43 King Street
Canterbury
Above photo, circa 1930. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Pictured at
the far end, at King Street's junction with St. Alphege Lane, is the "Prince
of Wales." |
Above 1874 map identification by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, 1960, kindly sent by Tim Timpson. |
Above photograph kindly sent to me by Len Parrick showing the former
"Eight Bells" taken in March 2012.
|
Kentish Gazette 5 October 1787.
To the Ladies and Gentlemen of Canterbury and its Environs.
Mr. Lavoine having met with very considerable Encouruement as a Teacher
of the French (his native) Language, presume now more generally to offer
his service, and hopes the Public will embrace so favourable an
Opportunity of learning a Language, which is not only ornamental to his
Gentleman, but is ever sound very convenient for the Man of Business.
He also begs Leave tn address himself to any Gentleman or Lady, who
(together with the French) may have an Inclination to learn the Latin
Tongue, in which he has likewise some Pupils under his Tuition, and
assures them, that his utmost Abilities will be exerted to give the fame
Satisfaction which he has already had the Happiness of doing.
Terms:- For teaching French only, One Guinea per Quarter; for French and
Latin, Half-a-Guinea per Month, and no entrance Money.
N. B. Mr. Lavoine may be spoken with, or directed to, at Mr. Quested's,
opposite the "Eight Bells," King Street, Canterbury.
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Kentish Gazette, 25 August 1820.
DIED.
Aug. 24, at an advanced age, Mr. Henry Smith, Landlord of the "Eight
Bells," King Street, Canterbury.
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Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette 25 July 1846.
Mr. Ellen, landlord of the "Eight Bells," King-street, and three girls
were summoned before our city magistrates on Thursday to answer a charge
of secreting some regimental necessaries, belonging to a private in the
40th regt., who had deserted. It appeared that the articles in question
had been deposited between the bed and mattress, in a room temporarily
occupied by one of the girls, Mary Tenny, and that neither Ellen nor
his housekeeper knew, of their being there. The adjutant pressed for a
better answer than this, the Mutiny Act requiring that a person being in
the possession of such articles should give a satisfactory account. The
bench thought, under all the circumstances, that it would be straining a
point to require this in the present instance, as it appeared that Ellen
was too infirm to overlook his house, and his housekeeper had been in
his service but a few days, and had hardly had the opportunity to do so.
The girl Tenny declared her ignorance also of the things being where
they were found; but her occupation of the room, and other matters,
raised a doubt as to the correctness of this statement, and the bench
sent her to prison for a fortnight, in default of paying the heavy fine
levied in the usual way.
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Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette 17 April 1847.
CANTERBURY POLICE COURT.
At the sitting on Monday, a number of summonses against defaulters to
the poor-rate were heard.
Michael Ellen, landlord of the "Eight Bells," public-house,
King-street, appeared by his daughter, who stated inability as the only
reason for not paying. The usual order was made.
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Kentish Gazette, 3 September 1850.
Richard Dray, the landlord of the "Eight Bells" public house in King
Street, was cited to appear before our city magistrates yesterday week,
on an information for allowing disorderly conduct in his house. Mr.
DeLasaux appeared for the defendant.
By the evidence adduced, it appeared grossly improper conduct was
indulged in at the house. Mr. DeLasaux submitted, that though there had
been great impropriety, it had not been shown that the defendant had
knowingly encouraged it, for he was not at home at the time.
The Clerk referred to the act, which set forth that conviction could be
brought home to an individual, whether he or his servants tolerated the
improper conduct, as he was responsible for the acts of those employed
under him.
The bench convicted the defendant and the penalty of 40s. and costs.
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Kentish Gazette, 10 September 1850.
On the annual licensing day (Thursday last) our city magistrates
suspended the following licenses:-
"Military Tavern," King Street;
"Eight
Bells," King Street;
"Duke of York," Riding Gate;
"Kentish Arms," Jewry
Lane;
"Eagle," Whitehorse Lane;
"Golden Cross," Northgate;
"Queen's
Head," Northgate;
"City of London," Tower Street;
"Duke's Head," Wincheap;
"True Briton," Northgate;
"Royal George," Northgate;
"Queen's
Arms," Northgate; and
"Three Grenadiers," Military Road.
