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2 Mill Lane / 19 St. Radigund's Street
Canterbury
01227 456057
https://www.millerscanterbury.co.uk/
https://whatpub.com/millers-arms
Above location identified on the 1874 map by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, circa 1924. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. The huge building was
Abbot's Mill, opened in 1792 and destroyed by fire in 1933 when it was
called Denne's Mill. |
Above photo, circa 1931, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, Tuesday 17th October 1933. Showing fire at Denne's Mill,
which destroyed the 7-storey mill and damaged the pub and adjacent
properties. Until the fire, after the Cathedral, Denne's Mill had been
Canterbury's second largest building. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, Tuesday 17th October 1933, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, Tuesday 17th October 1933, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, circa 1955. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo by Edward Wilmot 1965. |
Above print from "City of Canterbury Streets and Buildings," drawing by
John Berbiers. 15 April 1965. |
Above matchbox, circa 1974, kindly sent by John Gladish. |
Above photo, 1977, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.
Licensees, Maria and Simon Taylor, with Dickie Davies (presenter of
ITV's World of Sport) on the pub's opening night, following extensive
renovation. The pub had previously been a Fremlin's, then a Whitbread
house, before being closed down. In 1977 it became Canterbury's first
city centre free house. In his hand, Dickie Davies holds a telegram
which read "Please give Maria and husband Simon my best wishes and I
wish them great success at the "Miller's Arms" and hope it becomes The
Greatest. The best of luck from The Greatest, Muhammad Ali." Maria was
the daughter of Mike Barrett, the well-known boxing promoter. |
Above photo circa 1978, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Showing licensee
Simon Taylor and his Newfoundland named Friend. |
Above photo circa 1979, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Photo was taken
not long after Whitbread's sold the pub and it became a free house. |
 Above photos taken by Paul Skelton, 19 May 2012. |
 
Millers Arms signs July 1991.
Above with thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com
 
Millers Arms sign left November 1994, sign right by Paul Skelton
2012.
Above with thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com |
 
