Dover Express 28th August 1858.

INFRINGEMENTS OF THE ALEHOUSE ACT.

Isaac Harrington, landlord of the "Dragon Inn," Strond Street, was charged on the information of PC Arnold with opening his house for the sale of beer at a quarter to twelve on the previous Sunday morning.

PC Barton said he visited the "Dragon Inn" on the morning in question, accompanied, as in the last case, by PC Arnold. On entering by the back door, he saw three men in a room on the left of the passage. Two of them were Dover men and one, who was in the act of quitting the room as witness entered, had in his hand a pot about half full of beer, another was smoking at a table on which there was a pot containing beer; and the third had a pewter pot at the side of him. On enquiring for the landlord, he was told he had gone to Church. The landlady admitted that she always kept the back door open during Divine service and that people occasionally dropped in and had a pint of beer.

By the defendant:- The parties stated that they were the sick visitors of a club to which you belonged.

Mr. John Gates, called by the defendant, said he went to Mr. Harrington’s house on the previous Sunday morning. He (witness) was one of the sick visitors of the Manchester Unity and Odd Fellows and the object of his visit was to ascertain the state of Mr. Harrington’s health. He was present when the police visited the house. He had some refreshment for which he paid.

The defendant was fined 2s 6d and the costs, 11s

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 24 December, 1869. Price 1d.

ROBBERY FROM A PUBLIC HOUSE

William Brigham, a discharged soldier from the 2nd Dragoon Guards, was charged with stealing one Inverness cape, the property of Mr. John Samson, landlord of the "Green Dragon Inn," Strond Street, Dover.

The Superintendent of police said he thought there would be other charges brought against the prisoner if he should be remanded. One of the charges was that of obtaining money under false pretences from the same prosecutor who appeared in the present case.

Mr. John Samson said the Inverness cape produced by police-constable Hemmings was his property, and he had reason to suppose the prisoner had stolen it.

The prisoner was then remanded till Monday next.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 31 December, 1869. Price 1d.

REMANDED CHARGE OF FELONY

William Brigham, a discharged soldier from the 2nd Dragoon Guards, was charged with stealing an Inverness cape, value 10s., the property of John Sampson, landlord of the "Green Dragon Inn," Strond Street, Dover.

The prosecutor said the defendant came to his house on Thursday, Nov. 26. He stayed in the house about three weeks. On the Tuesday previous the prisoner asked witness to lend him his overcoat, to go up to the Brigade Office for his money. The prisoner was subsequently brought from London, where he was found by the police with the cape in his possession.

By the prisoner: You did not ask me to lend you the cape for any specified time; I expected that when you returned from the Brigade Office you would return it.

The prosecutor further stated that the prisoner returned from the Brigade Office with some papers, and said his money was all right, and that he had to go to the National Provincial Bank to get it. he asked witness to lend him 2s., and witness complied with the request. The prosecutor then went to the National Provincial Bank almost immediately afterwards and found he had not been there. He also made a similar enquiry at the London and County Bank, and found the prisoner had not been there either. In consequence of what he subsequently heard, the police telegraphed to London, and the prisoner was brought back to Dover the next morning, with the cape in his possession.

Police-constable Hemmings said the prisoner was apprehended in London on the morning of the 22nd inst., and charged with stealing the coat produced. Witness subsequently brought hjim back to Dover.

The prisoner pleaded guilty, and the Magistrates sentenced him to a month's imprisonment, with hard labour.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 7 September, 1883. 1d.

ANNUAL LICENSING DAY

THE GREEN DRAGON

On the name of the “Green Dragon Inn,” Strond Street, being called the Clerk to the Magistrates reported that the landlord of this house, Mr. F. Walker, had been convicted on the 17th of August last for serving liquors at 11.35 on Sunday morning.

The Mayor to Mr. Walker: Unless your house is well conducted the next ensuing year this offence will be remembered against you, and I therefore caution you. I hope the fine inflicted upon you then will be a sufficient caution to you. Your license will be re-issued.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 22 October, 1886. Price 1d.

ASSAULTING THE POLICE

Robert Cullin was charged with disorderly conduct in Snargate Street, assaulting the Police, and refusing to quit the “Green Dragon.”

W. Wilson, landlord of the “Green Dragon,” Strond Street, said the defendant went to his house on Monday night. He seemed sober and asked for a glass of beer, which was supplied to him. He seemed quarrelsome, and consequently was requested to leave. He went outside and threatened to smash the window. A Policeman tried to persuade him to go away. He came inside the house and went out again when ordered. He did not refuse to leave when ordered. He hung about, threatening to break the windows, but did not do so. He went away with the Policeman.

The defendant said that they were raffling, and Mr. Wilson was cross because he (defendant) had not enough of money by two-pence.

