From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 8 November, 1867.

INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE

Edwin Groombridge, the proprietor of "William IV" public-house, was summoned for having his house open during prohibited hours on Sunday last.

Police-sergeant Stevens proved the offence.

Defendant was clearly ordered to pay the costs, 8s., it being his first offence.

10 February 1978, Dover Express.

No objections to brewers' plan, which means demolition of another piece of old Dover:

HOPES of finding a new rich area of archaeological interest - only yards from Dover's ancient town hall came this week with a request for time to dig in Biggin Street where shops are to be demolished for redevelopment.

The planning committee on Friday granted permission to Whitbread Fremlin Ltd., to demolish 72-77 Biggin Street and to replace them with shops, offices and ancillary storage premises.

This was after fears had been expressed by some Dover district councillors that the firm could demolish the properties and then fail to build on the site - thus leaving an ugly gap.

Warning of the potential risk of an ugly gap came from Councillor Harold Dennard (Dover). But Miss Kathleen Goodfellow replied that the firm was hardly a fly-by-night organisation.

A clause in the planning agreement ties the applicant down to rebuilding in a set time.

The Archaeological Rescue Unit has asked permission to investigate the area, after demolition, to find further traces of hidden features of ancient Dover. Councillors hope this will be acceptable by Whitbreads.

The seven properties to come down include the King WiIliam IV public house, a wine merchants, Eddie Crush's old shop now used for the sale of novelties, the old British Queen public house and Giddens the jewellers.

In their place it - is proposed to erect five shops and a kiosk, with about 4,000 square feet of offices above.

Pedestrian access is also proposed to the ancient St. Edmund's ChapeI, which fronts Priory Road. It is planned to make the chapel the central feature of a garden area. But who will pay for the maintenance of this amenity area has yet to be decided.

Demolition of the shops will reveal a hitherto hidden wall of the little wayside chapel and it is also intended to renovate this.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 28 February, 1868.

CAUTION TO DRIVERS.

Thomas Bond, a carter, was charged with having a horse and cart under his care and being at such a distance from the cart as not to have due control over the horse - briefly, with leaving his horse and cart unattended.

The defendant did not deny the charge, but pleaded in extenuation that he was not away from his horse and cart "more than ten minutes or a quarter of an hour."

The presiding Magistrate (Mr. Mowll) said that a hundred accidents might have happened in that time, and defendant must be aware that he ought not to leave his horse and cart at all.

The defendant said he did not leave the horse and cart at a place where it would start. Besides, it was a very quiet animal and would not move unless made. (A laugh.)

The Bench said these excuses did not avail, and ordered the evidence to be taken.

Police-constable Baker then said that he was in Biggin Street on Thursday evening about ten minutes past 7, when he saw the defendant's horse and cart straying up the street. The cart was loaded with dung, and there was no one in charge of the horse, so he pulled it up, and drew the horse and cart by the side of the road near the "Prince Albert," where he waited with it five-and-thirty minutes. A friend of the defendant's then came along and tried to take the horse and cart away, but witness refused to give it up to anyone but the driver; and the defendant shortly afterwards made his appearance from the "King William the Fourth," a public-house in the same street. When the defendant came up he was rather the worse for drink, but as his friend was with him he allowed him to take the horse and cart away. He asked him, however, if he was aware how long the horse and cart had been there, and the defendant remarked that he had been away only to get something to eat and drink. Witness, however, recognised the defendant as a Dover man, and knew that he lived in Victoria Row, and he then implored him to say nothing of the matter, but witness told him that it was a case he could not overlook.

In answer to the evidence of the policeman, the defendant repeated that he was away from his horse and cart only a quarter of an hour, and he thought he was by law entitled to be away twenty minutes.

The Magistrates said the case was clearly proved against him. As an old driver he must have been aware that he was breaking the law. The Bench understood he was a married man with a large family, and they regretted, therefore, that in punishing him they were punishing indirectly his wife and little ones; but such a case as this could not be passed over with due regard to the safety of the public. He would be fined 2s. 6d. and the costs; in default, seven days' imprisonment.

The defendant said he had no money, and must go to prison. He was removed in custody.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 28 January, 1876. Price 1d.

WORKMEN'S DINNER

On Wednesday evening, Richard Dickeson, Esq, gave a dinner to the workmen of Mr. Parks, builder, who were employed at his house, No. 1, Esplanade. The repast was got up in excellent style by Mr. Edwin Groombridge, of the “King William IV Inn,” Biggin Street, and about fifty sat down to a substantial spread. After the usual loyal toast had been given and suitably responded to, the healths of Mr. and Miss Dickeson were drunk with great enthusiasm, the toast being acknowledged by Mr. E. Brewer. The health of their employer, Mr. G. T. Parks, was afterwards given and suitable responded to. The room was very neatly decorated, the principal motto, in needlework, being, “Long life and happiness to Mr. and Miss. Dickeson.” The party broke up at eleven, being well satisfied with the evening's diversion.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 6 January, 1882. Price 1d.

OBTAINING SPIRITS BY FALSE PRETENCES

Ann Rogers, a woman of about 40 years of age, was charged with obtaining by false pretences several quantities of spirituous liquors, value 8s. 7d., the property of George Richardson, landlord of the “William IV” public-house, on the 24th November, 1881, and other days.

The prisoner pleaded Guilty, therefore the evidence was not taken in full.

