ELEPHANT AND CASTLE pubs of Ramsgate

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Ramsgate, July, 2025.

Page Updated:- Friday, 18 July, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1840-

Elephant and Castle

Open 2025+

5 Cumberland Place/8-10 Hereson Road

Ramsgate

01843 593046

https://www.elephantandcastleramsgate.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/elephant-castle

Above photo 1952. Creative Commons Licence.

Thompson & Son ledger. Creative Commons Licence.

Above photo taken by Paul Skelton, 21 July 2012.

Sign left taken by Paul Skelton, 21 July 2012.

Sign right December 1991 with thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com

Above Google image, October 2024.

Elephant and Castle may be a corruption of Infanta da Castile, the title given to the daughters of the Spanish Kings, but is also the crest of the Cutler's Company.

The building can be dated to 1834.

Kentish Gazette, 4 May 1847.

ELIGIBLE INVESTMENT.

Ramsgate and St. Lawrence, Thanet. Valuable freehold HOUSES AND BUILDING LAND, TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Mr. HENRY WARMAN,

At the "Albion Hotel," Ramsgate, on WEDNESDAY, the 19th day of May, 1847, at Tow for Three o'clock precisely in the afternoon, by order of the Trustees for Sale under the Will of the late Captain John Wilson, in Eleven Lots.

LOT 4:- A MESSUAGE or PUBLIC HOUSE, known by the sign of the "Elephant and Castle," situate in the Parish of Saint Lawrence, Thanet, on the north-west side of the Hereson Road; comprising 15 rooms, with a yard, bakehouse, and oven in rear; let to Mr. William Parker, for a term which will expire on the 11th October, 1851, at £30 yearly rent.

The buildings comprised in this Lot are extensive, and might, at a small expense, be converted into three distinct dwelling houses.

Kentish Gazette, 20 June 1854.

Coroner's Inquest.

An inquest was held at the Town Hall on Monday Inst, before R. J. Emmerson, Esq., coroner for the Cinque Ports, on the body of Jane Wells, aged 18 years, who was found drowned in the basin of the Royal Harbour, on Sunday night, at about 11 o'clock.

George Young deposed:— I am a fruiterer, and live in King Street; deceased was my niece; she has been living with me as servant for 2 years and 6 months. She left home on Sunday afternoon, at a quarter before 3 o'clock, to go to church. I have not seen her since till this morning about 9 o'clock. I was informed by a person that came to my house that a female was picked up in the basin drowned, and was lying in one of the pier storehouses. I went there immediately, and identified the body as that of my niece; her time to be home is 9 o'clock, but she often made it half-past nine. She has been keeping company with a young man named Robert Edney. I went at a quarter-past 10 o'clock on Sunday evening to Mr. Packer's, the "Elephant and Castle," and asked one of Mr. Packer's daughters if Edney was there; she said he was; I told her to ask him where he left my niece. She brought word back that he left her at a quarter before 10 o'clock against Mr. Ratcliffs fence, close to where she lived. I went down the town, but could not tee anything of her; she has never staid from home all night before.

Alfred John Ayers said:— I am a surgeon, and live in Queen-street, at about 10 minutes to 12 o'clock on Sunday night, I was called to go to the Pier storehouse to see a drowned woman. I went immediately, and found deceased quite dead, my opinion is she had been dead some time, from her body being found floating. I have since examined the body; there are no marks of violence on her, only merely a slight discolouring on the spine of the back; she was not in the family way, and there were no other symptoms of her death but from drowning. Other evidence was given, and the jury returned an open verdict of "found drowned."

From the Kentish Chronicle. 27 August 1859. Price 1½d.

William Packer, of the “Elephant and Castle” Hereson road, fly proprietor, appeared before the court, charged by Police-constable Farley, with driving in the public streets from carriage-stand to carriage-stand seeking for passengers, contrary to the Local Act of this town.

Defendant pleaded not guilty:- The case being proved by Police-constable Farley and Minter, to the satisfaction of the Magistrates:- Parker was fined 5s. and 13s. costs.

Money paid.