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Kentish Gazette, 24 September 1850.
At the adjourned petty sessions for licensing public houses on Thursday,
those licences which have been suspended excepting for for the "Eight
Bells," King Street,
"Queen's
Head," and
"Queen's
Arms," Northgate, we're
granted; as also were a few of the cases of parties who were not in
attendance on the regular licensing day.
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Kentish Gazette, 21 September 1852.
Thursday. Licensing.
This being the adjourned licensing day, those parties, whose licences
had been suspended, again attended, and after
receiving animadversion for their irregularity of conduct, had their
licences granted, but with a decided caution that if again
complaints were made against them they would not have their licences in
future.
These parties were:- John Stairs, of the "Eight Bells," King Street;
John Noble, "Kentish Arms;"
George Kilner, "City of London;"
John Jordan, "White Heart;"
John Gillis, "Bricklayers' Arms;"
Elizabeth Forbes, "Oddfellows Arms;"
John Murphy, "Carpenter's Arms;"
Richard Wellard, "George and Dragon," Westgate;
Joseph Pentecost, "Royal George;"
and George Crow, "Rose and Crown."
Applications for New Licences.
Thomas Rodgers, of the "Sir Robert Peel" beer shop;
David Tuthwell, "True
Britain;"
and Edward Gordon, "Pine Apple,"
applied
for spirit licences, but which were refused.
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Kentish Gazette 15 May 1855.
CANTERBURY TOWN COUNCIL. MEETING OF THE PAVEMENT COMMISSIONERS.
On Wednesday, the usual monthly meeting of this body, was held, Mr.
Williamson in the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were read.
One of the orders was, that
a projecting sign-board, at the "Eight Bells," in King-street, should be
removed: and the Chairman stated, that Messrs. Flint and Kingsford,
brewers, the proprietors of the house, objected to its removal, as it
had existed in its present position for the past thirty years, and could
not in any way be deemed a nuisance or public annoyance. It now,
therefore, became a question with that Court, whether the previous order
should be persevered in, by compelling its removal. Several
Commissioners spoke on the subject "pro and con"; and it was observed,
that, if the order were enforced, the sign of "Sir John Falstaff, in
Westgate Without, must also be removed.
After some half-hour spent over the matter, it was resolved, by 6 to 5,
that the sign of the "Eight Bells" should remain.
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Kentish Gazette 19 August 1856.
CANTERBURY POLICE COURT. THURSDAY.
A DISORDERLY PUBLICAN.
Alexander Todd, landlord of the "Eight Bells," in King-street, who has
been so often before the bench on matters of dispute with his wife, was
brought up for an assault on police-constable Ealse arising out of the
same affair. Ealse deposed that at about half-past twelve o'clock that
morning, hearing the cries of "Murder," he went towards the house—the
neighbours being all up at their windows through the great disturbance
that had been created,—and there saw defendant's wife, who begged him to
come in, and was at the time bleeding much from a cut in the head. She
gave her husband in charge, alleging that her life was in danger. He (Ealse)
told the defendant that he must go with him, which he said he would not
do, and struck him a severe blow on the head. Defendant charged three of
the lodgers to assist him, but cowardly like, blew the candles out and
ran away, which left him in darkness. Some Carabineers arriving at the
time he summoned two of them to his aid, both of whom defendant bit in
the hand, ran into the bar and armed himself with a shoemaker's hammer
with which he threatened to split open deponent's head. He then collared
him and with assistance took him to the station-house. In the scuffle
defendant gave him a severe kick on the leg which had incapacitated him
for continuing on duty, the pain being very great. In reply to the bench
the constable stated that defendant had been drinking, but was not
intoxicated.
Defendant stated his wife to have been the original
disturber by breaking his windows with stones, and afterwards calling
out "murder," which she was in the habit of doing; and he was not aware
that he had kicked the constable.
The bench had two courses open—either
to fine him £5, or prosecute him at the sessions. The Mayor told him
that this was the worse conducted house in the city. For the two years
that he had kept it, continually disturbances had prevailed between him
and his wife, and he might rely on it he would not have the license
renewed. The case brought before them in the present instance was of a
most aggravated nature, which they should mark with the heaviest
penalty of £5, and 6s. costs.
