From the East Kent Mercury, 13 July, 1983.

Mrs J Fermor, of East Farleigh, sent the East Kent Mercury this picture of the "Oak and Ivy" in Denmark Place, Deal, in 1910. Her grandfather, Arthur Wackett, is driving the 36-seat brake in hand, Does anyone know what was the occasion?

From the Deal, Walmer & Sandwich Mercury, 27 March, 1872.

The license of the "Oak and Ivy," beer-house, Blenheim Road, was endorsed from Mr. Curling to Mr. D. Shelvey, who expressed a wish to alter the sign of the house to the "Flying Horse." He was informed that he must wait till the next licensing day.

From the Deal, Walmer & Sandwich Mercury, 4 April, 1874.

UNSUSTAINED CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

John Dessant a labourer, was summoned by Thomas H. Pain, cooper, for assaulting him at the "Oak and Ivy," public-house, on the 24th March.

Defendant pleaded not guilty.

Thomas Pain deposed: On the morning in question I called in at the "Oak and Ivy," and whilst there the defendant came to the bar. Seeing him there, and having some business with him, I called him into a room and asked him how we could arrange about some things which were in a store which I used formerly to hire. I said the casks must be got out as the parties had sent for them. The answer he gave me was, "We will settle it this way, you ____", and then struck me a blow on the nose. I went and asked the landlady Mrs. Shelvey, for some water to wash my face in as it was bloody, and whilst I was washing he hit me again, as near the same place as he could. He then went away, and I afterwards left. As I was passing the "Swan Inn" on my way home I saw defendant and some other men at work there. I asked him if he were not ashamed of what he had done, when one of his mates said, "Give it to him again Johnny." He came towards me as if he were going to strike me, but someone came round the corner at the time and he went back and resumed his work. I walked away.

Cross-examined: I was not drunk at the time I spoke to you. I will swear that I did not strike you. The door of the room was shut so that anyone standing at the bar could not see what was done. I did not fall down at all. The scar on my nose was not occasioned by my falling, but by a blow. I still say you struck me a second time whilst I was washing my face. The landlady was present in the bar when this second blow was struck, but whether she saw it or not I cannot say. There was also a man sitting in front of the bar and I said to him, " You are a witness," but he laughed and said "That's nothing; I know nothing about it."

In defence Dessent  said, he went into the public-house to get a glass of beer, and whilst at the bar Pain, who was sitting in the room, called him in and said he wanted him to go at ten o'clock the next morning to Mr. Mercer's office. Defendant inquired what he was to go there for, and added, "Tom, you are drunk, and I won't talk to you now; but I am working at the "Swan," and if you have anything to say to me you can come there to-morrow." He then walked out of the room, and Pain followed him and wanted to know if he said that he (Pain) was drunk. Dessent told him that he was not sober, and then Pain struck him, when defendant gave him a push and he fell backwards. Pain then got up and pulled off his jacket and stuck him again. He denied most positively that he struck Pain whilst they were in the room, or until he had received two blows from him. They were not in the room for more than three or four minutes, and the table was between them.

Luke Amys, a coastguard pensioner, living in Gladstone-road, said he was at the bar of the "Oak and Ivy" in company of a man named Castle, when the defendant came in. Pain was in the tap-room, and called Dessent into him. The door was half open, and after the defendant had gone in he saw the two in there. After they had been in about five minutes Dessent came out again, and Pain followed him. Dessent said "If you have anything to say to me, I am working at the "Swan"; you are not in a fit state for me to talk to." pain said "Do you mean to say I am drunk?" Dessent replied "Well, you are not sober, Tom;" and with that Pain struck Dessent, and then the latter struck him and knocked him down. Witness was quite positive no blows were struck by either of the men in the room; if there had been he must have seen them. Pain did not have water to wash his face. Witness added that he knew neither of the men, and was no way interested in the case.

William Castle, the man referred to, fully corroborated the statement of the defendant and his witness.

The Magistrates, without retiring, said they were quite of opinion, from the evidence which they had heard, that Pain was really the aggressor, and the case would therefore be dismissed.

From the East Kent Mercury, 6 September, 2001

RUNNING A PUB IS A TALL ORDER.

There is more to running a pub than pulling pints as Derek and Christine Crittel have discovered. Since arriving at the "Oak and Ivy" in Blenheim Road, Deal, they have found themselves at the top of the tallest building in Ashford. But they didn't abseil alone, a team of regulars joined them [...]" The result was that Action Research were more than £323 richer.