Above sign left, 1991, photos and sign right by Paul Skelton 21 July 2012.

Above mat, date unknown, kindly sent by Debi Birkin.

Thanet Advertiser, 9 June 1888.

Sandwich charge of theft.

At the sandwich Petty sessions on Monday, before R. Harrison, Esq., and Alderman Dorman, Baker, and Watts, Joseph Pettman, described as a painter, of Ramsgate, was charged on remand, with having stolen, on the 28th May, at Sandwich, a pocket book, contain a number of postage stamps and papers, value 10s., the property of Mr. Joseph Lee, of Delf Street, Sandwich. Mr. R. Webster appeared on behalf of the prisoner.

From the evidence of prosecutor it seems that he had been to Eastry on the day in question and placed the pocket book in a basket in his van. When he arrived home he left the van outside his house for a short time, leaving the basket in it. On the following morning he missed the book and contents. The book produced was his property.

Ann Kent, of wife of John Horton Kent, and living next door to prosecutor, stated that on the afternoon of the 28th of May, she was at an upstairs window, when she saw prisoner by the side of prosecutors van. After looking up and down the street, prisoner put his hand into the van under the tarpaulin and took something out, which he put either in his basket or pocket. She could not see what it was.

Superintendent Page deposed to apprehending prisoner at his residence in Alexandra Road, Ramsgate, on Thursday last. When he charged him with stealing a pocket book containing stamps and various papers, prisoner said, "I am innocent and can prove it, I have not had any stamps in my possession for years, only as I have brought one to post a letter occasionally." Witness received the book produced on Saturday from Mr. Castle, of the "South Eastern Tavern," Ramsgate.

William Castle deposed that on the morning of the 29th May prisoner came to his house, and purchased some beer, tendring stamps in payment. Witness also bought some stamps of prisoner, in in all fifteen. Later on prisoner offered him the pocket book produced, and witness gave him 1s. for it, as he said he wanted the money, and witness told him that he could have it back again upon returning a shilling. He thought it was prisoners property, as he was in the habit of carrying a pocket book.

Mr. Webster, in an able speech, appealed for a lenient sentence, urging that it was prisoners first offence. He also stated that when prisoner was in drink he was not responsible for his actions, and that he had a sister in a lunatic asylum. Mr. Webster further said the prisoner had a wife and three children, and was very respectable connected. He handed in a book which have been presented to prisoner some years since for an honest act.

The Magistrates told prisoner he have been found guilty of a very serious offence, for which they might have passed a heavy sentence upon him. However, as he had never been convicted before, and as the prosecutor did not wish to press the charges severely, he (prisoner) would only be sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour.