PLOUGH (Buckland) Pubs of Dover

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Dover, December, 2023.

Page Updated:- Saturday, 16 December, 2023.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1839

Plough

Latest 1969

83 London Road (73 Buckland Street 1861)

Dover

An outing from The Phough, after WW2, date unknown. Photo kindly supplied by Harry Durrant. Third from left front row. Others identified are his brother Ernie just behind the little girl. Sid Seger, back row fifth from right and just in front of him Doris Kettle, one time landlady of The Rose and Crown.

Another outing from The Plough date unknown, photo kindly supplied by Harry Durrant.

Plough outing from Odeon cinema opposite

Above photo of an outing of Plough pub regulars, date unknown. Photo kindly supplied by Harry Durrant.

Above photos of the former Plough Inn, circa 1990.

Above photo, circa 2004.

The above sign, wasn't actually designed and released by Whitbread, but has been designed by Robert Greenham in the same style as the card sets they distributed as a representation of what the sign looked like. Robert says:- This was based on the image which appeared on Whitbread's metal map for East Kent which was painted by D. W. Burley in 1950, on commission from Whitbread.

I think this is the same Whitbread pub that was in London Road, Dover, in which case I think the inn sign up until at least 1950. The same design was used at a few other Whitbread pubs in East and West Kent at that time.

(I thought it was actually the sign for the "Plough" at Hougham. Paul Skelton.)

The above metal map, kindly sent by Robert Greenham was released, in 1950 and painted by D. W. Burley, and was titled Inn-Signia of Whitbread Houses in East Kent, Whitbread & Co Ltd. The Inn Signs designed by:- M. C. Balston, Vena Chalker, Kathleen M Claxton, K. M. Doyle, Ralph Ellis, Marjorie Hutton, Harvey James, Prudence Rae-Martin, Violet Rutter, L. Toynbee and Kit Watson.

Flora Macdonald was here from 1850 to 1870 and she was followed by her daughter Elizabeth. Flora also seemed to have an interest in the "Three Compasses" at the same time. There is evidence of another "Plough". It was a beerhouse kept by Pain in 1839 and was addressed simply 'Charlton'. Charlton is close enough to this establishment and so I am going to assume they are one and the same. Indeed London Road was once referred to as Charlton High Road.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 22 June, 1839. Price 5d

POLICE REPORT

MONDAY - William Pain, landlord of the "Plough" Beer shop, at Charlton, appeared to answer an information for keeping open his house beyond the hour allowed.

The Rev. C. C. Snowden stated that on Saturday evening, the 8th instant, at half-past eleven o'clock, he went to the "Plough" beer shop, and found a number of persons creating a disturbance outside. He immediately entered the house, and found only the brother of the defendant there. Woodruff and Friend, then present, told him they were ready to swear the men outside had not been outside of the house more than five minutes. The Rev Gentleman was about to give a description of the scenes of riot and disorder that often took place, and the general notorious character of the house, when he was stopped by the magistrates, as not being evidence in the present case.

Joseph Friend said that in the above evening, he saw several persons come out of the Beer shop, five or ten minutes before Mr. Snowden arrived.

John Woodruff deposed, that at eleven o'clock in the evening in question, he went into the "Plough" for some beer to take home, when he saw several men in the house, who came out about twenty minutes afterwards. The Magistrates having consulted for some time, dismissed the case.

Mr. G. Jennings 0bserved that he was glad to find that Mr. Glover and Mr. Snowden intended to look after beer shops; on which, Mr. Glover said he was pleased to hear the Court express their approval of his intentions; but was sorry to find their acts did not correspond with those expression. It was very small encouragement for those who undertook a most obnoxious duty, to find that a delinquent who had been on a former occasion summoned for a similar offence, was thus allowed to escape. For however the Magistrates had determined that it was not a case for conviction, he contended that the case was proved, and that they aught to have convicted accordingly. Mr. Jennings said he could not allow such observations; it was a want of courtesy to the Bench, and he, for one, would not sit there to be dictated to in that manner.

The following story is associated with the London Road property in 1845.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday, 30 August, 1845. Price 5d.

DOVER POLICE REPORT

Richard Lane, bricklayer, was fined 18s., including costs, for damaging a pair of Wellington boots under the following circumstances:- It appeared the boots were the property of Mr. R. Best, of Buckland, who had sent them, on Sunday morning, to be repaired, by a man named Prickett. He on his road stepped into the “Plough,” and had six quarts of beer. When he got up to resume his errand, he found the boots with the tops cut off, which was proved to have been done by the defendant. The defendant was allowed a week to raise the money, or to be imprisoned for 14 days.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday, 13 March, 1847. Price 5d.

