FRIEND IN NEED Pubs of Dover

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Dover, October, 2024.

Page Updated:- Sunday, 20 October, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1838

Friend in Need

Latest 1987

58 Peter Street

St. Peter's Street

Dover

The above photo shows the original "Friend in Need" and publican James Medhurst and his family, 1910. They later moved to the "Grand Sultan" in Snargate Street, then the town's main thoroughfare. Improvements to the road saw this building demolished and a new one erected by 1912.

Above early photo of Friend in Need, date unknown.

Photograph kindly sent by Margaret Francis, showing the Friend in Need (after 1910).

Above photo circa 1925-30.

Above photo, circa 1930.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above two photos supplied by Barry Smith Circa 1980.

Above photo circa 1980.

Its origin is thought to be 1838, eight years after the street began to take shape. There is evidence though of another, with like name, in the pier district as late as 1841. (Louis Pique, or commonly, French Louis).

Supplied by Alfred Leney Co Ltd, who bought out Thomas Walker's Phoenix Brewery in 1859 and registered as such in 1896, until bought out by Fremlin Brothers brewery of Maidstone in 1926, brewing at the Dover brewery ceased in 1927, which later passed to Whitbread.

In 1912 improvements were made in Peter Street, the old pub was demolished and the new one converted from two old cottages.

Alterations to two old cottages that year converted them into a pub, after which there was no need to approach the house by steps.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 8 June, 1844.

Edmund May, cordwainer, charged by Mrs. Sarah Duff, of Charlton, with an assault.

Complainant stated that on Wednesday evening May came to her house, (the "Friend in Need",) and called for a glass of beer. On taking it to him he refused to have it, and began violent abuse. He then went out, but returned in a few minutes, and thrust his hand through a pane of glass. He had on previous occasions been very abusive and broken the furniture.

A witness deposed to seeing May wilfully thrust his fist through the pane of glass.

May did not deny the charge, but said when he had too much beer he was unconscious of what he did. Fined 7s., including costs, or, in default, fourteen days imprisonment.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday, 30 August, 1845. Price 5d.

DOVER POLICE REPORT

Monday: Richard Gann, labourer, was fined 16s., including costs, for assaulting James Horn, landlord of the “Friend in Need,” in Peter Street, Charlton. He did not deny the charge, and was allowed a week to raise the money, or to be imprisoned for 14 days.

Dover Express 03 September 1864.

ROBBERIES.

Supt. Coram said a robbery had been reported at the police station; but on account of some mystery hanging over it, he had not recorded it. It was said that on the day of the races the house of Mr. D. Gill, of the "Friend-in-Need, Peter Street, was entered, and about £30 extracted from a child's workbox, and that some silver spoons had also been taken away; but Mr. Gill could give no description of the spoons, and had said he would not prosecute, as he knew the party who had committed the robbery, and would get all his money back. No proceedings had therefore been taken.

Dover Express, Saturday 10 September 1864.

Letters to the editor.

The alleged robbery at the "Friend in Need."

To the editor of The Dover Express.

Sir, - In your paper of the 3rd instant, under the head "Watch Committee," reference is made by the Superintendent of Police to the robbery at my house, the "Friend in Need," to which I give the most unqualified contradiction. I have not received any portion of the property back, and, I am sorry to add, fear I never shall.

Yours obediently, Daniel Gill.

Charlton, 6th September, 1864.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 24 September, 1864.

THE FRIEND IN NEED

Mr. T. Fox made application that permission to sell at the "Friend in Need" might be granted to Thomas George Nash. A new license had been granted to the new landlord, Mr. Gill, and he now applied that Mr. Nash should be allowed to sell under that license until the next transfer day.

Dover Express 02 October 1874.

LICENSING BUSINESS.

Mr. Worsfold Mowll applied that permission to open at 5 a.m. might be granted to Stephen Castle of the "Friend-in-Need," Peter Street. There was a memorial from the men in the employ of Crundall, Chitty, and S. R. Elms, and moreover the house had formerly opened at five. Applicant had been in the house over five years, and had borne an irreproachable character. Under the section of the Act of Parliament the Bench had power to grant the application, if the house had formerly opened early, and if they thought it was necessary for the convenience of workmen and others.

