DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Monday, 27 February, 2023.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1840-

King William IV

Closed 2009

4 High Street

Littlebourne

https://whatpub.com/king-william-iv

King William IV 1903

Above photo circa 1903. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

King William IV 1903

Above postcard circa 1903. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Also showing the "Anchor."

King William IV postcard

Above postcard date unknown.

King William IV 1907

Above photo circa 1907. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

King William IV 1907

Above postcard, circa 1907, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Anchor and King William IV 1907

Panoramic version of above also showing the "Anchor."

Anchor and King William IV 1932

Above postcard, circa 1932, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

King William IV 1937

Above photo, circa 1937, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

King William IV postcard 1948

Above postcard circa 1948, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

King William IV 1952

Above photo, 1952, also showing the "Anchor." Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

King William at Littlebourne 1960

Above photo taken in 1960 and kindly sent by Terry Wheeler of the Ramsgate Historical Society.

King William 1963

Above photo, March 1963, kindly sent by Clive Bowley.

King William IV, Littlebourne

Above shows the King William before it closed, 2005. © Copyright Paul Hensman and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

King William IV sign 1991King William IV 1995

King William sign left July 1991, sign right June 1995.

Above with thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com

King William IV Littlebourne 2010

Picture taken off Google Maps September 2010.

 

The predominantly 18th century King William IV public house is a Grade II listed building although part is a refronted timber-framed building. The car park for the public house lies between the property and Nos. 6-8 High Street. The wall at the back of the car park includes the remnants of three circular kilns of the oast house that once occupied this site. All are grade II listed.

 

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 10 September 1861.

From the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser, 14 September, 1861. Price 1 1/2d.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSION. THURSDAY.

(Before T. S. Clark. Esq., in the chair, J. P. Plumtree, N. H. D’Aeth, M. Bell, E. Rice, G. Sayer, and F. Finnis, Esqrs.)

This was the annual licensing day for the public Houses in the division. All the old licenses were renewed, and the publicans were complimented by the bench on the orderly manner in which they had conducted their houses during the past year. Applications for new licenses were made by Richard Jones, of the “Plough” beer-house, Ripple, and by William Cox, of the “King William IV,” Littlebourne. Mr. Delasaux supported Jones’s application, and stated that his clients house was the only one of the kind in the parish. He handed in a petition numerously signed by the parishioners. William Cox also handed in a petition, and after consideration the bench agreed to grant both applications.

 

Kentish Gazette, 21 October 1851.

Stealing Nine Sovereigns.

James Nichols, 26, labourer, charged with stealing from the person of Thomas Bayly, on the 26th day of July, 1851, at the Ville of St. Gregory, in the city and borough of Canterbury, 9 sovereigns and 1 half sovereign, the money, goods, and chattels of the said Thomas Bayly.

Mr. Horn prosecuted, and Mr. Dawson defended the prisoner.

Thomas Bayly, traveller, deposed:- On the 26th of July I was at the "William the Fourth" beershop, Littlebourne; saw the prisoner there; had never seen him before. Treated the men to a gallon of beer. had ten sovereigns and changed one; it was safe when I left there. The prisoner asked for a lift, and I allowed him to get into my chaise. I drove about 2 miles on the road towards Canterbury; all at once I forgot everything that was going on, and remember nothing further till I was going to bed at the "Beehive," Canterbury, between 7 and 8 o'clock, when I took stock, I missed my money - all the gold and some silver. I told the landlord, and he fetched the policeman.

Cross-examined:- Was coming from Wingham, when he first saw the prisoner; there were two other men with him; had taking a glass or or two of ale previously at Wingham; could not recollect how many glasses.

By Mr. Horn:- Gave no directions to the prisoner to go to Fordwhich. He took the reins the moment I could not drive.

Elizabeth Moys deposed:- My husband keeps the "Fordwich Arms" at Fordwich. I remember the prisoner and the prosecutor come into our house in a chaise cart, about 5 on 26th July. Nicholls was driving; they had some brandy and ginger beer. The prosecutor took out some sovereigns and silver together to pay for it; they were alone together for about three quarters of an hour in the parlour. The prosecutor went to sleep for about 10 minutes; the prisoner was then sitting there him. They afterwards left together.

Cross-examined:- The prosecutor did not appear intoxicated when he came in, but could not walk when he left. They had a quartern of brandy and two bottles of ginger beer.

George Drake Baker, living in Canterbury:- On the 26th July saw the prisoner come to his own own home in a gig, and the prosecutor was with him, and appeared very much intoxicated. They went into the house, and stop for about 10 minutes.

Benjamin Argar, landlord of the "Beehive" Dover Lane:- Remembered the prisoner coming to his house with the prosecutor about 7 on the evening in question. He assisted Mr. Bayly to get out of the gig, and the prisoner drove off to Mr. Brown's. The prosecutor was very much intoxicated, and shortly afterwards missed his money, and said he had been robbed.

Jesse Emanuel, police constable, took the prisoner into custody about 9 o'clock in the evening of 26th July in Guildhall Street, Canterbury.

Mr. Dawson addressed the jury for the prisoner.

After a short consultation, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 10 April, 1874. Price 1d.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT

John Lane was charged with assaulting George Sutton, at Littlebourne, on the 3rd of March.

The prosecutor stated that on the day named he was in the "King William" public-house, which the defendant kept. The defendant called him outside the room he was in, when he knocked him down without saying a word. When he got up he struck him again and put him out of his house. He had his eyes discoloured by defendant striking him. The defendant also kicked him.

William Stupple stated that he was a butcher to Mr. Kingsford, of Littlebourne. On the day mentioned he saw the defendant push complainant down the steps of the house and kicked him. He also saw him strike complainant.