The money was immediately paid, and thus
it may be said the disturber who had committed so much violence as to
injure four persons, escaped almost without punishment; while the
soldiers had to endure their smart uncomplainingly from the fear of
punishment themselves for being out, and the policeman got no
compensation for the serious injuries he sustained, and which but for
the praiseworthy aid of the soldiers, might have proved still more
serious, as it was evidently the intention of the brute to use the
hammer with which he armed himself. As regards the wife—however
unjustifiable such an assault as that which she received might be,—she
appears to provoke much of this nature; and has but very recently
emerged from prison for similar conduct herself.
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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:
Eight Bells, King Street, 3.
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South Eastern Gazette, 24 January, 1860.
Dispute between two Relieving Officers as to the Chargeability of a
Pauper.
At the Wednesday’s sitting of the city justices, Mr. F. Duly,
relieving officer to the Canterbury Incorporation, stated that on
Monday a young woman named Caroline Fist, a prostitute, applied to
him for relief, stating that she was much diseased and was unable to
work. He questioned her as to her place of abode, and she stated
that she had been living at the "Golden Cross," in the ville of St.
Gregory, and that the previous night she slept at the "Steam
Packet," in North-lane, in the parish of Westgate without. Both
these parishes are in the Blean Union, and therefore ought to be
relieved by the relieving officer of that union. He (Mr. Duly)
should certainly refuse to relieve the pauper, because in several
other instances of a similar nature parties had applied to the
relieving officer of the Blean Union, and in consequence of his
refusal the Canterbury incorporation had been put to the expense of
keeping the paupers. The young woman said she applied to Mr. Mount,
the relieving officer for the Blean Union, for relief, but he
refused to grant her any, and referred her to the relieving officer
of Canterbury. She also stated, in answer to the Mayor, that she had
lived at the "Eight Bells," in King-street, as a prostitute, for ten
months. The relieving officer for the Bleau district said he refused
to grant the applicant relief, because he did not consider there had
been any residence set up. The Bench, however, were of a different
opinion, and the relieving officer of the Blean Union undertook to
attend to the case. The Mayor then expressed, his surprise that the
young woman should have been allowed to remain ten months at the
"Eight Bells" public-house, for the purpose which she had stated; he
therefore directed that the landlord of the house should be sent
for. On his (the landlord’s) arrival, the Mayor said that
circumstances had been brought before the bench which seriously
reflected upon the manner in which he conducted his house. It seemed
that the landlord had been in the habit of harbouring prostitutes in
his house. He could assure him (the landlord) that if better
arrangements were not made by him, his house would assuredly be
indicted. Henry Waller, the landlord of the "Eight Bells," said he
was not aware that girls lodged at his house as prostitutes. The
clerk to the justices informed the bench that Waller’s house was one
among a number of others that were annually reported by the
superintendent for harbouring prostitutes. The Mayor cautioned
Waller as to the way he conducted his house in future, and the
matter then dropped.
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South Eastern Gazette, 31 July, 1860.
Assault.
At the city petty sessions yesterday, a man named Thomas Miller
appeared to make a complaint against Henry Waller, landlord of the
"Eight Bells," King-street, for having violently assaulted him on
the previous Saturday. He stated that about six o’clock he was
dealing with a man for some ducks, when Waller, whom he had never
seen before, went up to him, and tore his shirt. He (complainant)
told him he knew nothing of him, when he again rushed upon him, and
tore his clothes. Complainant, knowing that he had £80 in his
pocket, struck Waller. The latter then threw him down, kicked him in
the face and head and hands. Inspector Dodd here stated that he saw
the affair, and they were both fighting in the street. The
complainant said he wished to press the charges and Waller was
ordered to attend on Thursday.
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South Eastern Gazette, 7 August, 1860.
CITY PETTY SESSIONS.
Thursday. (Before E. Wootton, Esq., in the chair, Capt. Love, W.
Mount, P. Martin, and T. Philpott, Esqrs.)
A Gross Assault.
Henry Waller, landlord of the "Eight Bells" public-house,
King-street, was charged with having assaulted Thomas Miller, a
groom, on the previous Saturday evening. Mr. W. W. Eaden appeared
for complainant, and Mr. Towne was defendant.