Mr. Dickson said it must be shown that the house had always opened early previously to the passing of the Act.

Castle said it always had opened at five.

Mr Mowll, continuing, said the house was at the entrance to Mr. Crundall's workshops.

Mr. Jones:- Pardon me, it is a cottage in the middle of Peter-street, with an entrance in Colebran-street.

Mr. Dickeson said he understood Mr. Mowll had another similar application. It would be better for the Bench to decide on both at the same time.

Mr. Mowll said he had also to apply on behalf of Mrs. Whiting, of the "Walmer Castle," for permission to open at five a.m. for the convenience of market gardeners and other. The house next door the "Duchess of Kent," opened early now, and as that and the "Walmer Castle" were both in the same position and both had before the passing of the last Act, opened early, one had as much right to do so as the other.

Mr. Dickeson:- Did not the "Walmer Castle" apply on Licensing Day and got refused?

Mr. Stilwell:- The application was to upon at half-past three.

Mr. Mowll:- This is simply an application for an extra hour.

Mr. Dickeson:- You can't urge the necessity of the application if, as you say, the house next door opens early.

Mr. Mowll:- I would only point out this; that the two houses have, previously to the passing of the Act, both opened early, and that it was simply through the application not being, by an accident property urged on Licensing Day that the Bench did not grant it then. Both have kept open early before, and if you have granted a continuance of the privilege to one you must in justice grant it to the other. If the opening of this in the morning encouraged drinking or drinking habits I would not come before you to urge the application.

Mr. Jones:- I think the Bench have to study only the question of public convenience. If the house next door in open there in no necessity for your application.

Mr. Mowll:- Have they not also to consider what is right towards the person who holds the licence?

Mr. Dickeson:- Have you any application besides these two?

Mr. Mowll:- If the bench are against me I have not. I had thought that the Bench laid down the rule that where a house had formerly opened early they would renew permission. The question arose in the application for the "Mechanics' Arms." When adjourned to Broadstairs it was proved that the house had opened early previously, and the application was granted; and I am instructed that this house has always been open at five. As to there being two houses together some people might require a different sort of beer to that supplied at the "Duchess of Kent."

Mr. Jones said that if Mr. Mowll's principles were carried out all the houses in the town would open early.

Mr. Mowll:- You urge the matter farther than I urge it. I think the applicant has an equal right to the people next door.

Mr. Jones:- The question is whether it is necessary for the convenience of the people attending the market.

Mr. Mowll:- And whether justice is done to the applicant and the requirements of the public are met.

Mr. Stilwell:- The Bench might grant the same application for every house in the town.

Mr. Mowll:- No, there are only a few that opened early previously.

Mr. Dickeson:- We have carefully considered the matter of these two applications, and we come to the conclusion that you have failed to establish in our minds the necessity of opening these houses at an earlier hour than required by the Act. Therefore we decline to grant your application.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 16 June, 1882. 1d.

REFUSING TO QUIT LICENSED PREMISES

William Howes, a labourer, was brought up charged with being drunk and disorderly, in Peter Street the previous night, and also with refusing to quit licensed premises.

Frank Sneller, landlord of the “Friend in Need” public-house, Peter Street, said: The prisoner came into my house last night at about nine o'clock, and called for a pint of beer which was served him, but he had not been in the house but a few minutes before he began to use bad language, and then I saw that he was already the worse for liquor. I took the beer away from him and ordered him to leave the house, but as he refused I sent for a policeman, who removed him. When outside in the street the prisoner created a great disturbance.

By the Bench: The prisoner was the worse for liquor, but I did not notice that he was so or I should not have served him. It is not the first time that he has been turned out, and once before a constable put him out of the house. The prisoner upset all the other customers, who at once left.

Police-constable Ash said: Last night at a little after nine o'clock, I was called by the last witness to the “Friend in Need” public-house, Peter Street, where I saw the prisoner, who was swearing at the landlord. The landlord asked the prisoner to leave the house, but as he refused I pushed him out into the street, where he created a great disturbance and used very bad language. I took him in charge, but had to obtain the assistance of three other constables to help carry the prisoner part of the way to the Police-station.

