in her cupboard.

By Mr. Minter: When Mrs. Smith came in she took hold of some crockery-ware and said it was her property; but witness did not then seize her and smash the crockery-ware. Mrs. Smith knocked her down three times altogether.

Mr. Minter called a witness who proved that the marks the complainant exhibited were not caused by the defendant's violence; that a struggle took place at the complainant's instance on Mrs' Smith endeavouring to take her away; and that no silver was taken away, as stated, the only thing done being that the defendant took hold of the saucer in which the money was kept and claimed it as her property.

The Bench dismissed this case also.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 12 August, 1881. 1d.

Messrs. Terson and Sons, had an important property sale, at the “Royal Oak” yesterday. No. 6 Russell Street sold for £380, 7, Russell Street for £360, and the “Donkey” beer-house at Ewell fetched £800, said to be the best price realised for a donkey for many a day.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 19 September, 1884. Price 1d.

SPIRITS WANTED

Alfred Hopper, landlord of the “Donkey Inn,” Temple Ewell, applied for a license to sell spirits. In answer to Mr. Mercer he said he paid £18 a year as rent for house he was landlord for; it had five rooms on the ground floor, one recently built, and four on the 2nd floor. His business was increasing and he had lodgers in the summer time who came down from London; also a great many people came to his place to play bowls of an evening, and if any of them wanted spirits he had to fetch some at the “George and Dragon.” He thought there was more demand for them now as the inhabitants had increased since he last applied for his license, and numbered now 600 inhabitants. There were houses. He had applications for spirits on an average five or six times daily. He had a bowling green and parties who came to play, and had to go to the “George and Dragon” if they wanted.

In reply to Mr. Mowll the applicant said he applied for his license last year and then was refused; there had been no new houses built nearer his, than the “George and Dragon” since then.

Mr. Martin Mowll who appeared on behalf of the landlady of the “George and Dragon,” contended that there had been no cause why the Bench should reverse the decision of the previous years.

The Bench refused to grant the application and said they hoped it would not be brought again.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 29 May, 1885. 1d.

BREWSTER SESSIONS – DOVER DIVISION

Mr. Woolaston Knocker applied for a full license for the beer-house known as the “Donkey,” Ewell. This was the forth time of asking, the same arguments being adduced as on former occasions. Mr. Martyn Mowll on behalf of the owner of a neighbouring house opposed the application.

The Magistrates decided to refuse the application.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 17 September, 1886. 1d.

THE DONKEY OF EWELL

Mr. Vernon Knocker applied on behalf of Messrs. Beer and Co, of Canterbury, for a spirit license for the “Donkey” at Ewell. He stated that Alfred Hopper had been the tenant for a good many years, and the house had been properly conducted. There were about 600 inhabitants of Ewell, and the landlord of the “Donkey” had several times been asked for spirits. He had about three-quarters of an acre of ground adjoining the house, which was used as a bowling green, the only one in the village. He (Mr. Knockler) had a memorial signed by about twenty five residents in the village or close by, in favour of the license. For the application he called the following witnesses:-

George Andrews proved serving the copies of the notice of the application on the Superintendent of Police and Overseers.
Mr. Alfred Hopper said: I posted a copy of the notice produced on the Church doors and on the house on the three last Sundays in August. I am the tenant of the house and have been in occupation five years. The house is rented at £16 10s. I produce the memorial, which is signed by the parties named. The “George and Dragon” is about 200 yards away. Attached to my home is a bowling green, the only one in the village. During the summer I have visitors staying at my house. They require something more than beer. I have had constant applicants for spirits.

By Mr. Mowll: There have been no new houses erected near my house since last year.

Mr. Martyn Mowll appeared to oppose the license and contended that it was not required, the “George and Dragon,” which was a fully licensed house, being near by. The Bench declined to grant the application and stated they were of the same opinion as last year, when the same application was made.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 21 June, 1889.

THE DONKEY

At the County Police Court, at the Town Hall, Dover, on Thursday afternoon, V. Fisher, H. Gillham, W. Phipps, and W. Gregory were charged with being on licensed premises on Sunday, June 2nd, during prohibited hours, at the “Donkey Inn,” Ewell. Mr. Hopper, the landlord, was charged for keeping his house open during prohibited hours. Police-constable Crapps went to the house on the Sunday morning in question, and found the men drinking round a table. They said that they were “travellers,” but it was found that they all lived within three miles of the house, and therefore were not entitled to “travellers'” privileges. Mr. Worsfold Mowll, who appeared for the landlord, called Mr. Hopper, who said he asked all the men if they lived outside the three mile boundary, and they said that they did. The whole of the defendants were convicted excepting Gilham, in which case there seems to have been an instance of mistaken identity. The men were fined 1s. and costs. The landlord was fined 2s. 6d. and costs, but as he might have supposed that the men were travellers, they would not indorse the license.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 20 September, 1889. Price 1d.

COUNTY LICENSING SESSION

At the County Licensing Sessions held at Dover yesterday afternoon, Superintendent Maxted and Superintendent Kewell both reported that the public houses in their districts had been all well conducted except at the “Donkey,” at Ewell, where there had been a conviction for selling during closing time. All the licenses were renewed.

From the Dover Express, Friday 21 July 1905.

Permission was given to Mr. Walter Gambrill, of the "Donkey," Temple Ewell, to sell beer at the Ewell Flower Show on the 26th; and to Mr. G. Austen, of the "Fleur-de-Lis," Dover, for the sale of wines and spirits at the same place.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 18 January, 1907. Price 1d.

Permission was granted for an hour's extension at the "Donkey," Ewell, on February 6th, on the occasion of the Temple Ewell Cottage gardeners' Society Dinner.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 1 March, 1912. Price 1d.

LICENSING

An occasional licence for the supply of refreshments was granted to Mr. Gambrill, of the "Donkey," Temple Ewell on the occasion of a Conservative smoking concert at the Parish Hall.

From the Dover Express, Friday 9 April 1948.

Licences Confirmed.

Granted at the Wingham Licensing Sessions, the following licences were confirmed at Canterbury on Wednesday by the East Kent Confirming Committee. The "Donkey," Temple Ewell (wine on); the "Endeavour," Staple (wine on); the "Ship," Wingham (wine on); and the "Supply Stores," Shepherdswell (beer and wine off).

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 19 November, 1954.

Walter James Gambrill, licensee of the "Donkey" public house, Temple Ewell was granted an occasional license to sell beer in Mr. Stanley's meadow on July 22nd, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., on the occasion of the Temple Ewell flower show.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 19 November, 1954.

VERY REALISTIC.

Entrants in the annual Tramp's Supper, at the "Donkey" Inn, Temple Ewell, on Friday evening.