100 (1 in 1861) Military Road
Canterbury
Above postcard, circa 1911. Kindly sent by Graham Butterworth and
Rory Kehoe. The
building in the background is part of the Diocesan School, located on
Broad Street. |
Above photo, 3 October 1913. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.
A large funeral cortege, marching up Military Road, just before its
junction with Broad Street. The swing sign of the Royal Dragoon,
advertising Ash's Fine Ales, is just visible, bottom right. Many of the
pubs in this part of Canterbury had names linked to the military and
quite a few were run by former servicemen. The funeral was for Gunner J
Jessiman of the Royal Horse Artillery who, presumably, had died whilst
stationed at the artillery barracks, which were located at the far end
of Military Road. Ash's Fine Ales were brewed at the Dane John Brewery,
located on the corner of Watling Street and St. John's Lane (now Marlowe
Avenue) which is currently the location of St. Andrew's United Reform
Church. |
Above photo 1941, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photograph by Edward Wilmot in 1965. |
Above photo, date unknown. |
Above photograph, circa 1982, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo June 2001 taken from
http://canterburypubs.co.uk
Royal Dragoon sign
left, 1975, sign right March 1991.
Above with thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com |
Above card issued April 1955. Sign series 5 number 35. |
The Napoleonic Wars brought a heavy influx of soldiers to the south-east,
and many new taverns were opened to cater for them. A way to attract a
soldier was to name a pub after his rank or regiment, and thus we have the
"Royal Dragoon", one of eight pubs in Military Road in the 1800s. The pub
has the added attraction of a small graveyard in the beer garden which, one
hopes, is no reflection on the quality of the beer served within.
Originally a Mackeson pub that changed to Whitbread, but later a Shepherd Neame
house when they purchased the building with four others in 1972 but unfortunately closed
it in 1997. It is said to have been at one time a grave-diggers cottage set
close by a barracks for hussars, going back to the 1800s. The building is
certainly set on the edge of a graveyard and their rear beer-garden is sited
where tombstones used to rest but now removed. Permission had to be sought
from the Church Commissioners for the removal of these headstone, but no
remains were removed. So far
the pub has been traced back to 1839 when George Kidman appeared in a
licensing list and the name of the pub then was simply "Dragoon" without the
royal attachment. The Royal was first seen in 1865.
From the Kentish Gazette, Friday 5 September, 1865.
OFFENDING PUBLICANS.
On Thursday, at the City Police Court (before John Brent, Esq.,
Edward Holttum, Esq., and Alderman
Philpott) James Stroud, landlord of the "Royal Dragoon" public
house, Military Road, was fined 5s. and 6s.
costs for having company drinking in his house at 20 minutes past 12
o'clock on the previous Sunday. The
charge was proved by Superintendent Davies. |
The building was listed was Grad II listed on 7th September 1973.
I have seen this pub named the Royal DRAGON at times, but that is a
simple spelling mistake as being situated
in the Military Road, it is definitely the "Royal Dragoon" and it's sign at
one time depicted a member of the Royal or First Dragoons, and was a
familiar drinking place for many ex-army personnel stationed around the
ex-cavalry barracks in the Sturry Road.
The Inns of Canterbury by Edward Wilmot's,1988, mentions a document, date
circa 1945 that gives the description of clientele at the pub as being "Labouring
- some miners."
It is now named Royal Dragoon House and is a private residence.
From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 9 June 1900. Price 1d.
INQUESTS AT CANTERBURY. DEATH FROM A FALL.
The Canterbury Coroner (Dr. T. S. Johnson) held an inquest at the "Royal
Dragoon," Military Road, on Monday, touching the death of Thomas
Holbrook.
Jane Elizabeth Holbrook, widow of the deceased, deposed that she lived
at 1, Military Road. Her husband had been ill for about ten months, and
had been an out-patient of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital for some
time. He went out about 1.30 on the previous Tuesday. Witness also had
to go out and when in the town she was told that her husband had just
had a fall. Afterwards she met the deceased coming along leaning on the
arm of another man. He then sat down on a wine box under the Corn
Exchange. While there a woman from the "Butchers' Arms" asked him if he
would have some brandy. He had some, but he brought it up again as soon
as ha had drunk it. Witness told her husband that she would have to go
home because of the children coming out of school, and she then left
him. The deceased then want to the back of the "Butchers Arms." The
deceased was conscious when she first saw him. He was afterwards brought
home. Mr. Wacher saw him on Tuesday evening and prescribed for him, but
he died at 10.45 on Friday night.