Complainant deposed:— On Saturday evening, at about six o clock, I
was outside the cattle market, when defendant, who was on the
opposite side of the road, came across, and with both hands seized
me by my shirt. I had not previously spoken to him. I stepped back a
short distance, and told defendant that if he had anything to say to
me, I would hear him, and requested him not to touch me again.
Defendant immediately followed me up, and with more force than
before tore my shirt open again. With his finger and thumb he
fastened hold of my breast, and said "What is this? Why don’t you
wear a shirt I then struck him in the face to keep him away from me.
I was pulled down by the hair of my head, and with the assistance of
others was kept in such a position as to be unable to protect
myself. Defendant again struck me, pulled my hair, and afterwards
bit my thumb and wounded it severely. I was then released, but the
defendant struck me again and knocked me down. I was perfectly sober
at the time, and had over £60 in my possession.
Cross-examined:— I was dealing with a man for some ducks. The
defendant was not near me at that time. In the scuffle I might have
thrown the defendant over a barrow, but I will not swear that I did.
The scuffle lasted several minutes.
Thomas Geering, in the employ of Mr. Annaball, horse dealer, who was
with the complainant at the time, corroborated the above statement.
Wm. Henry Gilman, baker, of No. 9, Upper Bridge-street, deposed that
he saw Waller come out of the "Flying Horse." He went up to Miller
and pulled the front of his shirt open. He did so a second time, and
held up his fist to him. Miller then struck Waller. The latter then
knocked Miller over witness’s bread barrow, and while on the ground
he struck him fearfully in the face and pulled his hair. They
scuffled together for some time.
George Dowse was also near Miller at the time in question, and heard
Waller say to him, "You have not got enough money for a pint of
beer, much more to buy ducks’ with." This witness also gave a
corroborative description of the assault.
Mr. Towne then addressed the court at very great length, but the
substance of his remarks was, that the first blow was struck by the
complainant, after which a fight between the parties ensued. What
was done in that fight it was impossible for anyone to tell, and he
therefore contended that there was no case for the Bench to
consider.
He called James Faulkener, who deposed that he saw the defendant and
complainant struggling in the road. The complainant afterwards went
into the "Flying Horse," and said he would fight the defendant again
for any money.
A little boy, the son of the last witness, spoke to seeing Miller
knock Waller down over some faggots.
Mr. Eaden then rose to address the court in reply, but Mr. Towne
objected, and thought Mr. Eaden ought to read the law of evidence.
Mr. Mount, one of the justices, remarked that Mr. Eaden had better
not address the court.
Mr. Towne also objected to the observation of the magistrate,
because it was not in the discretion of the Bench whether or not Mr.
Eaden replied. There was an Act of Parliament which strictly
prohibited any reply of the kind being made.
The Bench consulted together for a short time, and ordered the
defendant to pay a fine of 30s. and 11s. costs, or in default to be
imprisoned for one month.
The money was paid.
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From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 13 April, 1867. Price 1d.
CANTERBURY POLICE COURT.
Monday. (Before W. Plummer, Esq., in the chair; and J. Hemery, Esq.)
STEALING COUNTERPANES.
Henry Henley was charged with stealing three counterpanes,
(bed-spreads)
the property of Henry Tolputt, landlord of the “Eight Bells,” King's
Street, on Monday, the 1st of April. Emma Tolpatt said:- I am the wife of Henry Tolputt. Prisoner came to our
house on Saturday night, 30th of March, and asked for a bed. He slept at
our house that night and the following (Sunday) night. Prisoner left our
house on Monday evening, and did not pay for his lodgings. I missed the
counterpanes the following morning. I saw the counterpanes on Monday
afternoon in their respective places. The counterpanes produced are my
husband's property. I last saw the prisoner at about 8 of clock on
Monday evening. Maria Hollingsworth said she was the wife of Frederic Hollingsworth,
licensed hawker, of Northgate. On Monday afternoon last, at about two
o'clock in the afternoon, the prisoner came to their house, and offered
a counterpane for sale. Her husband was in the shop, and he called her
down to buy the counterpane as he was not in the habit of buying such
articles. She went down and paid the prisoner for the counterpane. She
asked him his name and he said he was an engineer, named Hancock, and
that he was living three or four houses from the “Eight Bells.” He came
again at four or five, in the same afternoon, and said he had got
another to sell, and Mrs. Hollingsworth gave him the same amount (2s.)
for it. On the Tuesday following he amount (2a.) for it. On the Tuesday
following ho came again and offered another for sale. This one was not
so good as the others and she gave prisoner 1s. 6d. for it, asking him,
at the same time, how he came by so many counterpanes, and why he wanted
to sell them. Prisoner replied that he was going to sell off. Mrs.
