From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 2 September, 1881. 1d.

WEST CLIFF BREWERY SALE

On Tuesday afternoon a very large company of brewers and speculators assembled at the “Royal Oak Hotel,” Dover, at the sale of the West Cliff Brewery, held by Messrs. Worsfold & Hayward. Mr. Worsfold Mowll was the vendor's solicitor. The property offered, for sale comprised the brewery, situated in Limekiln Street, Dover, twenty-five public-houses, and a residence. The whole was first put up in one lot, but there being no one inclined to take the whole, the property was offered in seventeen lots. The first lot, which was the brewery and plant, was not sold, and the second lot a freehold residence in Limekiln Street, was bought in at £650, but for all the public-houses there was a brisk competition, and the following were the amounts realised:-

The “Tower Inn,” Tower Hamlets, £1,020, at which sum it was bought by Mr. Flint, of Canterbury.

The “Crusader,” in Council House Street, Dover, was purchased at £610 by Messrs. Kingsford Bros.

The “Duke of Connaught,” in Oxenden Street, was bought for £500 by Mr. Flint of Canterbury.

The “Lord Nelson,” at the junction of St. James's Lane and Flying Horse Lane, Dover, £1,100 bought by Mr. Mason, of Maidstone.

The “Royal Morter,” Military Road, was bought by Mr. Flint, Canterbury, for £570.

The “Perseverance,” 161, Snargate Street, Dover, was bought in at £470.

The “Admiral,” Beach Street, was bought by Mr. Bower, of Rye, for £470.

The “Silver Lion,” in Middle Row, Dover, was bought by Mr. G. Wilkins, for £310.

The “Folkestone Cutter,” situate in Great Street, Dover, was bought by Mr. R. T. Stanton, for £340.

The “Sir Garnet Wolseley,” Snargate Street, Dover, was knocked down to Mr. Flint, for £500.

The “Great Gun,” at the top of Adrian Street, Dover, was bought by Messrs. Kingsford Bros. for £570.

The “Royal Standard,” on London Road, was bought by Messrs. Kingsford Bros. for £450.

The “White Lion," in the parish of Cheriton, bought by Messrs. Kingsford Brothers for £1,120.

The “White Horse," in the hamlet of Uphill, was bought by Messrs Kingsford bros. for £870.

The beneficial leases and agreements of five fully licensed houses and four beer-houses, and the house called the “Spotted Cow,” all in the borough of Dover, formed the last lot, comprising the “Lion Inn,” Elizabeth Street; the “Pier Inn,” Beach Street; the “Dover Castle Hotel Tap,” Middle Row; the “Compasses,” Finnis Hill; the “Northampton Arms,” Northampton Street; the “Spotted Cow,” Durham Place; the “Hope and Anchor,” Blucher Row; the “Plough,” Laureston Place; the “Forester's Arms,” Worthington's Lane; and the “Sportsman,” Charlton Green. The interest in the whole of the ten houses was bought by Mr. Barker, Loose, near Maidstone, for £610.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 9 September, 1881. Price 1d.

DOVER BREWSTER SESSIONS

The general annual licensing meeting was held at the Maison Dieu Hall, on Monday last, at twelve o'clock, the Mayor (R. Dickson, Esq.) presiding, and there were also on the Bench the following gentlemen, S. Finning, E. F. Astley, S. F. Peirce, A. Bottle, C. Stein, and J. L. Bradley, Esqrs.

The Magistrates' Clerk (J. Stillwell, Esq.) first read out the names of the public-houses which applied for the renewal of licenses, and, on arriving at the following said there were objections to them which would be heard after the names had been read through: The "Imperial Hotel," Liverpool Street; the "Folkestone Cutter Inn," "Lord Clyde Inn," "Hope and Anchor Inn." There was no application for the renewal of the "Saracen's Head," Biggin Street, which house had lately been bought by the Coffee Tavern Company. The renewal of license for Messrs. Parton and Co. Snargate Street, was not applied for, Mr. Coleman, the agent, stating that later on there would be an application for a license for a shop in Biggin Street, Messrs. Parton and Co. having removed there.

THE BROADSTAIRS LICENSES.

There was an application made that all the licenses in the Broadstairs district should be adjourned till the licensing meeting of the Dover Committee at Broadstairs.

