ROYAL OAK Pubs of Woodnesborough

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Thursday, 08 February, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1773-

Royal Oak

Latest 1946+

Oak Hill

Woodnesborough

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above map 1896.

Above photo, 1954, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above picture showing the former Royal Oak, taken from Google, July 2009.

Above photo kindly taken and sent by Tonie Holt, 20 February 2013.

Above photo, kindly taken and sent by Rory Kehoe, July 2019.

The 1914 Post Office Directory gives the address of a Royal Oak to be at Woodnesborough. I haven't heard of this one before or since that mention and are wondering whether they are mixing in up with another Royal Oak in another village.

Then along come the 1882 Post Office Directory and it was mentioned again there as Woodnesborough, Sandwich, so I am assuming that it is correct.

Well, finally found some more information in the Dover Express and East Kent News, dated 14th July, 1939. The paper reported the following:- "Plans for alterations to the public bar at the "Royal Oak," Woodnesborough, were approved.

From the Kentish Gazette, 30 January, 1773. Price 1½d.

To be SOLD publicly to the highest bidder.

On Thursday the fourth day of February, at two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

At the sign of the “Royal Oak”, in the Parish of Woodnesborough.

All that MESSUAGE, BARN, Stable, Garden, and Orchard; and also two Pieces of Land, used with the same Messuage containing by Estimation, six acres, more or less, situate, lying in the said parish of Woodnesborough, near a Place there, called West Hamwold, and now or late in the occupation of Francis Simmons, or of his assigns.

Further particulars may be had of Samuel Ross, Attorney, at Deal.

Southeastern Gazette, 26 July 1853.

Felonious Assault at Woodnesborough.

Edward Fagg, 18, William Fagg, 21, Edward Swains, 25, Richard Cart, 33, and John Bean, 22, were indicted, the latter for committing a felonious offence upon the person of Mary Ann Bicker, against her will, at Woodnesborough, and the four others with aiding and abetting in the said offence. Mr. Horn prosecuted.

From the evidence adduced it appeared that the prosecutrix, a single woman, was at the "Bull Inn," at Eastry, on the 27th June, and left that inn between ten and eleven o'clock at night, in company with two young men named Spinner and Jarvis, and a young woman named Jane Whitmarsh. Prosecutrix walked with Spinner, and Whitmarsh with Jarvis. When they came out of the inn they saw the prisoners standing outside, who followed them. They then went into the "Bells" public-house, as they alleged, for the purpose of getting rid of the prisoners, who, however, followed them about a mile and a half on the rood to Eastry, till they arrived at the forge at Woodnesborough. When they got there the prisoners began to assault Whitmarsh, who, however, resisted them, and got away to the village, where she aroused several of the inmates. They then, according to the prosecutrix's statement, caught hold of her and threw here on the ground. Four of the prisoners held her down, two of them holding her arms and two of them her legs, while Bean committed the offence. Jarvis had gone away and hid himself. Spinner also went away, saying he did not like what was going on, but returned in time to se Bean committing the offence, and accompanied her to the "Royal Oak" at Woodnesborough. The prisoners followed, using very disgusting language, and saving they would give her 2d. to get them a month's imprisonment. When they got to the "Royal Oak" the constable, who had heard cries of " murder," and several persons, had arrived. The prisoners were violent and wanted to fight. The prosecutrix did not then make any complaint, as she stated that she was too much agitated.

The prisoners, in cross-examination and defence, endeavoured to show that Bicker had been drinking with them at the "Bull" and "Bells" public-houses for several hours, that she invited them to go with them on the road, and gave them every possible encouragement to do what occurred. Swaine denied having anything to do with her at all, and Spinner stated that when he came back he was standing near and not touching her.

