SUSSEX ARMS Pubs of Dover

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Dover, October, 2024.

Page Updated:- Sunday, 20 October, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1867

(Name from)

Sussex Arms

Latest Aug 1940

32 Townwall Street

Dover

Photo kindly sent by Patricia Bailey 1 February 2009. Showing her grandmother and mother circa 1910-20.

From an email received 8 February 2016.

On the death of her husband in 1916, Mrs E Marsh became the landlord, not Mr Webb. Mrs Webb, a next door neighbour and friend, did act as manager for a while Mrs Marsh was in mourning for her husband who was killed in the Great Was.

Mrs Marsh was my grandmother and I was a friend of Mrs Webb.

My mother Florence Violet Marsh was the young child in Mrs Marsh’s arms in the photo above, born mid January 1908, sent in by my sister Patricia Bailey.

Yours Faithfully,

Kelvin Philpott.

Photos showing a mug from the pub, kindly sent by Pamela and Howard Newman.

The inscription says "Sussex Arms, Townwall Street."

The incription says "Sussex Arms, Townwall St, Dover."

This shared the corner with Wall Passage, (once Lamb's Lane), and did so prior to 1867. It had previously been the "Effingham Arms" and it follows the change was sometime after 1862.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 2 April, 1869

Thomas Connor, a soldier of the 94th Regiment, charged with disorderly conduct and using threatening language at the "Sussex Arms" on the proceeding night, was dismissed with a caution.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 20 August, 1869

PUBLIC HOUSE SESSIONS

Mr. George Marley, in the employ of Messrs. Leney & Co., brewers of Dover, made an application to sell at the "Sussex Arms," Townwall Street; it appeared that the late landlord Mr. Sims, had made his departure, and his whereabouts could not be ascertained. The application was asserted to.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 1 December, 1871. Price 1d.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT

Moses Burton, a blacksmith, residing in St. James's Street, was charged by Edward Prescott with assaulting him on the evening of Friday last.

The complainant said: I am a bricklayer and live at Arthur's Place. I was in the “Sussex Arms,” a public-house in Townwall Street, on Friday night about half-past nine, and on going into the bar I saw Burton standing there. I called for a glass of beer, when he deliberately knocked it out of my hand. He then went out of the door into the lane and I went out; as soon as I got outside he knocked me down.

The Clerk: Did you say anything to him?

Witness: Yes, when we were in the bar, I said, “I want a word with you, Mr. Burton,” and all the reply he made was to knock the glass out of my hand.

Magistrates: What did you go out of the door for?

Witness: I went to ask him why he had knocked the glass out of my hand.

Magistrates: Did you ask him?

Witness: he did not give me a chance. I was no sooner out than I was down. (Laughter.)

Examination continued: After he had knocked me down I got up and followed him to the front of the house, and I there returned the blow.

Magistrates: Had you been in his company previous to this?

Witness: The last time was three or four months ago, when he insulted me.

By the Bench: The defendant was sober. I might have had a little to drink, but I was not drunk. I did not fall down, but was knocked down by the blow of the defendant.

Cross-examined by defendant: I did not first raise my fist to you in the house, when I told you I wanted a word with you, but I did give you a push. I was not so drunk as to fall down – you knocked me down. I did not batter you about the face before you knocked me down.

Defendant: You did, and here's the effects of it (pointing to his face). I've got a black eye.

There was a cross-summons in the same case, Prescott being charged with assaulting Burton; and the Magistrates decided that should be proceeded with.

The Magistrates, after hearing the whole of the evidence, believed Prescott was the aggressor and fined him 15s, including costs. The other summons was dismissed

Burton asked that Prescott might be bound over to keep the peace, and having brought forward a witness named Anderson who had heard the defendant threaten him, the Magistrates bound him over in his own recognizance's to keep the peace for three months.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 December, 1937. Price 1½d.

ALTERATIONS

Messrs. Fremlin, Ltd., applied for approval to alterations to the "Sussex Arms," Townwall Street.

The Chief Constable said that the alterations made considerable improvements to the amenities of the house and the living accommodation was also improved.

The application was granted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 29 September 1939.

Henry Valentine was fined 10s. in respect of a light showing from the Masonic Hall on 3rd September, at 11 p.m. - P.C. Butler proved the case.

Francis Richardson, of the "Sussex Arms," 32, Townwall Street, was fined 10s. for a similar offence at 9.20 p.m. on 3rd September.

P.C. Robinson said that a strong light showed in the passage way at the rear of the premises when people went to the convenience. When told about this defendant said that the light should not have been on and turned it off.

Supplied by Alfred Leney Co Ltd, who bought out Thomas Walker's Phoenix Brewery in 1859 and registered as such in 1896, until bought out by Fremlin Brothers brewery of Maidstone in 1926, brewing at the Dover brewery ceased in 1927, which later passed to Whitbread.

A Fremlin outlet, it was an early casualty of world war two. Heavily damaged on 11 September 1940, when twenty six bombs and shells landed in the vicinity, its complete destruction was attributed to another bomb on 28 February 1941.

From a book titled "Dover Front" by Riginald Foster, printed 1941:- 9th Sept. 1940:- "... Driving into Dover we found that considerable damage had been done in the town; a seamen's hostel, a garage, a cafe, public houses and other buildings were destroyed or damaged. It was in one of these small public houses that Mr. Richardson and his wife Grace, daughter Joan and mother, aged 69 were trapped and killed....."

The dates don't quite line up here for the damage, but two days difference is close enough for me.

Further research has found the following mention taken from an article in the Dover Express of 5 August 1949, titled "The Story of Hellfire Corner."

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 5 August, 1949

THREE GENERATIONS KILLED

Three generations of one family perished in the ruins of the “Sussex Arms” in Townwall Street. They were Mrs. Annie P. Richardson, ages 69; her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Grace M. L Richardson, aged 42, and her granddaughter Joan Mary Richardson, aged 17. The licensee, Mr. F. Richardson, only survived at the Inn, was one of those rescued by Stoker Lowe, who tunnelled under 15ft of debris regardless of a heavy chimney breast likely to fall at any moment.

It was amid the ruins of houses in the adjoining Townwall passage that Stoker Lowe made his other gallant rescue bringing to safety Mrs. L. Terry. Earlier, in the same house, a 5-month-old baby had been rescued, its life having been saved by its mother, Mrs. Lena E. Amos, aged 20, who, though fatally injured by the falling debris, managed to protect her baby daughter Jean. Also killed I the same house was Doris I. Terry, aged 15.

A compulsory purchase order for the former site of the pub was made in 1954 and confirmed in May 1955. A converted value payment of £4,750 was paid by Dover Corporation for the ground in 1957.

LICENSEE LIST

BINGHAM Henry G 1860's-78+ (age 28 in 1871)