Above Google image, date unknown, showing the site of the original "Coach and Horses" before it was moved to 110 High Street in 1879.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo, date unknown by Darkstar.

Thanet Advertiser. Friday 24 February 1928.

Tragic find. Gas Filled Cellar. Licensees Sad End.

A tragic find in the seller of a public house was made by an assistant inspector in the employ of the Ramsgate Corporation Gas and Water department yesterday (Thursday).

Shortly before midday the inspector called at the "Coach and Horses" public house, in High Street, with the intention of reading the water metre, and, descend into the cellar, noticed a very strong smell of gas. He produced and electric torch, and, shining the light into a recess, saw the body of the licensee, Mr. William Ambrose, with a coat over his head. He pulled the coat off, and found a tube attached a gas bracket in Mr. Ambrose's mouth.

The police and a doctor was sent for, and, after artificial respiration have been employed for an hour, life was pronounced extinct.

An inquest, conducted by the borough coroner (Dr. F. W. Hardman), yesterday evening, a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind" was returned.

Mrs. Selena Ambrose, wife of the deceased, said her husband was 67 years of age. He was tenant and licensee of the "Coach and Horses." He had been ill for some time, and had been attended by a doctor ever since December. Her husband had been ill for some time before that, and, three weeks ago, underwent an operation in the Ramsgate General Hospital. Deceased did not get on as well afterwards as she would have liked. He had not been out of hospital long, and had since taken no part in the business.

In the trade 26 years.

Mrs. Ambrose said her husband got up at 9 o'clock that morning and had breakfast. Afterwards he sat in the back room. Shortly after 11:30 deceased said he thought of taking a little walk, but witness advised him not to, as it was blowing very cold. She left him in the room and went into the bar, and that was the last time she saw him alive.

Continuing, Mrs. Ambrose said her husband's nerves have been very bad, but he had never said anything about doing away with himself. He had worried himself a little about business, because it has not been too good, but he had had no trouble in paying his way.
Asked by the coroner if the deceased had had trouble with the brewers, the witness said the brewers were rather funny to them, and in October gave them a month's notice. This had worried him. He said he did not rest night or day. With one brake they had held the licence of the "Coach and Horses" for 13 years. They had always been very particular, and had been in the trade for 26 years.

Danger of explosion.

Mr. William Augustus Cox, of 5, Dane Road, and assistant inspector in the employ of the Ramsgate Corporation Gas and Water Department, described his visit to the house earlier that day. He saw Mrs. Ambrose in the bar, and went through to the seller with the objective of reading the water metre. On opening the cellar door he noticed a very strong smell of gas. He switched on his electric torch and went down. He went to the water metre and then to the gas metre, but could not find the escape. He retracted his steps, and, flashing his light into a recess, he saw Mr. Ambrose's hand clutching at a coat which was over his head and shoulders. Witness pulled the coat away, and found a tube in deceased's mouth. The other end of the tube was attached to a gas bracket, and the gas was turned on. Witness turned off the gas and took the tube from Mr. Ambrose's mouth. He then sent for a doctor and the police. It would have been very serious if anyone had gone into the cellar with a light.

Coroner:- There would have been an explosion?

Witness:- Yes.

Detective Sergeant Petley said that, in company was Sergeant Rogers, he arrived at the house shortly after 12 o'clock. They found deceased who was very warm, in the cellar. With the assistance of Mr. Cox, they took him into the yard, and applied artificial respiration and hot fomentations near the heart. This was carried out by Sergeant Rogers and P.C. Files and Foad for an hour, when he was declared by Dr. W. J. Bannister, the police surgeon, to be extinct.

As stated, a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind," was returned.