The prisoner said that he had been out of work for some time, and had but little food, and the allowance given had overcome him.

The Bench fined the prisoner 5s., or in default seven days' imprisonment with hard labour.

The prisoner said he could borrow the money from one of his mates.

The money was paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 16 May, 1890.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

At the Police Court on Monday, Thomas Manning was charged with attempting to commit suicide, at the “Friend in Need,” public-house, in Peter Street. George Kinch, a labourer, living at 13, Peter Street. Said he went into the “Friend in Need” on Saturday evening about 7 o'clock, the prisoner was in there, he came over queer, and pulled out a bottle of laudanum and said that had done for him. Witness called a man named Peirce in while he went for a policeman. A policeman came back with him, and the prisoner was taken to the Police Station. Superintendent Sanders said Mr. Walters was the prisoner almost immediately after he was brought to the Police Station. The doctor said he had not taken enough to destroy life, no doubt the man was suffering from drink, he was bad again on Sunday, and could not get any sleep, and sent for the doctor. The prisoner said he had taken laudanum for the last four years but on Saturday he took too much. He was discharged with a warning not to attempt that kind of thing again.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 1 June, 1900.

LICENSING BUSINESS

A temporary licence for the Town hall on the occasion of the smoking concert in connection with the visit of Shepherds was granted to George Latham, of the "Friend in Need."

Dover Express 04 August 1911.

DOVER POLICE COURT. LICENSING.

The licence of the "Friend-in-Need." Peter Street, was temporarily transferred from James Medhurst to Harry Blacklocks. The new tenant held the "Friend-in-Need" from 1908 to 1910, and since has held a similar licence at Deal.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 6 December 1912.

PETER STREET PUBLIC HOUSE ALTERATIONS

At the Dover Police Court this morning, before Messrs. P. W. J. Mackenzie (in the chair), W. Bradley, and J. Scott.

Mr. Steel made applications for building alterations to "The Friend in Need," Peter Street. Two old cottages were to be converted into a public house, and instead of approaching the public house by steps, the floor was to be made level with the street.

The application was granted, subject to the screen between the private and serving bars being made so as to allow of a better view of the entry of customers.

PEACE TREAT STREET PARTY, PETER STREET, 1919

Above photograph kindly sent by Margaret Francis, showing the peace treat party of 1919. I believe the "Globe" can be seen as the house on the right of the picture. The "Friend in Need" perhaps being the opposite side of the road just left of the centre of the picture.

Margaret Francis goes on to say:- A street party was obviously held to celebrate the end of WW1. One characteristic of my family from Dover was their height and my great grandmother stands clearly head and shoulders above her neighbours outside her house, as does my nan, who appears quite clearly, holding two small children aloft in her arms. (See photo below). I suspect strongly that these children are Bertie and Vera Elms. Her own younger brother - the one referred to in the Mrs. Armstrong tales (of "Royal Hippodrome" email) would have been 3 years old by 1919 and these children are mere babes in arms.

Picture below is a small portion of the above picture, showing Elizabeth Keeler (circled right) (click for extra Keeler history) with two small children in her arms, who may be Bertie and Vera Elms, Mrs. Elms of the "Grapes'" children, and circled left Margaret Fransis' Great Grandmother.

The photo below, showing the street party again and the snippet below, again showing her nan probably holding Bertie.

Above photograph kindly sent by Margaret Francis.

By the way if it is of interest, my grandmother's family who lived at 22 Peter Street were the Rigden's. Fred Rigden (click for extra Rigden history) married my great grandmother after she was widowed and took on her three children. He had a Carrier's business and they had stables at the back of the house where they kept the horses. They went on to have a further four children, the youngest of whom, Horace, went on to become - at 6ft 8inches - Kent's tallest fireman. He was stationed up at Whitfield and there are many photographs of him in the Fire Service Museum in Maidstone. A couple of years ago we managed to locate his helmet, axe, belt and badge and have donated it to the Museum as well......nothing at all to do with pubs - sorry!