From the Thanet Advertiser, 21 August 1915.

DEATH OF FORMER LICENSEE.

The death took place on Tuesday of Mr. John Lawrence who, previous to his retirement a few years ago had been the licensee of the "Elephant and Castle Inn," Hereson Road, for a period of nearly twenty years.

From the Thanet Advertiser, Friday 23 June 1944.

Licence Transfer.

Ramsgate Magistrates on Monday consented to the transfer of the licence of the "Elephant and Castle," Hereson Road, from Frederick John Paul to George Edward Avery. One of Ramsgate best-known licences, Mr. Paul has been in business in the town for many years. Before going to the "Elephant and Castle" he was licensee of the "Australian Arms." Mr. Paul has taken an active part in the work of the Isle of Thanet Licensed Retailers' Protection Society and Mrs. Paul in the benevolent work of the women's auxiliary.

Thanet Advertiser, Tuesday 16 August 1949.

Died in Chair. Passing of Licensee.

Mr. George Edward Avery, licensee of the "Elephant and Castle Inn," Hereson-road, collapsed and died in a chair at the premises on Thursday evening.

Mr. Avery, who was 63 years of age, had returned a few hours before from a sea trip, during which he was seasick. After he was taken suddenly ill Dr. P. Grugeon was called but on arrival found Mr. Avery had passed away.

The circumstances were reported to the East Kent Coroner (Mr. W. R. Mowll), but after a post-mortem examination by Dr. I. B. Morris, pathologist, had revealed death to be due to natural causes, no inquest was necessary.

From the https://theisleofthanetnews.com By Kathy Bailes, 17 July 2025.

Freehold for Elephant & Castle pub in Ramsgate goes on the market.

Ramsgate's Elephant & Castle 2025.

The freehold for the Elephant & Castle pub in Ramsgate is being sold.

Leisure property specialists, Fleurets, have been appointed by Thanet-based Thorley Taverns, to sell the freehold with a guide price of £375,000.

The Grade II listed pub in Hereson Road dates back to the mid-19th century.

TV sports, darts, pool and regular live entertainment contribute to its reputation as one of the friendliest hostelries in the town.

One of its previous, longstanding landlord couples was Len and Pat Corby, who were at the helm for 15 years. Pat once donned an elephant outfit to go on pitch for a football cup final game.

At the end of the 90s, Pat and Len decided to branch out from the pub trade and fulfil Pat’s dream of being at the helm of an old-fashioned tea rooms, eventually opening Corby’s Tea Rooms. Sadly Pat passed away in 2023.

The pub has games and seating areas, with a decked enclosed external seating area at the rear overlooking Boundary Park and private living accommodation.

It is currently run by Paula Shepherd, partner Mick and their team and is a popular spot for live music.

Simon Bland, Senior Associate at Fleurets, said: “The Elephant & Castle is clearly a well-regarded pub and has benefitted from long term investment and proper management as part of Thorley Taverns’ estate. In my view this could be the ideal opportunity for a hands-on owner wanting a profitable, wet lead operation, especially as Ramsgate’s popularity continues to rise year on year.”

Thorley Taverns.

Thorley Taverns began in 1971 when Frank Thorley bought his first pub, The Angel, in the City of London. Frank then bought four further pubs in London before purchasing his first outlet in Thanet in 1975, The Charles Dickens, Broadstairs.

The move outside the City was spurred on by the Thorley family’s regular holidays to Thanet, resulting in Frank’s love of the area and his permanent move to Broadstairs in 1977. Thorley Taverns continued to grow throughout the 80s and 90s – with venues including the legendary Franks nightclub in Cliftonville, with the business successfully operating its London and coastal sites from their Broadstairs base. Thorley Taverns sold their last London pub, The Aldgate Exchange, in late 2013.

The business currently has 18 venues across Thanet and Sandwich. Frank also sadly passed away in 2023.

For further information and to arrange a viewing, contact Fleurets on 020 7280 4700 or email london@fleurets.com.

LICENSEE LIST

PACKER/SACKER William 1841-74+ (age 64 in 1871)