Hollingsworth added that each time prisoner came to her he asked if she
would keep the counterpanes till Saturday, and he would re-buy them of
her, but she told him that they were not allowed to deal in that way. Superintendent Davies stated that the prisoner was handed over to him
from the Folkestone police, where he had been sentenced to three months
imprisonment. The Bench fully committed prisoner to take his trial at the ensuing
Quarter Sessions. |
From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 23 August, 1881.
Conviction Notice.
William Ditton, Staplegate: drunk in charge of a horse on Church Street.
Fined 5s plus 6s 6d costs payable forthwith. If in default of payment
the sum to be raised by the sale of the defendant's goods or 7 days in
HMP St Augustine's Canterbury.
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From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 24 October, 1881.
Conviction Notice.
William Ridden, St Alphege: remaining on the licensed premises of
William Ditton, after hours permitted by The Licensing Act 1874. Fined
2s 6d plus 12s 6d costs payable forthwith. If in default of payment the
sum to be raised by the sale of the defendant's goods or 14 days in HMP
St Augustine's Canterbury.
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From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 24 October, 1881.
Conviction Notice.
John Dawkins St Alphege: remaining on the licensed premises of William
Ditton after hours permitted by The Licensing Act 1874. Fined 2s 6d plus
10s 6d costs payable by 31 October. If in default of payment the sum to
be raised by the sale of the defendant's goods or 14 days in HMP St
Augustine's Canterbury.
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From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 1, May, 1886.
Conviction Notice.
Rose Kelsey, St Alphege: drunk on the licensed premises of William
Ditton. Fined 2s 6d plus 10s 6d costs forthwith. If in default of
payment the sum to be raised by the sale of the defendant’s goods or 14
days, hard labour, in HMP St Augustine’s, Canterbury.
|
From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 20 November, 1890.
Conviction Notice.
Richard Raynor: stealing 2 live tame rabbits, value 8s, goods and
chattels of Jane Ditton Witness statements: Jane Ditton living at the
"Eight Bells Inn," St Alphege, Canterbury and Inspector John William
Farmery Canterbury Police. Imprisoned 2 calendar months, hard labour, in
HMP St Augustine’s Canterbury.
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From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 14 May, 1891.
Conviction Notice.
William Ditton: being a person licensed for the sale of intoxicating
liquors at his premises in St Alphege Canterbury did unlawfully sell
beer to Edward Knight and Ann Taylor during part of the period when the
premises were required under “The Licensing Act 1874” to be closed; to
wit on a Sunday at 10.15am. Fined £2 plus £1/9s/9d costs payable
forthwith.
If in default of payment the sum to be raised by the sale of
the defendant’s goods or 1 calendar month in St Augustine’s Canterbury.
“And it is further adjudged that this conviction be not endorsed on the
Defendant’s License.”
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From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 23 May, 1891.
A publican fined.
William Ditton, landlord of the "Eight Bells," St Dunstan's, was
summoned for keeping his house open during prohibited hours. Mr. R. M.
Mercer defended.
Edward Knight, a labourer, living in Northgate, deposed that on the
night of 2nd May he slept at Northgate. The next morning at 6.30 a.m. he
went to Dittons; Mrs. Taylor went with him. Witness saw Ditton opening
the shutters. He went into the house accompanied by Mrs. Taylor, and
called for half a pint of beer. After he had breakfast witnessed asked
for a quart of beer, for which he paid 4d. He only saw one lodger there.
He had had some drink when he went in and was not drunk, only "freshy."
When he left the house he was drunk. Sargent Ross deposed to visiting
the "Eight Bells" on the Sunday in question with P.C. Dunk. In the
kitchen was Knight sitting on a form helplessly drunk. They took Knight
into the bar, and from there took him to the police station. When he saw
the landlord afterwards, he replied that he said that he was a
traveller.