Above signs, 2020, kindly taken and sent by Roger Pester. |
In 1144 King Stephen sold Abbots Mill to the Abbot of St. Augustine's on
the condition that all corn ground could only be used for the monastery.
Henry II during his reign between 1154 and 1189 gave the mill to the people
of Canterbury. The mill was leased to various tenants by the City of
Canterbury until 1792 when a new mill was built on the same site from plans
drawn up by John Smeaton, this towered 100 feet tall and was on the opposite
side to that of the pub of which the first part was built in 1826. The land
upon which the pub was built was originally marsh and wasteland and was
purchased for £30 by a Mr. Acors. The premises was originally a "Book and
Ballard" shop run by his widow. Extensions were added and the premises
started to supply drink for the millers opposite and the "Millers Arms" was
opened.
However the mill, now known as Denne's Mill was destroyed on 17th
October, 1933 when a fire took hold. A large beam fell across the "Miller's
Arms" but the pub was saved by the swift action of the firemen.
The Inns of Canterbury by Edward Wilmot's,1988, mentions a document, date
circa 1945 that gives the description of clientele at the pub as being "Labouring
and artisans."
The premises gained a Grade II listing on 7 September 1972.
The Taylor brothers were licensees in 1977 and they started the new
Canterbury Brewery.
Andrew Baxter tells me that he used to spend most
weekends with the boys in this Pub. He says:- "We travelled from East
Ham as the music and DJ’s around 1986-1989 was the best around. It
followed the rise of Radio London and the Soul and RnB music centred
around the Streetsounds record label. I
remember the late Steve Walsh used to do an odd night there. It had a
great atmosphere and was like a small nightclub Friday and Saturdays was
rammed.
More recently, the pub was again extended and became an hotel and
restaurant.
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From the Kentish Chronicle, Saturday, 3 September,
1859. Price 1½d.
CITY PETTY SESSIONS—Thursday.
There were six applications for new licenses.
Isaac Pierce, for the “Millers
Arms,” St Radigunds;
The whole of these, were refused.
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South Eastern Gazette, 11 September, 1860.
CITY PETTY SESSIONS.
There were nine applications for new licenses, as follow:—
Granted. Isaac Barlow, for the "Tower
Inn," Pound-lane.
Elizabeth Martin, for the "Kentish
Arms," sic Westgate.
Refused. William Todd, for the "Plough,"
Pound-lane.
Isaac Pierce, for the "Millers
Arms," Pound-lane.
James Henry Robins, for the "Sovereign,"
Castle-street.
Richard Yeomans, for the "Steam
Packet," North-lane.
John Sidney Hawkes, for the "Cannon
Inn," Northgate sic.
Edward Yeomans, for the "Man
of Kent."
John Gillis, for the "Fortune
of War."
A billiard license was granted to William Dilnot Wildish, Parade.
Possible "Brewery
Tap."
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South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 10 September 1861.
CITY PETTY SESSIONS. THURSDAY.
The applications for new licenses were then made, as follows:- Charles Hills, "Miller's Arms," North Lane. Granted.
Isaac Pierce, "Miller's Arms," St. Radigund's. Granted.
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From the Kentish Chronicle, 6 February, 1864.
WEDNESDAY.
Thomas Ranehett was charged with assaulting Isaac Pierce, the landlord
of the “Millers' Arms” public house.
Complainant deposed that on the previous afternoon, about half-past four
the prisoner went to his house, but as he was intoxicated, complainant
refused to draw him any beer. Prisoner was provoked at his refusal, and
he struck the complainant a violent blow in the eye. The police were
sent for, and the defendant given into custody.
Prisoner in defence said that he had no recollection of entering the
complainant's house at all.
The Bench found him guilty, and he was fined 5s., and 6s. costs.
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From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 21 September 1867. Price 1d.
FIGHTING IN THE STREETS
Arthur, Mary and William Rackham were summoned by the police for
fighting in the streets. It appeared that the parties had been drinking
in the "Miller's Arms" on Sunday, and that on their leaving (in the
afternoon) they fought in the streets, thereby creating a disturbance.
The magistrates, after cautioning the defendants to their future
conduct, dismissed the charge on their consenting to pay the costs. |
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From the Whitstable Times, 24 December, 1870.
Charles Love, miller, was charged with awaiting Henry Smith, in the
“Millers’ Arms,” on Saturday night last.
Complainant deposed that as he was warming some porter in the
public-house named, at ten o’clock on Saturday night, defendant went in
and called him a “shadow.” Complainant told him he was no more of a
shadow than he was, and defendant offered to fight him, and when he
refused to respond to the challenge, defendant called him a “brummagem
-----“ and pushed him, causing him to fall to the ground, and the fall
stunned him for a time. Defendant persisted in fighting, but he
(complainant) got away by running out of the door.
Defendant:- How could you run if you were stunned? (Laughter.)
Complainant:- It only lasted for a time.
Robert Gawler said defendant commenced the quarrel by pushing the
plaintiff about; at least this was the first of the affair he witnessed.
Defendant said plaintiff had been discharged from the service he was in,
and had given him a deal of trouble. When he went in the house
complainant began swearing at him and assumed a fighting attitude, and
complainant in the scuffle fell down, and afterwards ran out of the door
like a shot.
David Tilly said when he went in complainant was using most beastly
language, which arose from an old grievance. He did not see any scuffle.
In answer to the Bench, witness admitted that he did not see the
commencement of the quarrel.
The Magistrates thought there might have been some provocation, and
fined defendant 5s; costs, 11s.
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LICENSEE LIST
PIERCE Isaac 1858-65 dec'd (also gardener age 39 in 1861 )
  
PIERCE Maria 1865+
DALTON George (married above) 1865-74+
DALTON Mrs 1882-88+
DIXON Walter J B 1891-1903+ (age 38 in 1901)
  
WOOD William Herbert 1911-38+ (age 41 in 1911)
   
TAYLOR Simon & brother 1977-79+
HENDERSON Mr P 2012+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/MillersArms.shtml
From Melville's Directory 1858
From the Post Office Directory 1862
From the Post Office Directory 1874
Census
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From the Post Office Directory 1891
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From the Post Office Directory 1938
Inns of Canterbury
by Edward Wilmot, 1988
Census
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