From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 23 July, 1869.

MILLS v. BINGHAM

In this case, an action of ejectment to recover possession of the "Lord Nelson" public-house, in the parish of Ringwould, Mr. Lanyon, a barrister of the House Circuit, appeared fro the plaintiff, and Mr. T. Fox, solicitor, of Dover, for the defendant.

Mr. Lanyon said it would be in his Honour's recollection, that a similar action to the present was brought before him by the same parties at the sitting of the Court held two months ago. The action was then brought under the 19th and 20th Vie. and his Honour non-suited the plaintiff on the ground that he had not shown that the usual relationship of landlord and tenant existed by the payment of rent, and that the case did not therefore come within his jurisdiction. In order to cure this defect, the present action had been brought, under the 11th section of the new Ac, which gave his Honour power to try all questions of title which could arise between landlord and tenant. The facts were no doubt fresh in his Honour's recollection; but he would venture to remind him that the plaintiff, Mr. Hills, was a brewer residing at Deal, and that the defendant, Bingham, was at present the occupier of the public-house in question, at Ringwould, of which Mr. Hills was the lessee. Mr. Hills wished to recover possession, but when, in the ordinary course of events, in April, 1868, he gave Bingham notice to quit, and also notice to give up possession of the premises when his yearly tenancy should expire, he was met by vexatious opposition on the part of Bingham, which opposition still continued. There was never any real doubt that the tenancy was from April to April, or that the notice to quit was a good one, and he was now in a position to prove this to his Honour beyond dispute. he could not understand what defence could be offered to the action; and he believed the fact was that the defendant was simply retaining a vexatious possession of the premises. He might state that Bingham had been desirous of obtaining a lease of the premises, and the plaintiff had been willing to grant a lease, but the negotiations had gone off through the fault of Bingham, and the plaintiff now appeared before his Honour to ask that Bingham might be got rid of as a tenant, after he should have proved that this was a tenancy going from April to April. It appeared that a Mrs. Burkett came into possession of the property on the death of Mr. Gilbee, her partner, in 1861. She let the possession under an agreement, which was simply a piece of waste paper, except that it clearly proved a yearly tenancy from April, 1861, to April, 1868, a Mr. Weeks, and Mrs. Burkett, or Mr. Elwin, the trustee under the will of the late Mr. Gilbee, received the rent from Mr. Weeks up to his death. Mrs. Weeks remained the tenant, and ultimately married Bingham, the defendant in the present action, who had since paid rent either to Mrs. Burkett or to Mr. Elwin, the trustee under the  will of Mr. Gilbee, up to April, 1868.  At that time the lease to Mr. Hills was executed, and Mrs. Burkett would tell the Court that she informed the defendant that she had parted with the property, and that he must for the future regard Mr. Hills as his landlord. He might mention that there was also an action for rent, the defendant having paid nothing for his occupation of the premises since April, 1868; but this would form the subject of another enquiry, and he would now confine himself to the question of the lease.

Mr. Lanyon then called Mrs. Burkett, who said she remembered Mr. and Mrs. Weeks going into possession of the "Lord Nelson," about six months before the death of Mr. Gilbee, in January, 1861. In July, 1861, the Weekes's paid her £4, one quarter's rent, commencing on the 6th April. From time to time she received the rent, always quarterly. Mr. Weekes died in 1863, and after his death witness received rent, as before, from Mrs. Weekes, now Mrs. Bingham. Mr. Bingham ultimately, on marrying Mrs. Weekes, went into possession of her public-house. Witness believed this was in 1865. She received first from Mr. Bingham on October, 1865. She remembered signing her interest in the house to Mr. Hills. She afterwards saw the Binghams, and told them what she had done. She was empowered to receive the rent till April, 1868, and she then gave the Binghams to understand that they were thenceforward to pay their rent to Mr. Hills.

Mr. E. Elwin, solicitor, of Dover, was called to prove that he was trustee under Mr. Gilbee's will.

Mr. Fox submitted that the probate should be produced.

Mr. Lanyon, however, contended that this was unnecessary. he had proved the yearly payment of the rent, and the transfer of the property to Mr. Hills, and this was sufficient.

Mr. Fox thought the probate ought to be produced, in order to satisfy the Court that the trustee under the will had power to lease.

Mr. Lanyon submitted that this was unnecessary; and an argument of some length ensued.

Ultimately, the Judge thought the evidence of Mr. Hills's right to possession had been sufficiently established, and gave judgement for the plaintiff.

