From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 22 October, 1859.

STEALING A COAT AT DOVER

George Watson, 32, labourer, was charged with stealing, at Dover, on the 27th of September last, a sheepskin coat of the value of 10s., the property of William Ames; to which he pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Bridge prosecuted.

William Ames, landlord of the "Golden Lion," Priory Street - On the evening of the 27th Sept., between  8 and 9 o'clock, the prisoner came into my house. He was served with a pint of beer, which was taken to him in the tap-room, after which he came and asked me if I wanted a man in the stable. There i a room at the rear of the tap-room, where the coat produced was hanging between 8 and 9. At a quarter to ten o'clock the coat was missing. By going through that room persons quitting the tap-room may leave the house by a back door. I believe prisoner must have gone out that way, as he did not pass by the bar.

By the prisoner - I am quite positive you did not go out by the front door.

Police-constable Thomas Irons - On the morning of the 28th September, about a quarter past 1, I was on duty in Council House Street, when I saw the prisoner with the coat produced under his arm. I asked him what he had got, and he said a coat, and that he had got it from the Crimea. I told him I did not believe him, but he repeated his statement, and said he would stick to it "like a leech." (Laughter.) He was very violent on my taking him into custody, and struck me. I was obliged to get assistance to convey him to the station-house. He afterwards, when at the police station, cried, and said if he had not been a fool he might have had a good character.

In defence the prisoner said he was intoxicated when taken into custody - too much so to remember exactly how he came by the coat, except, that he bought it off a man nearly as drunk as himself for 5s. He told a long story as to the manner of his encountering the unknown and drunken individual, and the incidents of the bargain, but what he said was not material.

Irons, recalled buy the Recorder, said that the prisoner was a little the worse for liquor when apprehended; he knew perfectly well, however, what he was about.

The Jury declined to believe the statement the prisoner had offered in defence, and after the learned Recorder had briefly summed up the evidence - pointing out the fact that the prisoner had not been seen to take the coat, but remarking that if it were necessary to bring an eye-witness to the robbery of all articles stolen very little protection to property would be afforded.

The Jury returned a verdict of guilty.

The prisoner was also detained upon a charge of stealing at Dover, on the same day, a coat and a leather tobacco-pouch, value 5s., the property of George Baker.

In this case Mr. Dashwood appeared for the prosecution, but a conviction already recorded it was not necessary to go into it.

The prisoner, on being asked by the Recorder what he had to say for himself, said that previous to being apprehended by the police for this offence - of which, he assured the Court, notwithstanding the view the Jury had taken of the case, he was as innocent as the Recorder himself - he had been employed in the docks here.

The learned Recorder remarked that this made his case much less excusable than he had at first thought it, for he had imagined it probable that he might have been in a state of distress at the time of committing this offence. His defence, therefore instead of assisting him, only made him (the learned Recorder) believe that he was a very hardened person. As he was not known, however, he would derive the benefit of the Court supposing that this was his first offence, but he (the Recorder) warned him against coming there again, for if he did he would assuredly be condemned to penal servitude. There would be no doubt that he had stolen the coat, and for this offence the sentence of the Court was that he be kept to hard labour in the gaol of the borough for six calendar months.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 14 October, 1870.

CORRECTING A FALSE IMPRESSION

Mr. Amos, the landlord of the “Golden Lion,” Priory Street, attended the Court, to correct an impression which had got abroad among his neighbours, in consequence of a statement relative to a case which was before the Bench on Friday last. On that day the landlord of the “Laurel Tree,” a public-house near to his own, had been summoned before the Bench, and he was informed that a sergeant Johnstone had stated in his evidence that the information which had led to the summons being taken out was furnished to him by a licensed victualler living in the same street. Now he was the only licensed victualler living in the street, and the statement had had the effect of bringing him into very ill repute with his neighbours, and he attended, having required the Superintendent to order Johnstone to be present, in order to confront him and challenge him to say in his presence whether he had ever furnished him with information. He had kept the “Golden Lion” twenty years without a single complaint; but he had quite enough to do to conduct his own house in an orderly manner without troubling himself about his neighbours.

Johnstone said he had made no such statement as that attributed to him; and this disposal was confirmed by the Magistrates' Clerk, who said that what Johnstone had stated was that he received information from a licensed victualler; but did not state the name of the street in which the person resided.

From the Dover Express. 1872.

Drunkenness and Assault.

John Wood an elderly man was charged with being drunk and disorderly in the Golden Lion and assaulting the landlord and also with assaulting P.C. Ash.