DOVER PETTY SESSIONS

Charles Wellard, labourer, was committed for trial, charged with selling a lime rake, the property of Mr. Parks, landlord of the “Plough,” at Buckland. It appears that prisoner and a man named Lilley were seen on the Buckland Road with the rake in their possession, which was afterwards sold by Lilley to Mr. Berry, at Ewell for 6d., prisoner at the same time waiting outside the forge. Lilley has absconded.

Dover Chronicles 13 March 1847.

Charles Wellard, labourer, was charged with being concerned in stealing a rake, or iron lime book, the property of Mr. Parks, of the "Plough," Buckland.

Mr. Parks stated, that on the 24th ult., he missed a rake, value 3s., from the fence in front of his house. The rake now produced is the same.

Edward Berry, blacksmith, of Ewell, stated that a lad came to his workshop about the 24th ult., offering the rake now produced for sale for 8d. Witness refused to buy it, when the lad went out of his shop, and conversed with the prisoner a few moments, and then returned to witness's shop, offering to sell the rake for 6d., when witness accepted the offer. Did not know the lad who offered to sell him the rake.

The lad who sold the rake has left the neighbourhood, and has not been apprehended yet. His name is William Lilley.

Wellard, in his defence, said he fell in with Lillyy while walking to Ewell. Lilley had the rake with him, but he (Wellard) knew nothing of how he came by it.

The Bench committed Wellard for trial, and ordered steps to be taken for the apprehension of Lilley.

South Eastern Gazette, 31 July, 1860.

Remanded Charge of Watch Stealing.

At the police court, on Tuesday, William Cook, a soldier of the 32nd Regt., remanded from the previous Thursday on the charge of stealing a watch and chain, the property of Hannah White, was again placed at the bar, when the watch and guard were produced and identified, and Isaac Hubbard, a clerk in the goods department of the London and North Western Railway, Camden Town, stated that be purchased the watch and guard of the prisoner at the "Plough" public-house, Buckland, on the previous Wednesday evening, for a sovereign.

Hubbard added, "I told him, if he thought better of it in the morning, on bringing the money back I would give him the watch. He afterwards came and asked me if I would let him have the watch again." I replied, "Yes, if you will let me have the money back." He then went out and brought another party into the room, and said that if I would let him have the watch he would give me 5s. for it. A party was brought in, who looked at the watch, and they then left. I left the watch with the landlord, and informed him that if the prisoner came for it in the evening he might have it on returning the sovereign. I gave the watch to Police-constable Campany, at the station-house, at his request." Cook now pleaded guilty. A sergeant of the 32nd who was present stated that the prisoner’s character in the regiment for honesty was very bad, and the bench sentenced him to three months’ hard labour.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 22 July, 1870. Price 1d.

INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE

Elizabeth Macdonald, the landlady of the "Plough," Buchland, was charged with infringing her license on Sunday, the 10th instant.

The defendant was unable to appear, and proof of the service of the summons was therefore given.

Police-constable George Baker: On Sunday morning week I visited the house of the defendant about a quarter to twelve, in company with police-constable Nash. I there saw, in the bar parlour, five men who are residents in Dover. One was drinking from a full pint of beer when we entered. Another had his hand up to receive a glass of spirits which the son of the landlady had just poured out; as soon as the landlady's son saw us he drank the spirits himself. He then turned round to the table, and claimed as his the pint of beer the other man was drinking. (A laugh.) Another pint pot, containing beer, and a glass were on the table. The landlady told him that the men were not there with her concurrences, but had entered by the back-way. The constable added that there was somebody watching in the garden, so as to give a signal when the constables appeared.

The landlady's son appeared on behalf; but there was no real defence to the complaint.

In consideration of the general good conduct of the house (the last conviction against it being nearly twenty years old) the Magistrates inflicted the mitigating fine of 5s. and the costs 9s. 6d., which was paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 16 September, 1870. Price 1d.

THE ANNUAL LICENSING DAY

SUNDAY TRADING

In the case of the “Plough,” in which a conviction for Sunday trading had taken place, the son of the landlady (Mrs. Elizabeth Macdonald), who attended on her behalf, was informed that another case of the same kind would result in the loss of her licence. Mr. Macdonald remarked that the house had been kept by his mother for twenty years, and this was the first offence during the whole period. The Magistrates were aware that the house had been previously well-conducted; but there were circumstances in the conviction which induced them to give this caution.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 17 July, 1874. Price 1d.