Witness: That is not so.

Police-constable A. Cadman (D.25) said his attention was called to the “Green Dragon” by loud talking and by filthy language of the defendant. He would not go away, but after being ordered out of the house he returned again. He entered the house, and was again ordered out. He saw him lift his fist and strike the window. He tried twenty minutes to get the defendant to go away, and on his persistently refusing he took him into custody. In passing up Strond Street he commenced kicking, bruising the Constable's leg and tearing his trousers. He continued that conduct on being taken up to the Police Station. Police-constable Knott assisted in taking the defendant to the Station.

The defendant was fined 2s. 6d. and 7s. costs, or seven days. Till Saturday he was allowed to pay the money.

On Saturday 5th September 1914, just 2 months into the "Great War", licensees Mr. and Mrs. Arthur H. French sadly lost their son, Henry John French, 237873, an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, when the HMS Pathfinder a light cruiser, was torpedoed and sunk by U.21 in North Sea. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial with another 260 casualties from that same sinking.

Above pictures showing Henry John French and HMS Pathfinder.

Dover Express 4th August 1916.

The licence of the “Green Dragon” was transferred from Mr. A. E. (sic) French to Mrs. S. O’Rourke who lately held the licence of the “Sir John Falstaff”. Her husband is with the Army.

Dover Express, Friday 19 October 1923.

Bird talk in a Pub. Travel Stories Lead to Blows.

At the Dover Police Court on Monday, before the Mayor (Alderman W. G. Lewis,) Alderman Chitty, Mrssrs. S. Lewis and C. E. Beaufoy.

Joseph Burland, 8, Finnis' Court, was summoned by William Altham, a seaman, 4, South Court, for assault on October 10th.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

William Altham said that on October 10th he saw the defendant at a pub called the "Green Dragon." The defendant had come in with a friend, and was talking about the roads in London, and witness asked if a certain road from Woolwich to East Ham was finished, and he was told it was. Conversation then turned to birds, and the defendant asked the landlord if he had ever been bitten by a kite hawk, and Indian bird, at the landlord said he had not, but had been bitten by mosquitoes. The defendant asked witness if he had ever seen one, and he replied "Yes." The defendant then said, "You are a liar," and said that witness had never travelled in his life, but he had papers to prove that he had. The defendant then said, "Will you come outside? I will speak to you." No sooner, however, has he got outside then "bang! bang!" One blow came on his teeth and the other one on the side of his face, two of his teeth being knocked out.
The Mayor:- Was he drunk?

Witness:- No, he did not seem to be in drink. Witness added that he had not had any himself, as he had just finished working a steamer out. The defendant had threatened him since the summons was issued, through one of his witnesses. He had had police protection since. Having fallen down the ship's hold and hurt his spine, he did not feel like standing up to a heavy-weight boxer of the Navy and Army.

The defendant denied complainant's evidence, and said that he made some nasty remark and defendant asked him to explain. He then asked him (the defendant) to go outside, and no sooner had he got there, than complainant kicked him. he grappled with him and they both fell to the ground. The two ladies in the public-house with complainant then shouted "Kick him," and he got then a second one on his right shin. The defendant offered to show the Magistrates the bruises on his legs.

The complainant:- Here's the marks he and where the top teeth had been knocked out.

Mrs. Salina Garbutt, of 4, South Court, said that complainant lodged with her. She saw the defendant coming into the "Green Dragon" and heard the conversation and saw the assault by him on complainant. If she had not gone out, complainant would have had his face smashed in. Witness added that afterwards the defendant came to her house and frightened her and the children, and she had to get police protection.

The defendant denied that he ever went near witness's house.

Mrs. Mary Bailey, of 5, South Court, said she saw the assault. Afterwards she went for a policeman, as the defendant kept on banging at the window of the "Green Dragon." She believed he had been drinking.

The Magistrates' Clerk:- Have you any witnesses?

The defendant:- No; only both my legs.

The defendant decline to give evidence but denied that he ever mention birds in the public house.

In reply to the Chief Constable, the defendant said that he had been in Dover about 18 months. He was a Lancashire man, and a glass blower by trade.

The Mayor said that the defendant will be bound over for 12 months to keep the peace, and would also have to pay a fine of 40s.
Prosecutor and Mrs. Garbutt were also bound over.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 18 February, 1938. Price 1½d.

REFERRED TO COMPENSATION AUTHORITY

Mr. H. J. Baxter, instructed by the Town Clerk on behalf of the Chief Constable asked that the licence of the “Green Dragon,” Strond Street, should be referred to the Compensation Authorities, on the ground that the licence was redundant.

Mr. Rutley Mowll appeared for the owners and said that they were not considering the application.

