SIGN OF DOVER Pubs of Canterbury

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Canterbury, May, 2025.

Page Updated:- Sunday, 04 May, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton & Rory Kehoe

Earliest 1696-

Sign of Dover

Latest 1913+

35 Old Dover Road

Canterbury

Above photo, circa 1907.

Above image from Google, July 2009, showing the former "Sign of Dover" now known as Sundial House.

Above engraving, circa 1970, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

In 1696 Canterbury's billeting list for the Ridingate Ward shows the "Sign of Dover" in an application to accommodate six soldiers. In the early and middle parts of the 18th century, the "Sign of Dover" was named and renamed several times, appearing as the "Dover," "Town of Dover," "Dover Castle," the "Dover" (again!) before reverting to the "Sign of Dover.

In the latter part of the 18th century the pub was part of the tied estate of William Sankey's Dane John Brewery. By the early part of the 19th century, William's son, Matthew William Sankey, had taken over running the business and appears to have been keen on aggressive expansion. Business in East Kent, amongst garrisoned troops and naval personnel was brisk but possibly due to the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 and a slowdown in the UK economy, by early 1819, Sankey's Dane John Brewery was in financial trouble. In June of that year, Sankey was declared bankrupt and therefore, it became necessary to liquidate the brewery's assets and sell off the tied house.

In November 1819, the brewery that supplied the house was auctioned for sale, and was sold by William Sankey to Charles Dobbs. The Dane John Brewery was acquired by a nearby rival, a kinsman (by marriage) of William Sankey, named George Ash. Ash's Brewery would continue to brew until 1933, though it changed hands several times in the 1920s, and at the time time house was referred to as the "Town of Dover."

Pigot's directories of 1828 and 1832 referred to this house as the "Dover Castle." This is indeed the same pub as the Surnames of the licensees are either Dodds or Dobbs.

A 7th April 1858 document states that Thomas Greenstreet Stokes, victualler, together with his wife, Elizabeth, sold "all that messuage or tenement commonly called or known by the name or sign of the "Town of Dover" together also with the tenement or cottage adjoining thereto" to George Ash Esq., of the City of Canterbury, Brewer.

George Ash (senior) died in 1867. By then the Dane John Brewery was being run by his sons, Thomas and George (junior) but by the mid-1870s, new business partners (kinsmen by marriage) had joined the board, in the form of Richard Moxon and George Collard. George Collard would go on to be an Alderman, Mayor and get knighted.

1878. Deeds show that the "Sign of Dover" was owned by Moxon, Collard and Ash's Dane John Brewery. In 1920, Ash's merged with the East Kent Brewery, Sandwich, against a background of anticipated post-WW1 trade expansion, which didn't really materialise. In 1922, possibly to raise money to help keep the company afloat, Ash's East Kent Brewery sold the "Sign of Dover" to Mrs. Ada Blunt. Five years later, Mrs. Blunt sold the premises to Dr. H. O. Preston, who converted the pub into a private residence, renaming it as number 79 Sundial House.

Circa 1907. In addition to offering a telephone, the "Sign of Dover" was also a Receiving Office for Mr. A. W. Anderson's omnibuses and taxicabs. Over the road from the pub stood St. Lawrence's Mill, a black stock mill, which burned to the ground in the spring of 1873.

From the Kentish Gazette, 24 February 1846.

On Wednesday an inquest was held before Mr. Delasaux, at the sign of the "Town of Dover," Old Dover-road, Canterbury, on the body of James George Rogers, aged seven years, whose clothes accidentally caught fire on the 2nd inst., from which period he lingered till Tuesday last when death terminated his sufferings. He was much burnt about the chest and other parts of the body.

A verdict of "Accidental death by burning," was returned.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 21 March, 1863.

ACCIDENT WHILE DANCING.

On the evening of the 10th inst. Edward Fisher was dancing with others in a public house called “The Sign of Dover,” Canterbury, when his foot slipped, and he fell on his leg with such force as to fracture it. He received prompt attendance at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

From the Whitstable Times, 13 August, 1870.

THE CHALK PIT, OLD DOVER ROAD.

The Surveyor reported that a survey committee of the board had since their last meeting visited the chalk pit in the Old Dover Road, and had there discussed with him what alterations should be carried out. Mr. Cozens had then explained what was required to be done, and the committee agreed that the works as recommended by the Surveyor should be carried out on condition that Mr. Cozens allowed a drain which discharges at a point near the chalk-pit to remain in its present position, and that he take down the existing fence from the railway bridge to the “Dover Inn,” and replace it with a new one. Mr. Cozens was willing to comply with the conditions, and the Surveyor now recommended the execution of the works, the cost of which he estimated at £8.

The Committee confirmed the report, and it was decided that Mr. Cozens should sign an agreement setting forth the above stated conditions.

From the Whitstable Times, 31 December, 1870.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

A memorial was read from the inhabitants of the Old Dover-road, requesting the board to fix lamps in that locality. The memorial stated, that in 1868, two lamps were recommended to be fixed near the “Sign of Dover” public-house, but they had never been put up.

The board determined not to grant the request.

LICENSEE LIST

DODDS Charles 1819+

DOBBS Sarah 1828-38+ ( "Town of Dover")