P.C. Goddard said that Knight was sober when he left him at 6.30 on
Sunday morning.
Thomas Dunton said that he had been a licensed victualler for over 11
years and had never had a complaint. Knight came to him on Sunday
morning and asked him for breakfast. He never asked for any beer. He did
not drink any as far as he (witness) knew. Knight afterwards went out,
but witness did not see him go. He could not say that Knight did not get
drunk in his house.
Jane Ditton said that she did not see Knight supplied with any drink, he
was sober when the policeman took him out.
Kate Ditton also gave evidence.
The Bench, after a short consideration, found the defendant guilty, and
he was find 40s and £1 9s. 9d. costs, in default one month's hard
labour.
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From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 10 April, 1894.
Conviction Notice.
Amy Barton: drunk on the licensed premises in St Alphege of William
Ditton. Fined 2s 6d plus 6s costs payable on 24 Apr 1894. If in default
of payments the sum to be raised by the sale of the defendant’s goods or
7 days in HMP St Augustine’s, Canterbury.
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From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 10, April, 1894.
Conviction Notice.
John Wilson: drunk on the licensed premises in St Alphege of William
Ditton. Fined 2s 6d plus 8s costs payable on 24 Apr 1894. If in default
of payments the sum to be raised by the sale of the defendant’s goods or
7 days in HMP St Augustine’s, Canterbury.
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From the Canterbury Cathedral Archives, 10 April, 1894.
Conviction Notice.
William Ditton: being a licensed person sold drink, in his premises in
St Alphege parish, to John Wilson a drunken person. Fined £3 plus 18s
costs forthwith. If in default of payments the sum to be raised by the
sale of the defendant’s goods or 1 calendar month in HMP St Augustine’s
Canterbury. “And it is further adjudged that this conviction be note
endorsed on Defendant’s License.
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Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette 30 May 1891.
CANTERBURY POLICE COURT CORRECTION.
In our Police Court news last week we inadvertently described Henry
Ditton, a publican convicted of keeping his house open during prohibited
hours, as the landlord of the "Eight Bells," St. Dunstan's. The house
kept by Hutton is the "Eight Bells," King's Street. The "Eight Bells,"
St. Dunstan's, is kept by a person of quite a different name, a highly
respectable man, against whom there have been no police proceedings
whatever.
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I am informed that Edward Ditton was often fined for selling drink after
hours, serving drunks and was fined 5 shillings with 6s 6d costs himself for
being drunk in charge of a horse on Church Street in August 1881.
In the street directory for 1878 William's brother James Ditton was
licensee of the "Plough" in Pound Lane,
then in the 1881 Census, licensee of the "Marquis
of Lorne" in Broad Street.
A report in 1893 mentioned the death of of a 4 year old child at the
house and the name Jane Grant mentioned.
The premises has been mentioned as both an Inn and Tavern at various
times.
The census of 1901 mentioned a Stephen Castle age 49 living there with
his family and Stephen Castle was a brewers' labourer, so perhaps this
premises brewed their own beer as well.
After closing in the 1920s, the building was used by Amos and Dawton as
an auction room. Despite the Luftwaffe's best efforts, King Street largely
survived WW2, only to fall foul of the City Council's plans and this row of
houses was demolished in 1962.
Information from the 1939 resister suggested that the premises was empty
in that year.
Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette 07 January 1905.
A JURY'S OPINION OF A DOCTOR'S ACTION.
ADJOURNED INQUEST AT CANTERBURY.
THE CORONER AND THE COTTAGE HOSPITAL MATRON.
It alleged at the inquest last week that Stephen Castle, landlord of the
"Eight Bells," King Street, Canterbury was refused to the Herne Bay
Cottage Hospital when taken there on the advice of Dr, T, A. Bowes, and
that he was sent in a critical condition to his home at Canterbury,
where he died early the following morning.
The adjourned enquiry was held at the Municipal Buildlings Guildhall
Street, Canterbury on Thursday afternoon, by the City Coroner, (Dr. T.
S. Johnson).
The first witness called was Christine Nash, the matron of the Herne Bay
Cottage Hospital.
The Coroner.— What do yon remember about Thursday, December 22nd?
As regards what?
The Coroner (sharply).— What are you here for?
Why, to answer questions.