Mr. Baxter said that it was a small house of £20 rateable value. There were eight other fully licensed houses within 200 yards of the “Green Dragon,” three more within 300 yards, and four more within 400 yards. It was necessary for him to remind the Bench that in recent years a good deal of property had been pulled down in the district, and although all these licences might at one time have been necessary, this one was now quite redundant. The Police visited this house, and a number of neighbouring ones, in January and the Officer would tell the Bench that he visited this house twelve times and found a total of 28 people using it, an average of two people a time, including even Saturday evening. The house was scarcely used at all. One ground put forward for considering the licence redundant was that the premises were structurally unsound, but he was abandoning that ground.

Inspector Saddleton gave evidence of visiting the “Green Dragon” and adjacent houses on twelve occasions in one week during January. In the “Green Dragon” there were 28 people present when he made those twelve visits. In the “Granville” there were 81, the “Archliffe Fort Inn” 59, the “Fleur de Lys” 39, the “Prince Imperial” 72, and the “Swan Hotel” 75, the “Shakespeare Inn” 30, the “Pavilion Bar” 49, and the “Hotel de Paris” 51.

The Magistrates' Clerk said that the Bench would hear that no other applications before giving their decision.

Mr. Baxter who applied for the Bench to adopt a similar course in the case of the “Liberty Inn,” Adrian Street, and the “Gothic Inn,” Snargate Street, stating that Mr. J. Douglass appeared in each case for the licensees. Those two houses were owned or leased by the same brewers, Messrs. George Beer and Rigden Ltd. He would remind the Bench of what the Town Clerk had told them that it was the function of the Court to refer the matter to the Compensation Authorities for them to decide whether or not the licences should be refused. That Court was not making and final decision. The view he would put before them was that these two houses were undoubtedly redundant and that there were ample facilities in the Adrian Street and Snargate Street areas. It was necessary for him to remind them of the great change which had come over that district in recent years, and houses which at one time might have been necessary had become completely unnecessary by reason of the changes in that area. The owners of these two houses had other houses in the district and would not be unduly prejudiced even if both of these houses were closed. The “Liberty Inn” was a house of the rateable value of £32. Within 200 yards of it there were no fewer than 23 licensed premises, of which 17 were fully licensed, and one of the others was a beer “on” licence. Within 300 yards were a further 16 licensed premises, of which 14 were fully licensed, and within 400 yards there were a further five fully licensed houses, so that within an area of 400 yards there were no fewer than 45 licensed premises and in addition there were six clubs. Furthermore, that 400 yards included a large area of sea, the Granville Dock and a large area of War Department land. There was another house belonging to the same brewers, the “Criterion,” within about 80 yards of the “Liberty,” so that even if the brewers felt that “Kent's Best” was desirable for the inhabitants of the district they would only have to go another 80 yards, and no doubt their thirst would be greatly stimulated by the extra walk! There were 47 persons to each licensed house in the district and if this inn was demolished there would be only 49, a figure which compared with the average of 266 for the borough as a whole. Another indication of the fact that the house was redundant was that there had been three transfers of the licence within the last five years, and in November last the house was closed down for nine days, nothing being served there at all. The Police visited this house, and others in the district, in January, and during twelve visits to the “Liberty” found a total of 36 people present, an average of three per visit. The numbers present at other houses in the vicinity were: At the “Trocadero” 91; the “New Mogul” 130; the “Clarendon” 54; the “Invicta” 121; the “Hippodrome Bars” 76; the “Gothic” – the other house concerning which he was making application 45; the “Prince Louis” 251. There was one other one, the “Avenue,” at which the attendance was smaller, but the Police were of opinion that there were special circumstances attached to the “Avenue” which accounted for the number being smaller. The Police felt that the licensee there now was a man of great experience, who could be trusted to greatly improve its position. In the case of the “Gothic” it was also abundantly clear that the licence was redundant. Within 200 yards of the house there were eight licensed premises and one club, within 300 yards there were 14 more and four clubs, and within 400 yards a further 14 and one club, making a total of 41 licensed premises and six clubs with 400 yards. Here again, the 400 yards included a lot of unoccupied space in the sea, and War Office land. Within 200 yards of the houses were 88 persons to each licensed house. During twelve Police visits in January there were 45 people present in the “Gothic,” an average of under four per visit.

Inspector Saddleton gave evidence of visiting the two houses concerned, and adjacent ones during January, and proved the figures given by Mr. Baxter. In the case of the “Gothic” there had been six transfers of the licence in the last seven years.

Replying to Mr. Doughty, witness agreed that the summer would be the best time of the year for these houses. He agreed that the coastwise steamer trade probably helped the trade of the “Gothic.” It was very conveniently situated for that business. The trade was stated to be about £15 a week at the “Gothic.”