Mr. Fox said his client would appeal against the decision.

Mr. Lanyon applied that his Honour would give an order for immediate possession, notwithstanding  the notice of appeal; and this was ultimately done.

The action for the recovery of a year's rent, from April, 1868, to April 1869, was then proceeded with. The facts had already transpired in the previous case, and his Honour, after the judgment he had  already delivered, had no hesitation in finding for the plaintiff in this case also.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 18 February, 1870

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A BANKRUPT

Henry George Bingham, whose bankruptcy has been before the County Court on several occasions, appeared on a criminal information, charging him with removing and concealing his goods, and Mr. Alfred Leney, the trade assignee under the bankruptcy, was charged with aiding and abetting him.

Mr. Minter appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Lewis for Bingham, Mr. Sergeant Sleigh, instructed by Mr. Fox, appearing for Mr. Leney.

The allegation was that goods to the amount of £30 had been removed from the premises of Bingham, who kept a public house at Ringwould, by Mr. Leney, just prior to the petition of the bankrupt being filed, and for the purpose of defrauding the other creditors.

The speeches of counsel and the evidence of witnesses were exceedingly protracted; and the Magistrates ultimately committed Bingham for trial at the Assizes, but dismissed the information against Mr. Leney, expressing at the same time their opinion that it never aught to have been laid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 6 June, 1873.

APPLICATION UNDER THE LICENSING ACT

Application was made by the landlord of the “Lord Nelson,” at Ringwould, for an extension of the hours of closing on the following night, on the occasion of a ball which was to take place at his house.

In reply to the questions of the Magistrates, the applicant said that the ball would not commence until ten o'clock, and he desired permission to keep the house open until three. The ball would be patronised principally by the servants and labouring classes of the neighbourhood.

The Magistrates observed that ten o'clock was rather a late hour to begin the evening.

The applicant explained that the ball was a sort of wind-up of the Whitsuntide holiday, and that many of those who would be present would have spent the day at Dover, Canterbury, or some other town in the neighbourhood.

The Magistrates considered that, under the circumstances, one o'clock would be sufficiently late for the house to remain open, and granted an extension till that hour.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 6 September, 1878

DOVER ANNUAL LICENSING SESSIONS

The annual sitting of the Dover Magistrates Licensing Committee took place on Monday at Dover, for the purpose of renewing public-house licenses, and hearing applications for new ones. The Licensing Committee consists of E. F. Astley, S. Finnis, R. Dickeson, T. E. Black, R. Rees, W. R. Mowll, and C. Stein, Esqrs. They were all present except Mr. Dickeson, who is in Cumberland.

LORD NELSON – THE RINGWOULD CLOCK AT FAULT

Charles Gibbs, the landlord, was called forward.

The Superintendent said his house was kept open during prohibited hours on Sunday morning, July 6th, and the defendant was fined.

The applicant said his clock was wrong, and he opened the doors ten minutes before time. The congregation were out of church, except those who had stopped to the sacrament. His neighbour Cash, of the “Five Bells” whose clock happened to be right, very good naturedly walked across to a Policeman and reported the circumstance.

The Bench told the applicant to take care in future, and granted the license.

Mr. Cash came forward and desired to explain.

Dr. Astley said that they did not want any explanation.

From the Dover Express, 20 May 1882.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

The Dover Borough Justices, acting as Cinque Ports Magistrates, investigated a case on Saturday in which a respectable looking man named Richard Gibbs was charged with attempting to take his life by cutting his throat on the 17th April last. It appeared that on that day the man seemed in a very unsettled state of mind, and kept asking to see his son who is a master carpenter and keeps the “Lord Nelson” public-house, at Ringwould. Subsequently a carpenter named Thomas Pellatt, working for the prisoner's son, saw his pass his workshop with his hand to his throat and blood oozing down his hand. P.C. William Pascall, K.C.C., 256, stationed at Ringwould, said he asked the prisoner why he committed the act, and he said “Poverty” and that he had cut his throat with a table knife. Dr. Davey, of Deal, attended and sewed up prisoner's throat, and he was taken to the Dover Union, where he has been up to the present day. Prisoner's son said his father had been a great deal of trouble, and lately he had to leave his (witness's) house in consequence of some difference between his wife and prisoner. Prisoner was remanded until Friday for a medical certificate to be procured.

From the Dover Express, 20 May 1882.