The Coroner.— No. You have got to give me a little bit of outline. Do
you want to have a little bit of fun out of me?
No, not at all.
The Coroner.— Then you must tell the jury what you have to say.
Continuing witness said that the deceased was brought to the hospital by
a cabman and two friends.
The Coroner.— Well, what did you do under the circumstances?
Well, there was no letter with him, and no doctor with him. It was not
an accident, and after I had seen the man I saw that it was a hopeless
case. I could not admit him. Continuing, witness said she communicated
with Dr. Fenoalhet by telephone, and let the man go on to Canterbury.
She lent him some blankets and made him as comfortable as possible.
Harry Hawkins, a carpenter in the employ of Mr. Douglass Collard, at
Herne Bay, said that he was a fellow workman of the deceased. On
December 22nd deceased was taken a little queer whilst at work about
10.80, and he walked down the road about a quarter of a mile. When he
(witness) went home to dinner, just after 12 o'clock, deceased was
worst, and he (witness) sent for a doctor. Dr. Bowes came and said the
deceased was not fit to be moved further than the Cottage Hospital. Dr.
Bowes did not prescribe for him in any way or give him any instructions
except to take the deceased to the Hospital.
Dr Fenoulhet, who attended voluntarily on behalf of the governors of the
Herne Bay Cottage
Hospital, made a statement to the jury, in which be explained that Dr.
Senior was the Cottage
Hospital doctor for the week, but that, owing to delay he (Dr. Fenoulhet)
had to give instructions in the master. He would like to mention that
the Herne Bay Hospital was not like the Canterbury one; they had no
resident medical man to attend to cases immediately they came in, and
they had only one nurse matron and a probationer. They had lately had
patients sent to them without any notice and, moreover, hopeless cases.
The Governors considered that they had been abused in this way, and a
rule had been passed and instructions given to the Matron, not to admit
patients without some kind of notice. In that case there was no doctor
or message with the man.
The Coroner, in summing up, remarked that that was the second case which
had come before him in which Dr. Bowes had sent a man to a hospital
without a note. The duty of a medical man, he said, was to see a case
through, and not deal with it in that happy-go-lucky fashion, for it was
after all, very little trouble for a man who took charge of a case to
write a note to be taken to any institution. Dr. Bowes had had a notice
about that adjourned inquest and yet he had not seen fit to attend. He
was of opinion that the man should have been kept at his lodgings for if
there was no hope of his recovery, he should have been allowed to pass
away peacefully, and to have had a nurse and that sort of thing. It was,
there was no doubt, a very improper thing to send a man all that
distance when he was suffering from an attack of apoplexy.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence of
Mr. Greasley that death was due to apoplexy, and added a rider that Dr.
Bowes acted neglectfully in not sending a note to the Cottage Hospital
when ordering the deceased to the deceased to be taken there.
At the request of the jury, the Coroner commended Hawkins for his action
in the matter.
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The building is now (2017) called Eight Bells House.
LICENSEE LIST
SMITH Henry to 24/Aug/1820 dec'd
PLANK Richard 1824+
ELLEN Michael 1828-46+ (age 63 in 1841)
DRAY Richard 1847-50+
STAIRS John 1851-52+ (age 46 in 1851)
TODD Alexander 1854-56+
WALLER Henry 1858-Feb/67 (age 28 in 1861)
TOLPUTT George Feb/1867-68+
MILLS Edward 1871-Nov/79 (age 55 in 1871)
DITTON William Nov/1879-95+ (labourer and publican age 53 in 1881
)
CASTLE Stephen 1901+ (brewers labourer age 49 in 1901)
PITHER William Robert 1913+
BARKER Richard 1917-21+
LONGLAND Edward 1920-22+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/EightBells.shtml
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/eightbells.html
From the Pigot's Directory 1824
From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
Stapleton's
Guide 1838
From the Pigot's Directory 1840
From Bagshaw Directory 1847
From Melville's Directory 1858
From the Post Office Directory 1862
Greens
Canterbury Directory 1868
From the Post Office Directory 1874
Census
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From the Kelly's Directory 1882
From the Post Office Directory 1891
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From the Post Office Directory 1938
Historic
Canterbury web site www.machadoink.com
Whitstable Times
Kentish Gazette
South Eastern Gazette
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