From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 January, 1890.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASSOCIATION

The annual meeting of this association was held on Wednesday, Mr. Alderman Birch presiding. Mr. Hatton Brown, the Secretary, read a lengthy and satisfactory report which was ordered to be printed and circulated.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 February, 1890.

DRUNKEN CASES

John Marchant, was charged with being drunk, disorderly, and using obscene language in Biggin Street. P.C. Bath and Mr. Ralph proved the charge, and the prisoner was fined 2s. 6d. and 7s. costs, or in default seven days' imprisonment.

George Clift was charged with being drunk, incapable, and obstructing the footway on St. Martin's Hill. P.C. Hughes proved the charge and the prisoner was fined 2s. 6d. and costs 6s.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 February, 1890. Price 1d.

THE CHARGE SHEET

The only item on the charge sheet was a charge against John Cannon of being drunk, using abusive language, and begging.

Police-constable Pilcher proved the case, and the man, who was a regular mendicant, was sent to prison for seven days.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 May, 1890.

COMPENSATING LICENSED VICTUALLERS

(Interview with a Dover Licensed Victualler)

“What do you think of the new movement for compensating publicans?” I asked an Inn-keeper the day after the news of the New Government Bill came out.

“Well,” he replied, “I suppose it's a move to thin some of us out, certainly there are more than enough of us.”

“Makes it difficult to do a legitimate business does it not?”

“It does; but it is not the Houses that make it bad for one another, so much as these drinking places, clubs that have no licenses. They go there every Sunday morning, and booze till dinner-time, then they go back again in the evening. When I close of an evening, off they go to the club to drink and play, but we are not allowed to have a card on the premises. These unlicensed clubs are cruel. They ought to be put down.”

I replied that I thoroughly endorsed the sentiment.

“As to compensation,” he continued, “if they do buy any up I suppose it would be the houses that are continually changing hands. People can't do in them, and that shows that they are not wanted; especially those that are closed for weeks and for want of a tenant.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 11 July, 1890.

DRUNK AND INCAPABLE

Henry Woodcock was charged with being drunk, incapable and obstructing the footway in Flying Horse Lane. P.C. Hambrook found the prisoner lying on the path in Flying Horse Lane, on Sunday afternoon, with a crowd around him, he was very drunk and could not stand. On the way to the Police Station, he continually used bad language. The prisoner was fined 2s., and costs 6s., or in default, seven days' imprisonment.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 11 July, 1890. Price 1d.

OLD FASHIONED LICENSING SYSTEMS

It is a fact not universally known, says the New York Herald that in the reign of Elizabeth, and her immediate successors, the power of granting licenses (about which we have heard a good deal lately), was frequently given by Letters Patent to court favourites, or to persons in reward for public services, or who might be disposed to pay heavily for the privilege. Sir Walter Raleigh is the best known of the license-farmers, and is said to have made £11,000 a year from his power to grant licenses for all England and Wales. The licensed victualler then, as now, was the fair sport of the Legislature, and when money was wanted for some work of national importance, a favourite method of raising the wind was to re0impose a license upon every tavern or ale-house. Thus, when the repairing of Dover Harbour was ordered in 1577, the cost was defrayed by a tax of 2s. 6d. for every new license granted to a house of entertainment. This, of course, meant that every existing license was, within a few months declared void on some pretext or other. This useful precedent was not allowed to rust, and a few years later, the citizens of Canterbury petitioned for a grant out of impositions on alehouses towards improving their commerce.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 26 September, 1890.

PUBLIC HOUSES IN THE MARKET

Next Thursday, Messrs. Terson and Son will offer for sale five public houses. As they are all in good situations, it may be expected that they will sell well, more especially, because it is pretty certain that there will never be any more licenses granted in Dover.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 3 October, 1890.

PROPERTY SALE

At the Auction Sale at the “Royal Oak Hotel,” yesterday, by Messrs. Terson and Son, No. 45, Seven Stars Street, sold for “165, and 58, Maison Dieu Road, sold for £205. The latter was bought by Mr. Thompson, who was also the purchaser of the “Grapes Inn.”

Yesterday afternoon Messrs. Terson and Son offered five public houses, the property of Mrs. Harding, for sale by auction at the “Royal Oak Hotel.” The result was, the “Railway Bell,” Beach Street, was knocked down at £400, the “Mariner's Arms,” Commercial Quay, £975; the “Grapes,” Maison Dieu Road, £1,200; and the “Duke of Wellington,” London Road, £600. The “Duchess of Kent” in the Market Place, went up to £1,100, when it was withdrawn, it being said that the reserve price had not been reached.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 29 August, 1890.

DOVER BREWSTER SESSIONS

The Annual Brewster Sessions, fro renewing the Ale, Beer, Wine and Spirit Licenses, for the Borough of Dover and its Liberties, was opened at the Town Hall, Dover, on Monday at noon before Sir Richard Dickeson, Dr. Astley, T. V. Brown, John Finnis, W. J. Adcock and M. Pepper Esqrs.

The Court was attended by Mr. Worsfold Mowll watching the proceedings for Messrs. Beer and Co. and Mr. Vernon Knocker. Mr. Hatton Brown, and Mr. E. W. Spain attended as agents of a large number of the holders of licenses. The names of 220 holders of licenses was read over by Mr. Stilwell, and when they, or their authorised agents answered, the licenses were granted, except in the cases where there had been complaints during the year; in those cases, the holders of the licences were called forward, and cautioned.

APPLICATIONS

On the application of Mr. W. Mowll, a retail bottle license was granted to Mr. G. Mowll, wine merchant, of Strond Street and Townwall Street.

An application made by Mr. Worsfold Mowll, for the license of the “Swan Hotel” to include a house adjoining, which is used as dining rooms and bedrooms, was adjourned to the Broadstairs meeting, in order to have a proper plan prepared, showing the surrounding property.

This concluded the business, and the Sessions were then adjourned till the 10th October at Broadstairs.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 12 September, 1890.

BROADSTAIRS LICENSING MEETING

INAUGURATION OF AN IMPORTANT POLICY

The adjourned annual Licensing Session was held on Wednesday, at Broadstairs, for Dover and its liberties. Sir Richard Dickenson was in the chair, and there were present Dr. E. F. Astley, T. V. Brown, J. LO. Bradley, W. J. Adcock, and Matthew Pepper, Esqrs.

The usual list of licenses for Broadstairs, and the other portion of the adjacent Liberties of Dover were renewed except in one case, reserved for consideration; and the Deputies were, as usual, re-appointed.

THE BARLEY MOW CASE – LICENCE REFUSED

ANOTHER LICENSE REFUSED

The tenant of the public-house “Captain Digby,” of Westgate, having last year, and this year, been complained of to the Magistrates, and fined for irregularities, the Bench, after inquiries from Superintendent Kewell, resolved to refuse to renew the license. The house was situated in an outlying district, and, owing to its situation, was somewhat difficult to look after.

The other business was formal.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 10 October, 1890.

LOCAL LICENSING APPEAL

At the East Kent Quarter Sessions held at St. Augustine Session House on Tuesday, Lord Brabourne in the chair, the appeal against the decision of the Dover Magistrates not to renew the license of the “Barley Mow,” Strond Street, was heard; and also the appeal against a like decision given by the Wingham Justices in the case of the “Ship Inn,” Ash.