From the Folkestone Herald, Saturday, 22 February, 1913.

ELHAM LICENSING SESSIONS

BLACK DUCK AND ARK INN LICENSES

The adjourned Elham Licensing Sessions were held at Seabrook on Thursday, the Magistrates being Messrs. E. Garnet Man in the chair, F. E. Burke, A. S. Jones, R. J. Linton, Councillor H. F. Jacques, Mr. H. Rigden, and Mr. W. G. Tester.

THE ARK INN, LYMINGE

Mr. Knocker, of Dover, made formal application for the renewal of this license.

The Deputy Clerk said it was objected to on the grounds that it was not required.

P.S. Martin said there was about 26 private houses in the vicinity of the “Ark Inn” at Lyminge. The “New Inn” was about 70 yards away, and was larger and better constructed. His opinion was that the house was not required, and that the “Ark” was the least desirable of the two inns.

By Mr. Knocker: There was another house about a mile away. He thought that the “New Inn” would be sufficient to serve the district of Each End Hill. There had been no complaints about the “Ark,” but it took trade from the tramps and such people. He admitted that the house had been perfectly well conducted. There was not a living for the two houses. There were five licenses in Lyminge. The whole district there was over supplied.

Supt. Holland said the population of Lyminge was 1,467; there were five licensed houses – one to every 293 persons.

By the Bench – The population included the workhouse inmates. The license had been transferred five times during the past six years. Mr. Charles Wyatt was now there. It was a tied house, and he would think the tenant made a very poor living.

Mr. Knocker: Do you think that the tenants hearing that the house had been referred for the last few years, would get out of the place again as soon as possible?

Supt, Hollande Well, they were told of that before they took it on.

Mr. Knocker said the “Ark Inn” was referred in 1905 and again in 1906 on the grounds of redundancy, but the Compensation Authority renewed it. The population had much increased since then. In 1906 the average barrelage for three years was 98½, while in 1912 the three years average barrelage was 120. This meant 70,000 half pint glasses of beer during the latter three years. The new tenant – a most worthy man would see a gross profit of £220 according to the increase on the trade since he had been in the house. There was also a trade in groceries, minerals and food. The tenant saw an increase continue, so, he had hopes of laying up for his old age. He was 63.

The Chairman: He will have his old age pension shortly.

Mr. Knocker: Not in this house, your worships; there is far too much profit. (Laughter). Continuing, he asked the Bench to adjourn the application so that they might have placed before them plans and particulars for an ordinary removal of the license from Each End Hill to Lyminge village, but he asked more particularly that they should renew the license for one year on the understanding that at the end of that time it would come before them together with a proposal for a transference to a fresh site.

The Bench acceded to the request for an adjournment, deciding to hear the application again in six weeks time.

From the Folkestone Herald, Saturday, 5 April, 1913.

THE LICENSE REFERRAL

AMUSING EVIDENCE. CUSTOMERS “FOLLOW THE BEER.”

An adjourned sitting of the Elham Licensing Sessions was held at Seabrook Court on Thursday, the Magistrates being Mr. F. E. Burke (in the chair), Mr. A. M. Curteis, Mr. A. S. Jones, Mr. R. J. Linton, Alderman, J. E. Quested, and Mr. W. G. Tester. The court was crowded with license holders and others.

Mr. Knocker, for the tenant, made a formal application for the renewal of the license of the “Ark Inn,” Eachend Hill, Lyminge.

Sir Montague Bradley, of Dover, opposed the application on behalf of certain residents at Lyminge, Mr. R. H. Arrowsmith (of Messrs. Kingsford, Arrowsmith, and Co., Canterbury) opposed on behalf of the other license holders in the vicinity of the proposed new site, Mr. E. W. Mellor opposed on behalf of the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Captain W. L. Rossiter, who stated he had the signatures of about 190 residents, opposed on behalf of the Lyminge Parish Council. Mr. Ernest Smith represented the overseers. Mr. Travis (Secretary of the East Kent Temperance Federation) was present.

It will be remembered that when the case was before the court six weeks previous, the application was adjourned in order to allow of the production of plans, etc., in reference to a proposed new site in Lyminge village for the “Ark Inn.”

Mr. Chas Wyatt, the tenant, was the first witness. He said he was satisfied that he could get a good living if the Inn was removed to the proposed new site.

In reply to Sir Montague Bradley, Mr. Wyatt stated that he had only been in Lyminge four months. He expected to have more trade if the license was removed to the new site, Court House, in the village. The new site was almost 1¼ miles from the present site.