RINGWOULD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

The Dover Borough Justices, acting as Cinque Ports Magistrates, investigated a case on Saturday in which a respectable looking man named Richard Gibbs was charged with attempting to take his life by cutting his throat on the 17th April last. It appeared that on that day the man seemed in a very unsettled state of mind, and kept asking to see his son who is a master carpenter and keeps the "Lord Nelson" public-house, at Ringwould. Subsequently a carpenter named Thomas Pellatt, working for the prisoner's son, saw him pass the workshop with his hand to his throat and blood oozing down his hand. P.C. William Pascall, K.C.C., 256, stationed at Ringwould, said he asked the prisoner why he committed the act, and he said "Poverty” and that he had cut his throat with a table knife. Dr. Davey, of Deal, attended and sewed up prisoner's throat, and he was taken to the Dover Union, where he has been up to the present time. Prisoner's son said his father had been a great deal of trouble, and lately had had to leave his (witness's) house in consequence of some difference between his wife and prisoner. Prisoner was remanded until Friday for a medical certificate to be procured.

From the Dover Express 19 August 1882

RINGWOULD

Shocking Case of Suicide.—On Monday an inquest was held at the "Five Bells," Ringwould, before W. H. Payn, Esq., coroner, touching the death of James Gardener, an agricultural labourer, who committed suicide by cutting his throat. The deceased was a man of very intemperate habits, and of late seemed to be at times quite insane. On several occasions he had threatened to destroy himself, and one day last week whilst in his home alone he cut his throat in a shocking manner. A medical man was called in, but in a short time after his having committed the rash deed he expired.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 8 September, 1882. Price 1d.

THE LORD NELSON, RINGWOULD

Mr. Gibbs, the owner of this house was called, there being a complaint against him, but he did not appear.

From the Dover Express 19 January 1894

FATAL ACCIDENT TO A FARM LABOURER.

Mr. Sydenham Payn, the Borough and Liberties Coroner, held an Inquest on Saturday afternoon at the "Lord Nelson," Ringwould, on the body of William Mount, a farm labourer, who was found shot dead on that morning. The following is the evidence taken:—

Harriet Mount said: I live at Abbott Cottage, Ringwould. The body the jury have viewed was that of my husband, William Mount. His age was 74 years. He was a farm labourer, and in the employ of Mr. Broadley. Between six and seven this morning he got up at his usual time, and went into the next room. I got up about 8 o'clock and went into the front room, and saw the deceased lying on the floor. After he left my room I heard the report of a gun. When I went in o the room I saw him lying on his side with a gun by his right side. My little walking stick was lying by it.

John William Cash, landlord of the "Lord Nelson," Ringwould. said that he was called between 8 and 8.30 by the last witness, and went to the cottage, where he found the deceased lying on the floor. The deceased was dressed. By him was lying a gun with the muzzle towards his face, and a stick on the same side. There was a good deal of blood, and the man was quite dead. Witness Last saw deceased alive on the previous morning going to work with his gun.

Police Constable Arthur Adams, K.C.C., said he was stationed at Ringwould. About 9.30 that morning he called to the deceased's cottage and found him as described by the last witness. The stick (produced) was clutched by his right hand. His left hand was black as if from powder. There was a large wound on the right side of the mouth. The three boxes now produced containing powder, caps, and shot, were found on the table. Witness could find no marks of any discharged shots in the room, which smelt strongly of discharged powder.

Mr. R. S. Davey, surgeon, of Walmer, who examined the body that day at 4.30, said that there was a large wound inside the mouth doing a great deal of damage internally. The wounds were such as would be caused by the discharge of a gun. The discharge he thought was just inside the mouth. He noticed that the left hand was black with discharged powder. He should think the discharge came from the left side. The inside of the mouth was blackened, and the discharge must have been either inside the mouth or very close to it, but in his opinion the discharge was inside the month. The actual cause of death was injury to the tongue and base of the brain, and loss of blood,

The jury returned a verdict of ''Accidental death."
 

From the Dover Express, 11 October 1904.

THEFT FROM THE NAVVY MISSION HALL. ARREST AT DEAL.

At the Dover Police Court on Friday. Henry James Sullivan was charged with stealing from the Navvy Mission Hall, Snargate Street, on the 27th September, nine bagatelle balls, value 20s.