Margaret Hughes, wife of Joseph Hughes, labourer, living at 4, Military
Road, stated that she had known deceased for about two years. On Friday
evening sat up with the deceased at the request of his wife. Witness was
with the deceased when he died. He had no complaint to make.
Sergt. Swain deposed that he saw the deceased sitting on a box under the
Corn Exchange vomiting, and on instructions from the Chief Constable he
removed him on the ambulance to his home, where he assisted the wife in
putting him to bed.
Mr. Frank Wacher, surgeon, stated that he was called to see the deceased
on Tuesday evening the 29th inst. and found him in great pain especially
on the left side of his body. The deceased said he had had a fall. Hi
had an aneurism on the left side and also had injuries to the muscles of
his back. Witness attended him until Friday night. Death was due to the
fall and to the aneurism from which he had been suffering.
The Jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death."
|
From the Whitstable Times, 7 June, 1902.
ANOTHER LICENSING PROSECUTION AND A C0NVICITON.
Walter Leonard Ballard, landlord of the “Royal Dragoon,” was charged
with selling liquor during prohibited hours.
Defendant pleaded not guilty.
Inspector Dunk gave evidence as to watching defendant's house on Sunday
morning and seeing defendant's daughters take parcels out and leave them
it houses near by. The parcels contained bottles of beer.
Defendant said the beer was ordered overnight.
George Bingham, carpenter, of Military Road, stated that he asked
defendant's daughter on Sunday morning to bring him a pint of ale and
she did so.
Defendant said he did not think he was doing wrong as he did not take
any money for it.
The Magistrates fined defendant 20s. and costs.
|
From the Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette, Saturday 25 April, 1903.
CHARGE AGAINST A PUBLICAN DISMISSED.
(Mr. W. H. Netherclift in the chair.)
William Lewis Ballard, landlord of the "Royal Dragoon Inn," Military
Road, was summoned for permitting gambling on his licensed premises.
Mr. P. Maylam appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
Richard Bowden, a cab driver, living at 2, Albion Street, stated that he
recollected being in the "Royal Dragoon" on April 2nd, at about 10 p.m.
he went into the bar and called fro a pint of beer. The landlord served
him, and witness took his beer into the little room at the side. There
were several other men in the room, and soon after he had got in the
room a game of cards was proposed and the cards were handed down by
someone. A game of cards called "twenty-fives" was played. The cards
were shuffled. Browning, Hughes, James, and witness were playing.
Browning and witness were partners, and they continued to play until
closing time. They were playing to pass the time away and not for money
or monies' worth. Drinks were called for during the evening four or five
times. The landlord supplied the drinks and he was occasionally in the
room and saw them playing cards. The landlord did not ask them any
questions. The cards did not belong to the witness, but he had often
seen them before. He paid for a quart which he had ordered, and he
tended the landlord, two sixpences. he had seen the landlord recently,
but they had not talked the matter over.
In answer to a question by Mr. R. M.; Mercer, witness said he had been
in the house nearly every night since then. he usually spent his
evenings there.
The Chairman:- You ordered some beer?
Witness:- Yes, sir.
The Chairman:- Several drinks were ordered, but no drinks were paid for
by the losers of the game?
Witness said he asked his friends to drink, but no drinks were paid for
by the losers.
Cross-examined by Mr. Maylam, witness said he paid the landlord a
shilling. he paid 4d, for a quart of beer, and as he left he took a
bottle of stout home; that was 2 1/2d. Then he had a glass of beer in
the bar, that was another 1d., and he took 4 1/2d change. The landlord
never allowed cards to be paid for money.
Cross-examined by Superintendent Farmery, witness could not say how many
quarts of beer were had in the room. No money was paid for the beer
whilst they were playing. The Chairman:- We distinctly understand that
no drinks were paid for during the game?
Witness said that was so.
Sergeant Hollands stated that from instructions he received he watched
the "Royal Dragoon Inn" from 9.30 to 11 p.m. on the 2nd inst. At about
9.55 he saw four men sitting down playing cards. They played a game of
"twenty-fives." After each game an quart of beer was brought in by the
landlord, who poured it out and gave each player a drink and had one
himself. He then gave two other men a drink. After five games had been
played two men who were partners, played by themselves. No beer was
brought in during that game. The two men who had lost two games just
before leaving gave the landlord something. The landlord put it in his
pocket and gave one of the men something back. On the night of the 4th
witness called upon the landlord and told him he would be reported. The
landlord said they were not gambling; they were playing for amusement.
