From the East Kent Mercury, 23 November, 1983

By Julie Deller.

DRUMMING UP INN MEMORIES

Although it has passed into history, the "Drum Inn" at Upper Walmer will be remembered by many.

This ancient hostelry derived its name from a time when military masons were engaged in building Henry VIII's castles for coastal fortification.

Some builders were encamped on the high ground, later to be named Drum Hill.

Local men supplemented the work force and were summoned each morning by the sound of drum beats. Marching behind this drummer, they made their way to work.

Unexpected guests arrived at the "Drum Inn" after the Great Storm of November 26-27 in 1703. The landlord's son William Penny, was then aboard Stirling Castle (one of the ill-fated Channel Squadron lost on the Goodwin Sands).

Together with other survivors from that vessel he arrived in Walmer, as flags were flown at half-mast from our three castles.

Mr. Penny placed his inn at the disposal of these men, who included four marine captains, the third lieutenant, chaplain, cook, surgeon and 10 seamen.

Gathered in the cosy inn, the locals must have marvelled at the stories recounted, but possibly the most amazing to be heard was that of Thomas Atkins.

This seaman was the only survivor from the flagship Mary and told of how "a great billow" washed him from the deck of that ship on to the already sinking Stirling Castle.

According to Atkins, an empty long boat floated past and another massive wave dashed him into this boat. He was saved from death, in the worst naval disaster in British history, by the crew of the Deal lugger.

From the Dover Mercury, 30 December, 2010.

ROAD TOOK ITS NAME FROM A 500-YEAR-OLD INN

A LONG straight stretch of Dover Road going down towards The Strand and Walmer seafront is known by many people as Drum Hill.

For those who wonder why, that part of the A258 into Deal was named after a pub which was demolished in the late 1960s.

It is possible it was knocked down to make way for road improvements as the corner used to be an accident blackspot.

The "Drum" stood almost opposite the junction of Dover Road with Walmer Castle Road and the first written records of an inn on the site date back to 1541, according to The Old Pubs of Deal and Walmer.

There is a story that revealed that the name was a reminder of the times when a drum was sounded along the road in the morning to remind workers building the Tudor Walmer Castle that it was time to get out of bed.

In 1664 the property was owned by local brewer Thomas Ffasham and there was a succession of people running the business until the pub was rebuilt in 1897.

William Minter was the final person in charge behind the bar of "The Drum" and he retired in 1968. The next year, aged 69, he died suddenly at his home in William Pitt Avenue, Deal, April 23.

He had taken over the business in the Second World War from his mother and ran it with his wife Florence.

Minter's Taxis used to be based in the building and, according to an old picture, there used to be a "fly proprietor" and coal merchant based on the site.

There was a big house next to "The Drum" which jutted out into the road, making the street narrow. It was the scene of a few death crashes and known as dangerous corner.

• The Old Pubs of Deal and Walmer (with Kingsdown and Mongeham) is by Steve Glover and Michael Rogers. It was published earlier this year by Bygone Publishing and is now out in paper back for £15.99.