The Mayor said they would adjourn all these cases till the 20th of September, when they met at Broadstairs, at two o'clock.

HOUSES OBJECTED TO

The first on the list of houses objected to was the "Lord Clyde Inn," Limekiln Street.

Mr. W. Mowll appeared on behalf of the owners.

Superintendent Sanders said: I served a copy of the notice produced on the 18th of August on the owners giving notice that I should oppose the renewal of the license of the "Lord Clyde Inn," on the ground that the house had been closed for eight months and is now closed. There were sufficient public-houses in the neighbourhood to meet the requirements of the public.

Mr. Mowll, addressing  the Bench, stated that there would be three other houses which would be objected to, all lately belonging to Messrs. Satchell and son, the houses having just been sold, and, if the licenses were not granted , Messrs. Satchell would have to pay some £250 to the different purchasers, as had been agreed at the sale. He hardly liked stating private affairs in a public Court, but it was nearly a forced sale and would be felt heavily by Messrs. Satchell if they had to pay that amount to the purchasers. There were three other houses to be objected to.

The Mayor thought it would be best to take them one at a time.

Mr. Mowll thought that by taking the four together he would not have to repeat the statements he had just made, but the Bench, he hoped, would remember the loss it would be to his client.

Superintend Sanders said he served a copy of the notice produced on the owners of the "Hope and Anchor Inn," Blucher Row, stating that he should oppose the renewal of the license of that house, as it had been closed for nine months and now closed. The place for the last two years had been continually closed. he also served a similar notice with preference to the "Sportsman Inn," Charlton Green, and the "Folkestone Cutter Inn," Great Street. There were sufficient licensed houses in each of these neighbourhoods to meet the requirements of the public. There had been some 70 houses pulled down in the vicinity of the "Folkestone Cutter" lately.

Mr. Mowll, in his further remarks, said there had been no caution in these cases or any intimation of the course of the Bench had decided to adopt until these notices were served a day or two ago (the day before the auction sale took place), and then the owners had to make these agreements to compensate the purchases if the licenses were not renewed. Two houses were to have £75 each and the rest divided between the other two houses.

The decision was reserved.

IMPERIAL HOTEL

The Superintendent said he served a similar notice on Mr. Licence, who took charge of the "Imperial Hotel." The place was still closed and had been so for several years.

The mayor said they all understood the case well. After consideration the Bench decided to renew the license.

PROPOSED PRIORY STATION BUFFET

The Clerk said that, with reference to the application for a license for a refreshment bar at the Priory Station, he had received a letter stating that the license would not be applied for.

THE CLARENDON ESTATE APPLICATIONS

Mr. Worsfold Mowll, on behalf of Messrs. Kingsford Brothers, applied for a provisional licence for a public-house which they proposed to build on a plot of land on the south side of Clarendon Road at the end of Selbourne Terrace. He put in a plan showing that this estate had now upon it a large number of houses and urged the Bench on the grounds of public convenience to grant a licence.

Mr. Lewis who opposed the application on behalf of a large number of the inhabitants, reminded the bench that the application was made to them last year and, on being petitioned against by the inhabitants, was refused. The circumstances had not changed, therefore he urged that the Bench should not change the policy which they had adopted with regard to the estate, namely that of being guided by the wish of the inhabitants as to the introduction of public-houses. He thought if a house were licensed it should be an out-door license, so that the people should buy a drink and consume it at home.

Mr. Worsfold Mowll said he thought that before Mr. Lewis went any further it would be fair that he should state on whose behalf he was speaking.

Mr. Lewis said his friend would know that in due course.

Mr. Stillwell said it was unusual for a Solicitor to state on whose behalf he appeared.

Mr. Lewis said he appeared on behalf of numerous owners and occupiers of the district and amongst others Mr. Walker, an owner and occupier in Selbourn Terrace, Mr. Macdougal also and owner and occupier, Mr. Falconer an owner, and Mr. Hobson an occupier in Belgrave Gardens. he also had a memorial from 139 inhabitants with only one signature from a house except in about six cases, and in those cases they were some of them different occupations. There would subsequently be a licence  asked for Mr. Struckell, and, as he was well-known, the memorialist would much prefer his having an out-door license to having a fully licensed public-house there. He therefore begged the Bench not to grant this application.

The decision was deferred.