The prisoners were all found guilty, and in sentencing them his Lordship said they had been found guilty of a most abominable outrage upon the prosecutrix, and although it was possible that she might not be a person of very correct habits and morals, that was no excuse for their committing such an offence of so unnatural a character, and it was one in which no allowance could be made. He then sentenced them each to twenty years' transportation.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 3 March, 1922. Price 1½d.

OBJECTED TO LICENSES RENEWED

The Magistrates set to hear objections to the renewal of licenses of three licensed houses in the District.

The third house considered was the “Royal Oak,” Woodnesborough, and Mr. R. Mowll appeared to ask for the renewal.

P.S. Martin said that the house was fully licensed and the tenant, Mr. William Atwood had held the license since 25th August, 1883. The owners were Messrs. Thompson and Son, and the tenant also carried on the business of market gardener. The nearest houses were the “Palm Tree,” beer house, 110 yards, the “Charity Inn,” fully licensed, 460 yards, and the “Prince of Wales,” beer house, 1,270 yards. The population in 1911 was 970 and there were three fully licensed and two beer houses in the parish. In his opinion the house was not required in the interest of the neighbourhood.

Mr. Mowll: You have given us your opinion; did it proceed from a section of the Bench?

No, it is my opinion.

Someone suggest it to you?

Not to me, but I went round with the Justices.

Witness, further examined said he was not aware of the feeling in the neighbourhood over the suggested closing. He did not know that a petition had been signed in the village including signatures from the vicar, Mr. Baldero, Mr. Spratt and Mr. Cornes.

Mr. Mowll: Do you mean to say that the petition could have been got up without you knowing anything about it. It seems that your private enquiry department is not up-to-date, (laughter).

Miss Beatrice Atwood was called by Mr. Mowll and said that her father had held the license for forty years, and her father and mother were both over 70. She obtained the signatures to the petition.

Mr. Mowll read the petition which called attention to the long period which the licence had been held without complaint, and that the licensee was over 70 and depended on the house for his living. There were 170 signatures.

Lord Northbourne: What does the petition arise from. Do they think there will not be sufficient beer to drink?

Witness: They think it would be hard on mother the father after being there so long.

Amos Stokes, Ex-Superintendent of the Wingham Division said he signed the petition. He had known the house and said for 15 years and it was one of the best conducted houses in the district. He was satisfied it would upset the public very much if the licence was taken away.

Lord Northbourne: You reside in Woodnesborough. Have you ever seen any drunkenness there?

I am satisfied that in the last 15 years there has not been half-a-dozen.

Mr. Baird: There are 10 houses for a population of 900.

No, I think it is five.

Lord Northbourne: If this house was shut would there be any less drink drunk?

No, I think it would do away with competition, that is all.

Mr. Mowll: I think I am right in saying that there is a good deal more accommodation there than at the “Palm Tree.”

Yes, much better.

Mr. W. T. Matthews produced figures as to the trade which he said was increasing.

Mr. Mowll addressing the Bench said that he thought the case quite unique. He had never heard of a house, conducted respectably and properly for over 40 years, by the same tenant being questioned. He ventured to ask what useful purpose was going to be served by the refusal of the licence? He supposed that the object was to decrease drunkenness, but if they had no drunkenness, they could not decrease it. He thought it unfair to take away their license because there were too many in the village, when the others were no better, and were not questioned. He did not believe in attacking other houses, but Mr. Stone had told them that it was a bigger house than the “Palm Tree,” and that was not before them.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 20 June, 1930.

PETTY SESSIONS

Dover County Petty Sessions were held at the Town Hall, Dover, on Thursday, before Lord FitzWalter, Miss Bomford, Messrs.A. T. Goodfellow, H. J. May, E. Hinds, A. M. Evanson, J. E. Monins, and W. H. Clark.

Long License Holders.

The license of the "Royal Oak" Woodnesborough, was transferred from Beatrice Attwood to George Bullion. The license had been in the same family for 49 years.

LICENSEE LIST

MARSH John 1841+ (only listed as carpenter age 45 in 1841)