Thomas Cleverley, Navvy Missionary, living at the Wellington Hall, Snargate Street, said:- I know the defendant by having seen him in our Mission Hall. I first saw him a week ago last Sunday night. There is a bagatelle board in the reading room. On Tuesday, the 27th ult. I missed nine balls from the bagatelle board in the reading room, which is during the winter time always kept open. The balls were there on the Tuesday morning. There was a notice that it was open to employees of Messrs. Pearson and Son. Anyone, however, could walk in. When I missed the balls I gave information to the police. On Saturday I was asked by the police to go to Deal to look at some balls at the Deal Police Station. I did so and saw the nine balls produced, which I identify as the property of the Navvy Mission Society. Their value is 20/.

Chief Constable Knott said: Yesterday morning at 11 o'clock I was in the Deal Police Court when the prisoner was brought before the Magistrates on remand for having these nine bagatelle balls in his possession he having been charged on suspicion of having stolen them. He was afterwards dismissed, and I at once re-arrested him, and after having cautioned him, told him that he would be charged with stealing these nine balls from the Navvy Mission Hall, Dover, and that he would be taken before the Magistrates at the Dover Police Court. He made no reply, but on the way from Deal to Dover he said, "I was at the Walmer Barracks, where I saw a discharged soldier, who had the balls and said he had brought them home from Pretoria. He asked 10s. for them, and as I had 11/8 in my pocket, I gave him what he asked.”

The case was remanded till Saturday so that evidence could be obtained from Deal.

The case was heard again on Saturday, when additional evidence was given by the landlord of the "Lord Nelson," Ringwould, where the prisoner exhibited the balls on Thursday, and by P.C. Ratcliffe, of the K.C.C., who arrested the prisoner at Deal with the balls in his possession. The prisoner, who reserved his defence, decided to go before a jury, telling the chairman that he could see that he had made up his mind to send him to prison, and he would go before a jury and have fair play. He was accordingly committed for trial to the Quarter Sessions.

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

ADJOURNED LICENSING SESSIONS

The adjourned licensing sessions were held at the Town Hall on Friday last before Sir William Crundall ( in the Chair), Messrs. W. J. Barnes, H. F. Edwin, C. J. Sellena, F. W. Prescott, H. Hobday, F. G. Wright, Edward Chitty, C. E. Beaufoy, A. Clark, W. N. Atkins, W. J. Palmer and Dr. C. Wood.

Mr. Monings who objected to the renewal of the licence of the "Lord Nelson." He stated that he served the notice on Mr. Taylor, who was in charge of the home, and was the responsibility of Messrs. Thompson's, the brewers. He objected on the grounds of redundancy.

Inspector Paramour said that the "Lord Nelson" was of the same rateable value as the other house (King William). The rateable value was £15 gross. The landlord was a saddler. There was a small public bar, a tap room, a small sitting room, three small bedrooms and a kitchen. There was nothing against the house.

Mr. Matthews said that, no doubt the circumstances at Ringwould had changed. Some years ago there was probably ample room for the three houses, and just before the war it was thought that there was the prospect of a colliery coming to the neighbourhood. They did not, however, tie their hands.

As there was no opposition, the licenses were referred to the Compensation Authority.

The licence of the "Lord Nelson" was then transferred to Mr. Taylor, the Secretary of the brewery.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 August 1918.

TWO RINGWOULD PUBLIC HOUSES TO CLOSE.

At a meeting of the East Kent Compensation Authority held last week at Canterbury, Lord Harris presiding in the following cases, which had been referred by the Dover Licensing Sessions. The owners and tenants agreed to the houses being transferred for compensation: “Lord Nelson,” Ringwould, fully licensed, licensee James G. Taylor; owners Messrs. Thompson of Walmer; and “King William,” Ringwould, fully licensed, licensee George H. Ash of Rochester, registered owners, Messrs Alfred Leney and Co. Ltd, of Phoenix Brewery, Dover.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 22 November, 1918.

EAST KENT COMPENSATION AUTHORITY

A supplemental meeting of the East Kent Compensation Authority to apportion the compensation between owners and tenants of licensed houses which are being closed, was held at the Sessions House, Canterbury, on November 11th. Allocations were made as follows:- "Lord Nelson," Ringwould, £484. The whole of the allocation went to the owners, Thompson and Sons Ltd., Walmer, the house being under management; "King William," Ringwould, £744- £650 to the owners, Alfred Leney and Co., Ltd., Castle Street, Dover, and £94 to the tenant, George Herbert Ash.