Mr. Claris, on behalf of Mr. Gillow, brewer, applied for permission to transfer the license of the "Star and Garter," Trevannion Street, to 49 Clarendon Place.

Mr. Lewis opposed the application.

Mr. Claris said he was rather in a batter position than Mr. Mowll, because he had obtained a numerously signed memorial in favour of his application.

Mr. Stillwell: Is it signed by the same people as the other? (laughter).

Mr. Mowll: No doubt.

Mr. Stillwell said that considering the number of houses on the estate he should think it must be so.

Mr. Lewis said there were 320 houses on the estate.

Mr. Claris said his memorial was not confined to one person in a house, but he believed that all who signed it wished to have the advantage of his client's tap. There were 89 signatures. He wished to point out that this was an absolute removal of an existing license, but he wished to be perfectly candid and must say that the value of the premises was not at present £30 a year.

Mr. Stillwell: Then there is an end of the case.

Mr. Claris contended that the value qualification was unnecessary in this case because the house they proposed to take the license to was very much more valuable than the house they were taking it from.

Mr. Stillwell said it was useless to occupy the time in arguing the case as the law on the point was perfectly clear.

Mr. Claris contended that in a case of this kind it was within the discretion of the Bench to require the value qualification or not.

Mr. Stillwell having conferred with the Bench said the magistrates thought the application was irregular.

Mr. Claris said that in that case he should have such alterations made as would bring the house up to the value and renew the application at Broadstairs, he having given the requiste notices.

Mr. Claris then applied for a licence to sell off the premises, but that application was ruled to be informal because the applicant was not the occupier of the premises.

Mr. Lewis applied for a licence for Mr. Struckett to sell off the premises at Clarendon Place, and all the conditions necessary being compiled with, the Magistrates granted the license.

Mr. Minter applied on behalf of James Piper for a licence to sell beer at 26 Clarendon Place, to be consumed off the premises; this too was granted.

Mr. John Parton, grocer, of Biggin Street, applied for a license to sell wine at his grocer's shop and it was granted.

The magistrates then retired to consider the other cases and, on returning into Court, the Mayor said that the Bench had decided to refuse the licenses of the "Lord Clyde," the "Hope and Anchor," the "Sportsman," and the "Folkestone Cutter." The application by Mr. Kingsford would be adjourned to Broadstairs. The application for a spirit license for the "London Packet," Commercial Quay was refused.

EARLY HOUSES

The whole of the early houses had their licenses renewed, and applications for permission to open at five o'clock were received from the "Providence," Trevanion Street; the "Golden Lion," Priory Street; the "Primrose Hall," Gas Works; the "Union Hotel," the "Pier Inn," and the "King William" the applications were granted , and in the other cases refused.

The proceedings then terminated.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 25 September, 1881. 1d.

DOVER ADJOURNED LICENSING SESSIONS

The Magistrates of Dover paid their annual visit to Broadstairs, where the Dover Licensing Session was held by adjournment, for the convenience of the licensed victuallers in that outlaying dependency of the ancient borough, and at the same time some unfinished Dover business was settled. The sitting was held in the usual place, the “Rose Inn,” in a room not specially adapted for a Court of Justice. There were present the Mayor (R. Dickeson, Esq.), E. F. Astley, S. Finnis, C. Stein. F. S. Peirce, P. S. Court, l. J. Bradley, A. Bottle, W. A. Adcock, and T. V. Brown, Esqrs. James Stilwell, Esq., Clerk to the Magistrates, and his clerk, Mr. Vidler, were present, as well as the Superintendent of the Dover Police, Mr. O. T. Sanders, and the Town Sergeant, Mr. Chapman. The following gentlemen also attended professionally, Mr. Forbes Mosse, Mr. T. Lewis, Mr. P. B. Claris, and Mr. Worsfold Mowll. Mr. W. Walker and Mr. Hobson attended as a deputation to represent the opponents of a new public-house on the Clarendon Estate.

The Deputy and Sub-deputies having been appointed.

Mr. Stilwell said he would first read over the names of the houses licensed, and if no objection arose the licenses could be obtained in the adjoining room.

The Mayor asked if the houses had been well conducted during the year.

The Deputy: very well conducted indeed.

All the licenses were renewed.

Other business was completed (reported on the web pages of the actually houses mentioned) and the proceedings then terminated.