A DISORDERLY CUSTOMER

Henry Clark was summoned for assaulting Edward McDonald, landlord of the “Plough Inn,” on the 11th July. Mr Carder appeared for the complainant. It appeared, from the evidence of McDonald and another man named Groombridge, that Clark used abusive language and that when he was remonstrated with he took hold of a quart pot and knocked the landlord on the head, whereupon the landlord gave him a blow in self-defence. Clark denied being abusive and said that the landlord began it.

Mr. Stein said the Magistrates were convinced that the case was proved and as publicans were liable to heavy penalties for keeping disorderly houses they must be protected. A fine of £1 11s. 2d. including costs would be inflicted or in default of payment seven days' imprisonment.

The old man said he must go to prison for he could not pay, but his daughter, who was in Court, called out “Father, you shall not go to prison,” and immediately came forward and paid the money.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 18 January, 1907. Price 1d.

TRANSFER OF THE PLOUGH REFUSED

An application was made for the transfer of the license of the “Plough Inn,” London Road, from J. J. Lutwyche to J. Dolbear.

Mr. Rutley Mowll pointed out to the Magistrates that at a recent hearing two summonses were taken out against Mr. Lutwyche, but he was only convicted upon the small summons of allowing some raffling. At the time he (Mr. Mowll) gave an undertaking that Mr. Lutwyche would have the house, and he was now leaving. The proposed new tenant was Mr. Dolbear who had held licenses in the town for many years past, and he thought the Magistrates would find that he was immensely a satisfactory person to hold a license.

The Bench then retired to consider the application, and on returning Captain Cay said: This case will stand over till the next transfer day, the 25th.

Mr. Mowll: You will then hear the evidence, I take it, on that occasion?

Capt. Cay: I can't say that the Magistrates will do. There will be a full Bench.

Mr. Mowll: I take it that no decision would be made until they have heard the whole of the evidence. I gather you were not making a decision to day because you had not heard the evidence?

Mr. Vidler: The Magistrates thought it would be no great hardship to allow the case to stand over for twelve days.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 25 January, 1907. Price 1d.

LICENSING TRANSFER DAY. THE PLOUGH TRANSFERRED

The Magistrates met at the Police Court this morning to hear applications for the transfers of the licences. Mr. M. Pepper was in the Chair, and those present were Capt. R. B. Cay, R.N. Messrs. R. G. C. Rubie, F. G. Wright, W. J. Barnes, F. W. Prescott, J. Scott, and E. Chitty.

Mr. A. K. Mowll appeared to apply for the transfer of the licence of the “Plough,” London Road, from Mr. Lutwyche who was recently convicted for permitting a raffle to Mr. Dolbear. It will be remembered that ten days ago when an application was made for a temporary transfer, it was refused, and the applicant told to apply on Transfer Day.

Mr. Mowll offered to call the Superintendent of the Police as a witness to Mr. Dolbear's character.

The Chairman said that he thought that most of them knew Mr. Dolbear, and that was not necessary. Had Mr. Mowll anything further to say?

Mr. Mowll: Only if you wish to hear evidence about his character or about the house.

The Chairman: We know all about the house.

After a consultation, the Chairman said the transfer was granted.

Mr. Mowll: Look here Dolbear, we all recognise you as an old customer. I wonder how many public houses you have had in your time?

Mr. Dolbear: Seven.

The Chairman: And make a fortune in each. (Laughter.) Take care and do not allow any betting up there. (Laughter.)

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 July, 1915. Price 1d.

LICENCE TRANSFERS

At the Dover Police Court on Monday, before Messrs. M. Pepper (in the chair), Edward Chitty, G. C. Rubie, and H. Hobday.

An application was made by Mr. Rutley Mowll for the transfer of the licence of the “Plough Inn,” London Road, from Mr. Sidney Hoare, who had gone into the Army Service Corps, to Mrs. Hoare. Mr. Mowll stated that Mrs. Hoare had, during the previous eighteen months, been managing the house, and it was very desirable that, under the circumstances, she should carry on the business.

The application was granted for the period of the War.

This pub closed from lack of trade some time after June 1969 and by late 1971 became a retail outlet for the car trade. It is now a Chinese restaurant called the "Oriental Express."

Above photograph by Paul Skelton, 9 April 2010.

When Violet Caroline Hoare left the premises and Edward Munton took over in 1915, the bar inventory including a gong, policeman's whistle and snuff box.

LICENSEE LIST

PAIN William 1839 (Charlton)

PARKS Edward 1847+