Mr. Doughty said that they had no desire to be obstructive. It was clear from the evidence that there was perhaps a slight redundancy in this neighbourhood, but was that a good reason for closing two of three houses they owned there, having already listened that morning to the “Wheatsheaf,” another of their houses being closed in another part of the town? They had no objection to the “Liberty Inn” being referred for the question of compensation but they did object to the “Gothic” being so referred. The transfers of that licence were all due to family reasons, except in one case where a lady tenant left because she indulged in some unwise speculations and went bankrupt. The present tenant was Mrs. Mills, who made a very good living. Her customers were nearly all crews from coasting barges and small vessels of that kind. They found it a very convenient house, and patronised it freely, and the house sold about 150 barrels of beer a year and about 120 gallons of wines and spirits. During the last nine years the brewers had spent £418 in repairs to the house. The figures given about the inhabitants of the locality were really irrelevant, because they did not rely very much on the local inhabitants for their trade.

Mrs. Emily Mary Mills, the licensee of the “Gothic” gave evidence, and said that she was quite satisfied with her takings, which averaged £15 a week. She employed one maid, and others according to the ups and downs of the trade. Her customers were chiefly sea fairing people, and quite a lot came from the “Hippodrome.” There were few local customers. She got a few soldiers, but not a lot.

Questioned by Mr. Baxter, witness said that it was most unfortunate when the Police came, because she had more people in, but at the time of the visits there were not many.

Mr. Baxter: The Police always do hit on an unfortunate time.

The Chairman announced that all three licences would be referred to the Compensation Authority.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 11 March, 1938.

Referred to Compensation Authority

Mr. J. H. Baxter, instructed by the Town Clerk on behalf of the Chief Constable asked that the licence of the "Green Dragon," Strond Street, should be referred to the compensation authority, on the grounds of the licence was redundant.

Mr. Rutley Mowll appeared for the owners and said they were not contending the application.

Mr. Baxter said that it was a small house of £25 rentable value. There were eight other fully licensed houses within 200 yards of the "Green Dragon," three more than within 300 yards and four more within 400 yards. It was unnecessary for him to remind the Bench that in recent years a good deal of property had been pulled down in that district, and although all those licences might have at one time been necessary, this one was now quite redundant. The police visited this house, and a number of neighbouring ones, in January, and the officer would tell the Bench that he visited this house twelve times and found a total of 28 people using it, an average of two people a time, including even Saturday evening. The house was scarcely used at all. One ground put forward for considering the licence redundant was that the premises were structurally unsound, but he was now abandoning that ground.

Inspector Saddleton gave evidence of visiting the "Green Dragon" and adjacent houses on twelve occasions in one week during January. In the "Green Dragon" there were 28 people present when he made those twelve visits. In the "Granville" there were 54, the "Archliffe Fort" Inn 59, the "Fleur de Lys" 39, the "Prince Imperial" 72, and the "Swan Hotel" 75, the "Shakespeare" Inn 30, the "Pavillion" Bars 49, and the "Hotel de Paris" 51.

The Magistrates Clerk said that the Bench would hear the two other applications before making their decision.

Mr. Baxter also applied for the Bench to adopt a similar course in the case of the "Liberty" Inn, Adrian Street, and the "Gothic" Inn, Snargate Street, stating that Mr. J. Doughty appeared in each case for the licensee. These two houses were owned or licensed by the same brewers, Messrs. George Beer and Rigden, Ltd. He would remind the bench of why the Town Clerk had told them that it was the function of the Court to refer the matter to the compensation committee for them to decide whether or not the licences should be referred. That Court was not making any final decision. The view he would put before them was that these two houses were undoubtedly redundant and tat there were ample facilities in Adrian Street and Snargate Street areas. It was unnecessary to remind them of the great changes which had come over that district in recent years, and houses at one time might have been necessary had become completely unnecessary by reason of changes in the area. The owners of these two houses had other houses  in the district and would not be unduly prejudiced even if both of the houses were closed. The "Liberty" Inn was a house of the rateable value of £32. Within 200 yards of it there were no fewer than 23 licensed premises, of which 17 were fully licensed and one of the others was a beer "on" licence. Within 300 yards were a further 15 licensed premises, of which 14 were fully licensed, and within 400 yard there were a further five fully licensed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 17 June, 1938.

CLOSING DOWN PUBLIC HOUSES

THE LIBERTY

The East Kent Licensing Authority met at Canterbury on Friday last, when the four Dover houses referred to by the licensing Justices came up.

There was no opposition in the case of the "Liberty" Inn, Adrian Street, and the "Green Dragon," Strond Street, both of which had been referred.

The renewal was refused.