In reply to Superintendent Farmery, witness said the landlord was in the
room nearly the whole of the time. He went out two or three times. The
landlord was watching the game except when he went out to fetch the
beer. Witness could not see if the men gave the defendant any money.
They put there hands in their pockets and gave him something and the
defendant gave one of them something back.
In reply to the Chairman witness said the two men who have lost games
gave the landlord something.
Cross-examined by Mr. Maylam, witness said he watched the men from a
window in the churchyard adjoining for one hour and a half. He could see
them very plainly. He did not suppose the men knew he was watching. He
saw no money on the table. He could not see whether they paid in the
bar.
John Edward browning, living at 52, Old Ruttington Lane, stated that he
was in the "Royal Dragoon Inn" on the 2nd inst. he went there between
nine and ten o’clock. He had two or three glasses of drink at the bar
and then went inside in the small room and commenced to play cards. He
could not say how many games were played. They played a game of
"twenty-fives," he knew the game very well. It was about ten o'clock
when they commenced to play and they continued to play until about
eleven o'clock. he and his partner won two games and the other two men
won three. He ordered a quart of beer and he did not pay for it. Witness
did not pay then because he had a weekly account. (Laughter.) There was
more than one quart brought in to them. he saw no money paid at all.
In reply to Superintendent Farmery witness said the landlord brought the
beer in.
The Chairman:- Have you ever played there and had beer as a result of
playing?
Witness said he had not.
Henry James, electrician, stated that he visited the "Royal Dragoon Inn"
on the 2nd inst. he had a drink and then went into the tap room. There
were a lot of people in the room and one of them asked witness if he
would make a game of "twenty-fives." Witness said he did not mind
playing to pass half an hour away. He saw no drinks paid for in the
room.
Joseph Hughes stated that he remembered being in the "Royal Dragoon"
public house on the 2nd inst. he stayed in the public house until almost
eleven o'clock. He played cards, but he was not sure how many games he
and his partner won. Witness only called for one pot of beer, and he
could not say how many pots there were brought in. If anyone said to him
drink, he drank. (Laughter.) Witness ordered a quart of beer and paid
for it in the bar as he was leaving. He played for the love of the game.
In reply to Mr. Maylam witness said the landlords had warned them on
several occasions not to play for money.
Mr. R. M. Mercer:- What occasion has he had to warn you?
Witness said when he had asked the landlords to have a game of cards
with him he had said he would for fun and not for money.
The Chairman at this stage said the magistrates were of the opinion that
they should not call the evidence for the defence as they considered the
case had not been proved and it would, therefore, be dismissed.
|
From What's Brewing, June 1980.
In Brief. Look — no wall.
A Canterbury pub, threatened with demolition because of road works, must
have thought the work had already started when a car smashed through the
wall of the saloon bar.
Fortunately the room in the GBG-listed Royal Dragoon was empty for
re-decoration. Local CAMRA member Jill Knight, who was in the public
bar, said: “We were just having a pint when there was a bang and a cloud
of dust appeared. It was a miracle no-one was hurt.”
Brewers Shepherd Neame said the bar was now being rebuilt. They believed
the pub was no longer threatened by a new relief road. |
LICENSEE LIST
KIDMAN George 1839+
HIRST Joseph 1846+
WINGER Edward Winger 1858+
STROUD James 1861-68+ (age 35 in 1861)
DAVIS Thomas 1871+ (age 65 in 1871
"Flying Dragoon")
CASTLE Henry 1874-91+ (age 49 in 1891)
(From Upper Hardes)
HOGBIN J B to July/1894
IYFORD W T July 1894+
BALLARD William Lewis 1903-41+
SMITH A F (Pete) 1979-81+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/RoyalDragon.shtml
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/royaldragoon.html
From Melville's Directory 1858
From the Post Office Directory 1862
Greens
Canterbury Directory 1868
From the Post Office Directory 1874
Census 1881
From
the Post Office Directory 1882
From
the Post Office Directory 1891
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From the Post Office Directory 1938
Inns of Canterbury
by Edward Wilmot, 1988
Whitstable Times
and Herne Bay Herald
|