Sir Montague Bradley: And you expect that your present trade would follow you to the new place, which is 1¼ miles further?

Mr. Wyatt: No, they would not follow me. They would follow the beer. (Laughter.)

I knew that was the great attraction. Is your trade increasing?

Yes, greatly.

Your personal influence, I suppose?

May be.

Mr. Percy Potter produced the plans of alterations proposed to be made at Court House if the license of the “Ark Inn” was removed to there. The various apartments would be much more commodious than those in the existing “Ark Inn” premises.

Mr. Ernest Edmund Thomas (Ashford), an official of the S.E. and C. Railway Company, said he had known the Elham Valley district for about 25 years. There were about 10,000 in and out passengers at Lyminge station per annum. They were largely visitors in the summer months. It was within his knowledge that there was a number of enquiries at the station for refreshments, the nearest licensed house to the station at present was eight minutes' walk. He would say the number of enquiries for refreshments at the station was twelve a day in the summer, and one a day, perhaps, in the winter. Court House – the proposed new site of the “Ark Inn” – was about 130 yards from and faced the station.

Mr. Henry Thomas Smith, Acrise Court Farm, Lyminge, said he had resided at Lyminge practically all his life. Nothing was more wanted than another license in the district. His opinion was that where there was only one licensed house, there was far more intemperance than if there were two.

In answer to Sir M. Bradley, witness submitted that where he lived was 1½ miles from Court House.

Sir M. Bradley: And you consider that one licensed house means more evil than two?

Mr. Smith: I do. Put all this lot (indicating the crowded court) into one house, and what would be the result? (Laughter.)

Mr. Alfred George Parker, Rhodes Farm, Lyminge, said he had known the district for about 50 years. He “must admit that he was not against the proposed new house.”

By Sir M. Bradley: Witness lived about 1¼ miles from the spot.

Mr. Robert Mills was of the opinion that Lyminge was fast increasing in population. The proposed new house was “sure to go.”

Mr. F. E. Newton, Secretary of Messrs. Secretary of Messrs. Bushell, Watkins, and Smith, the owners of the “Ark Inn,” said the one license at present in the village proper was surrounded by 150 unlicensed houses, whereas the two licensed houses at Eachend Hill were in amongst 34 unlicensed houses. At the existing “Ark Inn” the trade during the first three months of the present year was double that of the trade done in the first three months of last year, while the average barrelage for the past three months was 120 per annum.

Mr. Knocker addressed the Magistrates in support of the license being renewed and pointed out that his clients would prefer having the license granted for the existing site, but if the Justices were against that, then he thought they had heard ample evidence in favour of the license being removed to the village. Temperance, said Mr. Knocker, was an excellent thing – they all knew that – but the British public would have their glass of beer when they wanted it, and did not look with favour upon the prohibition tactics of America.

Sir Montague Bradley, previous to calling upon witnesses for the opposition, said he was not in that court on behalf of any temperance society; his was opposition from the citizens, who agreed that the needs of the place was already supplied by the “Coach and Horses.” He would like to point out that the application was really one for a new license.

The Rev. A. F. Rutty, Rector of Lyminge, stated that he did not think another license was needed in the village; he felt it would be very harmful.

Mr. Knocker: Do you have any need to use a public house?

The Rev. Rutty: Do you mean now, or any time in the past?

Well, I won't unveil the past. (Laughter.) But do you use the “Coach and Horses?”

I have no occasion to use the “Coach and Horses” as a place of entertainment.]

Would you suffer if it was closed?

No. But I could get my beer from Mrs. Tritton. (Laughter.)

So you are one of those favoured individuals who get their beer in bulk and drink it in detail.

Continuing, the witness said he was of the opinion that where there was a living for only one licensed victualler there was no encouragement of excessive drinking, but where there were two license holders in competition there would be that temptation.

Dr. John Wallis said it was not at any time very nice to have a public house near one's residence.

The Rev. B. Bransom (Wesleyan Minister at Lyminge) said that he felt there was no necessity for the proposed new license; the locality was most unsuitable.

In answer to Mr. Knocker, Mr. Bransom said he was a total abstainer, but through he was of the opinion that the closing of all public houses in England would be good for the nation, he would not agree to that unless it was by the express wish of the majority of the people. (Hear, hear.)

The Bench at this point intimated that they would like to retire before any other witnesses were called. The Chairman, upon their return, said the Magistrates had decided to refuse the application for a removal of the license to a new site, and had agreed to refer the existing license to the compensation authority.