Margaret Francis.

Above photo again from Margaret Francis, showing a house on the corner of Peter Street. Margaret goes on to say the following:- Apparently the large house on the corner of Peter Street, according to Joyce's elderly friend, was quite grand and further up the road where the Rigden's lived they were rather poorer. Horace who was born 1926 played with someone called Farrier and they used to play in tunnels under the stables at the back of number 22. There was also a Hay Loft to the stables and gran Rigden lived in the basement of the house. The family apparently moved to Peter Street about 1913 and they bought the business which was a Coal Merchant and Carriers as a going concern. They had four horses used for the business and when one of them died, the piano was sold to buy a replacement horse! The house got bombed and that was the reason, they moved up to Whitfield. Joyce's mother grew up in Castle Cottages - just along the road from Peter Street.

May be of interest. Cousin Joyce has been to visit her articulate elderly friend Joan (91) who used to live in Peter Street and remembers some of the Rigden's. Armed with maps and photographs they have tried to unravel some of the questions.

Apparently Joan lived in a house opposite to the big one in the photograph above, between the river and Spring Place... it appears as a pair of large semi's on on 1898 map. She saw the photo (from your site) of the Globe and instantly recognised it as the pub across the road from her house. She apparently said it was between the big house by the river and the Rigden's - who lived across the road (at number 22) from her too. If that is the case the address of the "Globe" doesn't tie in. She said the "Friend in Need" was on the corner further down the street.

Also when shown the picture of the horse and cart, she was very touched by it and commented, as we all have, on the way the horse appeared to be presented. She said that they wouldn't have been out in their finery like that every day, so she thinks it must have been for some kind of special occasion. A further comment on that one though from another of the cousins - was that Grampy (Fred Rigden) loved his horses...this keeps coming through in the conversations. The stables at the back of the house, had a hay loft and a basement and between them the children seemed to spend a lot of their time around and about the stables. It seems the house was pulled down but the stables remained until they were bought up when an extension to the Engineering Works was planned.

Hope this is of further interest.

Best wishes.

Maggie

Above wallet would have been given as a Christmas present to regulars during the 1970s, photo by Melanie Summers.

From a book titled Quaint Signs of Olde Inns, by G. J. Monson-Fitzjohn, B.Sc. 1926.

FRIEND IN NEED, Dover.

This cannot be termed a sign, as it is just the name given to the house by a landlord who was desirous of obtaining the custom of lonely sailors stranded in Dover and is similar to "Ship Aground," "Ship in Distress," etc.

(The latter two names I have not seen mentioned in the Dover area. Paul Skelton.)

This was closed by Whitbread in January 1988 and taken down in August the same year. The wording displayed on the frontage showed that it had not always been a part of the tied trade. Daniel Gill traded as a free house in 1864.

The last licensee, John Manley.

From the Cover Express, 19 August 1988.

Pub 62 Bites Dust.

ANOTHER of Dover’s old pubs came tumbling down this week. And demolition expert Mr. John Ullmann said "It's the 62nd local pub we've knocked down"!

Demolition men this week moved into the "Friend in Need" in Peter Street, off the High Street, and began knocking it down. They came from the demolition firm M.U.S.H. Contractors and Plant, of which Mr. Ullmann is a director.

The site of the old pub is needed for the redevelopment of the area.

Two schemes are pending for this area.

One is B&Q’s plan to move into Dover Engineering Works' land between Maison Dieu Road and the Peter Street site.

Another is a scheme for the third phase of the Charlton Shopping Centre which, if it goes ahead, would take that development further up High Street to Peter Street and the pub site.

From an email received 30 January 2008.

I cannot be certain of the full dates but in Feb 1906 and Jun 1907 I have a Edward John Lawrence as a "Licensed Victualler" of 8 Peter Street. Certainly by Oct 1908 he had moved back to London.

My uncle, who with his elder sister was born in Dover, always claimed that it was The Friend in Need. Less charitable members of the family have suggested that this might have been the reason for my fondness for beer!

Bob Lawrence

Salisbury

LICENSEE LIST

DUFF Sarah Mrs 1841-45 (age 40 in 1841)