The defendant said he did not kick the complainant. The prosecutor was making a disturbance, and when he had some pots in his hands came and pushed him and struck him. All he did was in self-defence.

Thomas Hogben corroborated the defendant's statement.

The bench said they considered the case and not been clearly proved, and dismissed it.

 

Dover Express 21st May 1909.

KING WILLIAM IV LITTLEBOURNE.

Parties catered for in large and small quantities.

Good stabling

Accommodation for cyclist

Gardener’s Fine Ales and Stout

Proprietor------------P. R. Collard

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 6 October, 1916.

LIQUOR REGULATIONS.

Mrs. H. S. Andrews, of 21, Trevanion Street, Dover, was summoned for taking intoxicating liquor from the "King William IV," Littlebourne, after the regulation hours: and Mr. J. B. Brissenden, the landlord, was summoned for permitting the offence.

Mr. K Mowll defended.

It appeared from the evidence that a constable saw the defendant come from the "King William IV," and place a bag over a fence. He found that it contained ale and stout, and then Mrs. Andrews afterwards returned to the public-house, but later came to remove it.

The evidence for the defence was that Mrs. Andrews, who was hop-picking, assisted in the evenings at the public-house, and bought the liquor at 7.30. She did not take it away till later and the landlord said that he did not know that.

Mrs. Andrews was fined 5s.; and the case against the landlord was dismissed.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 February, 1918.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

The Superintendent's report for the past year were read and these showed that the licensee of the two houses in Littlebourne were proceeded against in in July for selling intoxicating liquor out of hours.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 January, 1921.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

The "King William IV," Littlebourne was granted an extension for January 25th in connection with a smoker of the comrades of the Great War.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 June, 1924. Price 1½d.

LICENSING BUSINESS

Herbert Henry Page of the "King William IV," Littlebourne, was granted an occasional licence to sell from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from a tent, on the occasion of the annual sports of the British legion at Littlebourne on Whit Monday.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 7 August, 1925. Price 1½d.

EXTENSION

The licence of the "King William IV," Littlebourne, was granted an extension from 10 to 11 p.m. on August 20th, for the annual dinner of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 3 June, 1927. Price 1½d.

EXTENSION

The licensee of the "King William IV," Littlebourne, was granted an occasional licence from noon to 10 p.m. for the annual British legion sports at Littlebouurne on Whit-Monday.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 20 September, 1929.

POLICE AND RAMSGATE VISITOR

In regard to an application by the licensee of the "King William IV," Littlebourne, for two extensions for harvest suppers, Supt. Lane opposed as on the previous occasion there had been a large crown over from Ramsgate and they had made themselves a nuisance.

The licensee said that it was the first time he had heard of it.

The application was refused.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 May, 1932. Price 1½d.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

An occasional licence was granted to the licensee of the "king William IV," Littlebourne on May 14th, for the British Legion sports.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 18 October, 1935.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

Extensions

An extension was granted for the "King William IV," Littlebourne, from 10 to 10.30 p.m. on October 23rd for a dinner and concert of the Rat and Sparrow Club.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 November, 1935. Price 1½d.

EXTENSION

The licence of the "King William IV," Littlebourne, was granted an extension until 10.30 p.m. on November 9th, for a British Legion dinner and concert, and an occasional licence fro Lee Priory on December 20th, from 10 p.m. till 3.30 a.m., for the annual dinner and ball of the Linen League of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 21 October, 1938.

Wingham Petty Sessions.

The licensee of the "King William IV," Littlebourne, was granted extensions until 10.30 p.m. on 22nd and 29th October, for harvest suppers, and on October 27th for the annual dinner and distribution of prizes of the Ickham and Wickhambreux Rat and Sparrow Club.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 29 September 1939.

The "King William IV," Littlebourne, was granted an occasional license for stock sales at Each Farm, Ash on 4th October and at Street Farm, Preston, on 18th October.

 

 

4th January 2001 the pub was flooded after the Nailbourne, the stream running through the village broke its banks.

I believe this pub is now closed and being converted into houses. Sept 2010.

Evidently it was converted into a Children's Day Centre.

 

Former King William IV 2014

Above photo kindly sent by Peter Checksfield  showing the building as of 5 October 2014.

King William IV window

Above showing the window still advertising the public bar.

Current sign of King William IV

Above sign by Peter Checksfield.

 

LICENSEE LIST

WANSTALL William 1840+ Pigot's Directory 1840

COX William 1858-61+ Melville's 1858(beer retailer age 55 in 1861Census)

LANE John 1874-81 Post Office Directory 1874

TERRY William 1881-Nov/1907 (age 44 in 1891Census) Post Office Directory 1882Kelly's 1899Dover ExpressKelly's 1903

COLLARD Mr Percy Richard Nov/1907-Jan/14 Post Office Directory 1913Dover Express

BRISSENDEN Mr J R Jan/1914+ Dover Express

PAGE Herbert E 1934-38+ Kelly's 1934

BOREHAM William Charles to Dec/1971 dec'd

PHILPOTT Tim 2009?

https://pubwiki.co.uk/KingWilliamIV.shtml

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/kingwilliamiv.html

 

Pigot's Directory 1840From the Pigot's Directory 1840

Melville's 1858From Melville's Directory 1858

Post Office Directory 1874From the Post Office Directory 1874

Post Office Directory 1882From the Post Office Directory 1882

Kelly's 1899From the Kelly's Directory 1899

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Post Office Directory 1913From the Post Office Directory 1913

Kelly's 1934From the Kelly's Directory 1934

Dover ExpressFrom the Dover Express

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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