PRINCE OF WALES Pubs of Rhodes Minnis

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Friday, 01 March, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1881-

Prince of Wales

Latest 1990+

(Name to)

Longage Hill

Rhodes Minnis

Both photos above show the former Prince of Wales public house in Rhodes Minnis. Kindly supplied by Stuart Kinnon June 2010.

Above photo 2024.

Above beer may kindly sent by Mike Lyon.

Above map after 1898.

Earliest date I have found for this building is from a mention in the 1881 census. It was at situated at the top of Longage Hill and has changed name several times of late to follow the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

In the late 80's it was The Prince of Wales, then in 1981 it changed to The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana, then to The Prince and Princess of Wales, after their divorce it finally changed it's name to The Battle of Britain circa 1994. It's now unfortunately closed and is a private residence.

During the latter part of WW2 a doodlebug came down close to the pub demolishing 3 or 4 cottages which is probably the reason why its latter incarnation was as the "Battle of Britain." One lady lost the site in one of her eyes, but the other occupants were not injured. (click here) accessed 14 June 2010)

I believe in its early days it was a lodging house as the 1881 census mentions quite a few people living at the premises:-

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

John LAKER M 73 M Lyminge, Rel: Head Occ: Publican

Elizabeth LAKER M 71 F Dover, Rel: Wife Occ: Publican Wife

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

Thomas JOLWELL M 42 M Stourmouth, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Jane JOLWELL M 38 F Lydden, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Lab

Ellen JOLWELL U 18 F Swingfield, Rel: Daur

Emily JOLWELL U 12 F Stourmouth, Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

Israel CAISTER W 69 M Stowting, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

William CHILLENDEN M 48 M Lympne, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Elizabeth CHILLENDEN M 45 F Lyminge, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Lab Wife

Mark MILLER W 77 M Lyminge, Rel: Father

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

Elizabeth WOOD W 61 F Biddenden, Rel: Head Occ: Grazieress

Archy WOOD U 28 M Smarden, Rel: Son Occ: Grazier

Victor WOOD 14 M Ashford, Rel: Son Occ: Scholar

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

John HOPKINS M 53 M Elmsted, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Charlotte HOPKINS M 37 F Elmsted, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Lab

Stephen HOPKINS 14 M Lyminge, Rel: Son Occ: Ag Lab

Emily HOPKINS 10 F Lyminge, Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar

Tom HOPKINS 9 M Lyminge, Rel: Son Occ: Scholar

Susan HOPKINS 6 F Lyminge, Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar

Edwin HOPKINS 2 M Lyminge, Rel: Son

Jim. HOPKINS 1 M Lyminge, Rel: Son

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

John SPARKS M 60 M Waltham, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Labourer

Frances SPARKS M 60 F Canterbury, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Labourer

William MILES U 15 M Denton, Rel: Boarder Occ: Ag Wagoners Mate

Ernest SIMMONDS U 5 M Lyminge, Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

Joseph BUCKMAN M 35 M Bethersden, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Harriet BUCKMAN M 31 F Gt Chart, Rel: Wife Occ: Ag Lab Wife

Harriet BUCKMAN U 3 F Bethersden, Rel: Daur

Emma BUCKMAN U 4 m F Lyminge, Rel: Daur

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

William CANNON, born Abt 1818 in Hythe (Kent), census 1841 at Bousfield, Sibbertswold (Kent), census 1851 in Denton (Kent), census 1881 at The "Prince of Wales Inn," Rhodes Minnis (Kent), occupation 1841 - 1851 Agricultural Labourer, occupation 1881 Mole Catcher.

Dwelling: Rhodes Minnis (Prince Of Wales Inn)

John JEFFERY M 88 M Canterbury, Rel: Head Occ: Ag Lab

Elizabeth JEFFERY M 60 F Sellindge, Rel: Wife

Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald, Saturday 7 March 1925.

Elham Petty sessions. Adjourned Licensing Meeting.

The first business on the agenda was the adjourned annual licensing meeting.

Superintendent H. T. Russell opposed the renewal of a licence of the "Prince of Wales Inn," Rhodes Minnis, on the grounds of redundancy.

Superintendent Russell said the population of Rhodes Minnis was about 100. He had known the house for 3 years, and he had never seen more than 3 person's there at one time, and in his opinion it was not needed for the requirements of the neighbourhood. There was another licence house, the "Gate Inn," about three-quarters of a mile away. There were about 40 houses in Rhodes Minnis.

Sergeant Waters said he had known the "Prince of Wales Inn" for 3 years. He had made 31 visits to the house and the number of customers he found in the house totalled 43. He did not think the house was required for the needs of the district.

Arthur Watts said he had been tenant of the "Prince of Wales Inn" since March, 1921. The place was in the centre of the hamlet of Rhodes Minnis, and had a considerable trade from people passing. It was on the main road between Lyminge and Stone Street, and on the main road between Lyminge and Elham. His average sale was over 2 barrels of beer a week. He was satisfied with the trade he was doing. He handed in a petition signed by 106 people asking for the licence to be renewed. The petition was got up by Councillor Davis, a resident of Rhodes Minnis.

William Harris, the secretary of Messrs. George Beer and Rigden, said his firm were the owners of the house. They had had it for over 50 years, and during the last twenty years there had only been one change of tenancy. The business compared very favourably with other small country houses.

The magistrates retired, and on their return the Chairman said the licence will be referred to the Compensation Authority. A provisional licence would be granted for the time being.

LICENSEE LIST

LAKER John 1881+ (age 73 in 1881)

HOGBEN John 1901+ (age 56 in 1901)

WATTS Arthur Mar/1921-34+

DENNE Wilf 1984+ (Prince of Wales and Lady Diana)

From the Kelly's Directory 1934

Census

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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