I am not totally certain whether this sign is from this pub as I don't know yet whether the pub ever sold Rigden's Ales. I always assumed it was a Tomson and Wotton tied house.

Thanet Advertiser, Saturday 8 September 1866.

Sandwich. Annual Licensing Sessions.

The Royal Arms, Walmer.

Mr. T. T. Delasaux (of Canterbury) applied for a licence for the above house, on the part of Mr. Richard Hobbs, the landlord; but explained that it was intended, with the consent of the Bench, to transfer it to Mr. John Young, an army pensioner, in whose behalf several memorials and testimonials (from officers under whom he had served, and others) were put in, testifying to his good character and respectability.

There being no opposition, the licence was granted.

From an email received 10 Sept 2010.

Re the Royal Arms Licensees.  My late Grandmother, Alice Upton was the licensee for many years after the 2nd World war.  We used to spend all of our summer school holidays there.  My last visit was possibly in 1952, when I was 10 years of age.  My Aunt and Uncle - Reita and Leslie Upton took over when Grandma became too old to run it. I am not sure of the exact dates, but I can find out.  Auntie Reita sadly passed away a few weeks ago, but my cousin, her daughter, will probably know.

Madeline Bates.

From an email received 18 March 2010.

I am researching a friend's family tree and unearthed that his ancestor kept the "Royal Arms" at Walmer at the time of the 1911 census.

I thought you might be interested to know that Thomas Henderson Bell was an ex-military, a regular soldier with the Durham Light Infantry.

By 1911 he had left the army and was the publican at the Royal Arms, living there with his wife Annie and four children: Herbert Henderson Bell (b1896) who assisted him in the pub, but later went on to join the Royal East Kent Regiment (the Buffs) and served in the First World War and beyond; Archibald George Henderson Bell (b1900), Gladys Deborah Bell (b1905) and Nellie Jessica Bell (b1909).

Boarding at the inn was also an actor, Victor Charles Colman, aged 38.

Kind regards,

Sue Andrews,

Beeston, Nottingham.

From an email received 28 July 2014.

Hello,

I believe my cousin, Madeline Bates wrote to you about The "Royal Arms," 23 Canada Road, Walmer in September 2010 to give you information for your website on public houses.

I am now in a position to offer you these corrections.

To the best of my knowledge in 1939 Osbert and Alice Upton, my Granddad and Gran, came to Deal with their son, my Father, Leslie and took over the "Royal Arms" from Tom Taylor. Granddad and Gran were the licensees of the "Royal Arms" until Granddad's death in 1944 and then Gran ran it until my Dad took over when he returned from WW2 active service in 1946. He married Reita Redman from 16 Canada Road in January 1947 and they remained the licensees until June 1955.

As far as I know he had no involvement in the pub in 1956 as shown on your website. I have a copy of a document that shows that a Mr TGK Allen applied to the Council on 28 June 1954 for a transfer of the licence to him; the sessions were due to be heard at the Town Hall on 2 September 1954 and I believe the transfer went ahead.

I hope this information will be of use to you and will enable you to update the website. If you have any questions that I may be able to help with, please send an email to the above address.

Pat Upton