Mr. Croft prosecuting in this case, and said there were other charges against the prisoner, which were not in the indictment. Several quantities of brandy, whiskey, and wines, but as the prisoner pleaded Guilty, it was not needed to go into the case.

Mr. Long, surgeon, was called, and in answer to the Recorder, said: On the 22nd of Nov. this woman came to my surgery for medicine for herself. She was complaining of the effects of drink more than anything else, and nervousness. On the first occasion the prisoner's breath smelt of liquor. She is a stranger to me and so is her husband.

Superintendent Sanders, in reply to the Recorder, said: The prisoner's husband is a journeyman cooper at Mr. Leney's brewers, in Dover. About two years ago, when she was separated from her husband, and was living with her children in Adrian Street, I was called to her room by the husband on account of her drunken habits. The room and children were in a filthy state. I told the husband he ought to take the children himself, and since then he has done so. On the 15th of February she was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment for illegally pledging a shawl, which was for the purpose of obtaining drink. The shawl belonged to a woman at whose house she lodged. The prisoner came from a good family, but her offences arise from her drunken habits. The magistrates at the time thought it would be best for her to go to gaol because it would keep her from drink, and thought the advice of the Chaplain might cause her to change her course.

In answer to the Clerk the Superintendent said he did not know previously that she broke her leg, and went into the hospital, nor did he know how she broke it.

The Recorder: Has she been in prison since the conviction?

The Superintendent: Yes, sir.

The Recorder (to the prisoner): You said before the magistrates that you would not do it again if they would give you one more trial.

The prisoner: I am very sorry for what I have done.

The Recorder, in passing sentence, said it was a very distressing case. It was not as if it were the first offence. It was the drink. In February last year you were sent to prison for one month for unlawfully pledging a shawl to be enabled to indulge in this shocking vice. It is not for obtaining one quantity on one day, but you did it systematically, and so obtained these quantities of spirits to the value of 8s. 7d., and neglecting your family, and now you appear here before me with this offence against you. You said before the magistrates that you would do better if you had one more trial. I wish I could believe that. In passing sentence I take into consideration that you have been in prison since the 24th of November, and you will be imprisoned for one calendar month. Last time you had a month, and I give it to you now, but if you come up again you will be more severely punished.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 3 March, 1882. Price 1d.

ASSAULT AND WILFUL DAMAGE

James Williams, a gunner of the Royal Artillery, was charged with being drunk and wilfully breaking two panes of glass at the “King William Inn,” and with assaulting the landlord.

George Richardson, proprietor of the “King William” public-house in Biggin Street, said: The prisoner came into my house last night between seven and eight o'clock, and asked to be served with some beer, which I refused to do, as he was already the worse for liquor. The prisoner then became very rude and disorderly, and refused to leave the house when I asked him. He left the bar and went into the passage, and attempted to go into one of my private rooms. I tried to pull him out, and he placed his hands round my throat to strangle me and in the struggle which followed the prisoner broke two panes of glass. He then ran out and up the street, and I followed him and caught up with him opposite the Police-station. He became very violent, and kicked me, and I gave him in charge of a constable who came up.

The prisoner said that he was very sorry for what had occurred, but he had no recollection of it.

The bench ordered the prisoner to appear at the Court the next day, to pay the costs of 5s.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 7 June, 1889. Price 1d.

TRANSFER

The license of the "King William IV," Biggin Street, which has been held for many years by Mrs. Isabella Bray, was, last Friday, transferred to Mr. Frank Beeching Kidd.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 11 December, 1903. Price 1d.

APPLICATION

An application for approval of alteration proposed to be carried out at the "King William IV," Biggin Street, was granted.

Dover Express 5th July 1946.

DROVE ON TO PAVEMENT.

At Dover, on Friday, before Mr. David Bradley, presiding.

Edward James Mills, aged 36, a milk roundsman, of 56 Manor Road, pleaded not guilty to driving dangerously in Biggin Street on May 23rd and to the alternative charge of driving without due care and attention.

Mr. E. Weale prosecuted and Mr. R. Chope appeared for the defendant.

Frederick William Collins of 15 Lowther Road, a haulage contractor, said that about 8 a.m. on May 23rd he was driving his lorry down Biggin Street towards the Market Square. A brewer’s van stood stationery outside the “King William IV” and from the opposite direction he could see a small van approaching the bottle-neck near the GPO. As far as witness was concerned, the road was clear for him to go through but, when near the brewer’s van, the other car suddenly cut across in front of him, mounted the footpath and passed on witness’ near side. Fortunately there was no one walking on the path at the time.

Ernest Edward McMillan, 101 St. Radigund’s Road, said he was offloading the brewer’s dray outside the “King William IV” when the lorry, driven by Collins, suddenly stopped about 6 feet away from his radiator. The next thing he saw was a small car passing on the wrong side of the road and half on the pavement.

Defendant said he had been driving for 10 years. He saw the brewer’s dray and, beyond that and approaching him, was the lorry driven by Collins. He thought he had ample time to pass the dray, but the lorry appeared to accelerate and witness decided to change down, but the car suddenly jumped out of gear. It was a matter of hitting the dray or the approaching lorry or of mounting the path and, seeing that there were no pedestrians about, he chose the latter course to avoid a crash.

Defendant was found guilty of driving without care and attention and was fined £5 and £2. 17s costs.