William Amos said he was the landlord of the Golden Lion. On the previous evening between five and six o'clock the prisoner came into his house. He was intoxicated and on his asking for half-pint of beer witness refused to draw it. He said he should not go till he had it. but witness told him that he was certain he would. (Laughter) He then asked him if he would like to have one of the half-pint pots smashed about his ------- head and witness admitted that he would not relish it at all. (A laugh.) After telling him to go out of the house two or three times without effect witness went to see if he could find a policeman. As he was looking at one door the prisoner left by another and coming towards him endeavoured to pull him out of the house by his waistcoat. Witness however was to strong for him and threw him upon the ground where he held him till P.C. Ash came. P.C. Ash deposed to finding the complainant and the prisoner struggling on the ground in front of the Golden Lion. Complainant gave prisoner in charge for disorderly conduct and knowing the prisoner violent character he handcuffed him. He did this with great difficulty prisoner trying to bite him while he was doing so. On attempting to convey him to the Police Station he became very violent and kicked him on the leg. Assistance had to be procured and the prisoner had to be carried to the Police Station where his conduct was very violent. The prisoner said he had been to Diggle's Tower where he had taken too much refreshment and after leaving the tower he lost recollection. The magistrates commended the conduct of Mr. Amos in refusing to supply the prisoner with liquor. On the charge of drunkenness he would be fined 5s and costs or in default a week's imprisonment. For the assault on the police he would be imprisoned one month.

Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 11 May, 1877. Price 1d.

POSSESSED GOODS

George Ballard, carter, was charged with having in his possession in the Priory Road 2 sacks containing 2 cwt. Of coals, value 4s., supposed to have been stolen.

Mr. Worsfold Mowll was defending.

Police-constable Suters said: I was on duty about seven o'clock last evening in the Priory Road. I saw the prisoner coming out of the stables of the “Golden Lion,” with a sack on his back. He went towards a cart that stood opposite Ayers' forge. I stopped him and asked him where he had the coals from he was carrying. He said, “I had them given me.” I asked who gave them to him, and he said, “Let me have a rest, and I will tell you some more about it.” He then said, “I met a man on the quay, and he asked me to take 2 cwt. Of coals for him and leave them somewhere near the “Red Cow.” I afterwards saw him and he told me to leave them at Charlton Bridge.” I was not satisfied with his statement and I took him into custody and charged him with having them in his possession, not giving a satisfactory account of the same. I took him to the station. He was charged and cautioned. He then said, “I did not steal them,” and repeated the same statement he had made to me. He did not know who the man was he had taken the coals for. He told Mr. Ayers, in my presence, to send the cart home as he should not be back again. One of the bags now produced is the same he had with him, the other I afterwards saw in the stables where he came from. There are no marks on either.

Stephen Solly, landlord of the “Golden Lion,” in Priory Street, said: The prisoner came to my house between five and six last evening and asked if he could leave two bags of coal in my stables, saying that a man would call for them later in the evening. I told him he light leave them, and he fetched two bags of coals from a cart and put them on a manger in the stables. There were several bags in the cart besides those two. He went away and returned in about three-quarters of an hour and asked for the coals. I said “Are they yours?” he said “Yes; don't you know me again.” I said “Yes, all right, take them away.” I opened the stable door for him and saw him take one bag. About half an hour afterwards the Constable same and told me to lock the other up, and I did so.

By the Bench: The prisoner has not at any time stabled his horse with me. I did not notice any difference in these bags from the others in the cart. I often have goods left at my house for and by country carriers.

Thomas Bere, carrier, living at Chapel Hill, said: The prisoner is in m y employ. I have been carting coals for Mr. Bussey up to the Heights. Prisoner went with my horse and cart to the Heights yesterday. I told him to look up my bags and if he could not find enough to ask Mr. Bussey to lend him some. My bags are not marked. I could not swear to the bags. I retail coals which I buy from Mr. Bussey. I had a ton the day before yesterday which were delivered by Mr. Bussey's man. I cannot say whether I have any coals similar to those which are now produced.

Joseph S. McCordell, coal-meter, in the employ of the Corporation, said he had been engaged on board the Reckless, lying at the Custom House Quay. Mr. Bussey owned the cargo. The prisoner was at the vessel about eight times the previous day and had about a ton of coal each time in bags. The prisoner threw down twenty bags each time and had them refilled. Witness had not seen the prisoner with any bags like the two produced.

Mr. Superintendent Sanders asked for a remand until Monday in order that Mr. Bussey should be summoned to appear to give evidence.

Mr. Mowll said Mr. Sanders must pledge his oath as to whether from the evidence of Mr. Bussey or any other person he thought could bring home the charge. He (Mr. Mowll) contended that not a tittle of evidence had been given from which a prima facia case could be made out.

Mr. Sanders was sworn and the case remanded until Monday, prisoner being admitted bail.

MONDAY

[Before T. E. Back, R. Dickeson, R. Rees, R. H. Jones, and F. S. Pierce, Esqrs.]

REMANDED CHARGE

George Ballard was charged on remand with having in his possession two sacks of coals supposed to have been stolen.

The evidence previously taken was used. Mr. Worsfold Mowll defended.

Mr. James Bussey, coal merchant, residing in Dover, was called and said the defendant had been engaged in carting coals from his vessel in the harbour to the Heights. He could not swear to the coals produced but they were similar to those the vessel had been discharging.

The case was then dismissed.

From the Dover Express, 23 June, 1939.

The Magistrates approved plans for alterations to the bars and tenants' accommodation at the "Golden Lion."

From the Dover Express. 18 June 1948.

DOVER MAGISTRATES.

Dover Magistrates on Friday approved the following applications for alterations to licensed premises:-

Conversion of the private and saloon bars of the "Golden Lion," Priory Place, into one large saloon bar.

From the Dover Express 2 August 1998.

Trio of local pubs have new owners.

THREE pubs in Deal and Dover have new bosses after brewery giants Whitbread sold 253 pubs nationally to Avebury Taverns in a deal worth £42.5 million.

The Three Horseshoes in Deal and The Golden Lion and The Primrose in Dover are part of the sell-off by the leased pub division of Whitbread, Whitbread Pub Partnerships. Giving Avebury Taverns their first foothold in the Kentish pub scene.

Managing director of Pub Partnerships Stewart Miller said the sale was part of a continuing review of their estate. This included shedding the businesses which were not part of the long-term strategy.

Avebury's commercial director Ian Frost; said all tenancy agreements would remain, and the inns would continue trading as tra ditional community pubs.

The company was launched last year with backing from the Japanese securities company Diawa.

From the Dover Express, 11 November 2004. By Ciara Hill.

The humble winkle at the Golden Lion.

FOR those in the know, the phrase 'winkles up' will make perfect sense. For the rest of us, the idea of keeping a shell in your pocket at all times seems a little bizarre, but reporter CIARA HILL visited the Golden Lion to find out why the humble winkle is so important to so many people...

WALKING into the Golden Lion in Dover for the first time, one is blissfully unaware of entering Winkle Club madness and that life is about to change forever.

Landlord and winkle club chairman Rab Burt, 41, has been at the pub for eight years.

He is an ex-serviceman with a cheeky caginess that rests nicely with a thick Edinburgh accent.

He said: "About 12 years ago, I was just hitchhiking around and I ended up in Dover. I wasn't planning on coming here but I've just been here ever since."

Rab and wife Teresa run the pub together, but to call it just a pub would deny the community of people who reside in the place.

It's 10am and there are about half a dozen people propping up the bar - all the regulars know the full winkle story.

Rab said: "It started about six years ago when we all went on a drinking outing to Hastings.

After a few drinks we saw a huge bronze winkle statue in the town and thought 'that's a good idea, let's give it a go'."

The first Winkle Club was set up in 1900 by fishermen in Hastings, to help underprivileged families in the town.

The story is now an international one, as there are clubs all over the world and local photographer, Phil Wyborn-Brown, 52, was on hand to give a much needed explanation.

He said: "People can't get their heads around the lack of structure with Winkle Clubs.

"It's not a registered charity, the members' names aren't kept on record, it's just simple, we raise money and it goes straight to the people who need it.

"Sometimes we get calls from clubs in America or South Africa and they say 'winkles up' and so we get them out."

This is the moment when it all gets a little crazy. The moment Phil has uttered those two magical words the whole pub is reaching for their winkles.

The little shells have to be kept on your person at all times, although I am reliably informed that women can keep them in their purses if they have no pockets.

Phil said: "I used to be the royal photographer and when I wag on a shoot with the Queen Mother I called, 'winkles up'.

"As she should, she reached for hers, although it wasn't just any old winkle, it was a special solid gold one."

Over the years many famous people have become members of the organisation.

The Queen Mother was patron, and Winston Churchill and Lord Montgomery were both members. The Dover club is upholding the tradition of spreading the word to those in high places.

They recently wrote to the new Lord Warden and invited him to become their president.

Three days later, they received his reply which happily accepted the role.

Rab said: "We've got a special silver winkle for the admiral, and he will probably be paying us a visit at some stage in the near future."

The winkle costs £1 and then that's it, membership of a group of hundreds of Dovorians and thousands of people all over the world.

The objective is always to raise money, and the benefactors are local children who are in difficulties. The group will donate money in some instances but practical help is the norm.

Three young football teams in the area have got strips and equipment, Harbour school regularly receives help and there are two mobility chairs available on loan.

Basically the rule is they can achieve anything else for anybody else who needs it.

Phil said: "My daughter rang up once about a friend whose child had cancer of the eye and needed to be rushed to London.

"The family didn't have much money so we paid for their accommodation."

Over the years more than £20,000 has been donated to good causes by the Golden Lion club, and the winkle boys have become experts at sussing out the fraudsters.

Rab said: "We get calls from people saying, 'I'm terribly terribly ill, could you MOT my car and buy me a new TV?'.

"When somebody requests help we bounce it off each other and we haven't been taken in yet."

They take part in sponsored runs, sing karaoke, dress up, shave off and generally drink to raise their money.

It seems they will do almost anything - except bungee jumping. The average age of the members I met was 49, and they inform me that heart attacks may be the only result of such a venture.

They are busy men and were off later that day to present a new football strip to Seabrook primary school in Hythe.

The plans for the Christmas raffle, a five-mile sponsored run and a Winkle night in the pub are all under way.

It is very obvious that fundraising has become a way of life for regulars at the Golden Lion, a way of life which is led by the power of the humble winkle.

The various signs of The Golden Lion. 31 December 2007.

From the Dover Express 29 March 2007, by Yamurai Zendera.

Chew want to give up?

A JOVIAL pub landlord has come up with a novel way to poke fun at the impending smoking ban by giving punters free nicotine gum. Smokers will been banned from lighting up in public houses from July 1, but Rab Burt, 43, of The Golden Lion in Priory Street, Dover, said he will counter this by filling his ashtrays with Nicorette.

The father of two, who runs the pub with his wife Teresa, 44, will pay for the gum out of his own pocket as he believes the new law unfairly penalises smokers. Non-smoker Mr Burt said: "I'm making a point, financial gain is not my interest. Every person should have the choice of whether they want to smoke in a pub or not.

'This way when people come into my pub they will see that nothing has changed. They can still have their fix of nicotine legally if they choose to do that. It will be their choice and gives them another option." The former Royal Marine has written to the manufacturer of Nicorette gum to see if it will sponsor him, claiming his idea could help more people kick the habit.

Mr Burt said he thought his customers would see the funny side of his idea.

He added: "I want to make people smile. My customers know what I'm like.

"All the smokers will have to try a gum at first, and if they don't they will have to put £1 in the charity box."

The government predicts that about 600,000 people will give up smoking as a result of the law change.

From the Dover Express, 25 June, 2009

Winkling out cash by going to the bar

Golden Lion regulars on their annual charity pub crawl

REGULARS from a Dover pub are celebrating their 10th annual bar crawl which has raised hundreds of pounds for good causes in the town.

The Winkle Club is based at the Golden Lion in Priory Street and for a decade members have taken the leisurely walk from River's "Dublin Man 0' War" pub back to their regular watering hole in the town centre.

Calling at various venues along the route and brandishing buckets to collect change from generous drinkers, the band of more than 60 revellers managed to raise £319.

Golden Lion landlord Rab Burt and his wife Teresa have run the pub for more than decade, and he explained how the idea for the Winkle Club came about.

The 47-year-old Scot said: "Some of our blokes from here went down to Hastings and found out about a club down there.

"It was started as a charity by fishermen and the money it raised went to the families of fishermen lost at sea. At the time, the Queen Mum was their patron. We just latched onto it and thought we would try and do a similar thing down here."

So the Golden Lion Winkle Club was started. In the years since it has raised more than £50,000 for good causes in the town, including Harbour School and the Aspen Unit in Whitfield.

Today the club has members all around the world and its patron is the Warden of the Cinque Ports, Admiral the Lord Boyce, who, like all members, is bound by a club tradition.

Rab explained: "We all carry a winkle in our pockets and if someone in the pub calls 'winkles' everyone has to show theirs. If you haven't got it then you pay £1 into the fund, but if everyone has theirs then the person who called has to pay."

The Lord Warden has a special silver winkle, but he is not immune from being called to produce it, and he was once caught out by the MP for Hastings while giving evidence in Parliament.

From the Dover Express, 25 September 2014.

What do you think of the new paint job?

A TOWN centre pub’s paint job has got Dover talking this week.

The Golden Lion, on Priory Street, is replacing its terracotta exteriors with a vibrant green.

Express photographer Phil Medgett took pictures of the boozer on Friday as painters neared the end of their work.

Lifelong Dovorian Phil said: “It’s certainly eye-catching right on the roundabout there.”

Mum-of-two Mandy Saunders contacted the Express to give her views on the colour change.

She said: “I drive past there every day on the school run, and at first glance I’m not sure about it. Hopefully it’ll grow on me.”