From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 12 November, 1869.

INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE

Thomas Hodgson was summoned having sold liquor during prohibited hours. He pleaded guilty.

Police-sergeant Stevens said he entered “Tower Inn,” Tower Street, on Sunday last, at half-past eleven, when he saw six men in the back room, with a quart jug and two pots containing beer. Some of the men were smoking. The landlord was present and admitted supplying them with beer. They were all residents of Dover.

The Magistrates fined the defendant 2s. 6d., and 9s. 6d. costs; which was paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 19 November, 1869. Price 1d.

A CAUTION

Eight men were summoned charged with having been found on Sunday week in the "Tower Inn" and the "Coach and Horses" public-houses, Tower Hamlets, during prohibited hours.

These summonses were taken out under a new Act which has recently been passes whereby persons found in a public-house during illegal hours are liable to be punishes as well as the landlord.

The Magistrates said, it appeared that the object in issuing a summons was not to punish the present defendants, but for the purpose of making known to the public at large the scope of the act. All persons found upon premises under circumstances similar to the present were liable to a penalty of 40s. and on future occasions a penalty would in all probabilities be enforced. In the present case, however, the charge would not be pressed against the defendants, who might accordingly be discharged.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 January, 1873. Price 1d.

CHARGE OF STEALING A FOWL

William Appleby, a resident of Brook Street, was charged with stealing a live fowl, value 2s. 6d., the property of police-constable Ash.

Police-constable Ash deposed: On the 1st of January I brought a fowl of Mr. Lamberton, the landlord of the "Tower Inn," Tower Hamlets. It was a brown fowl, marked with dark spots. I gave Mr. Lamberton 2s. 6d. for it, and I took it home on the same evening and put it in a pen, with some other fowls at the rear of my premises. On the following morning I told my daughter to separate the fowls, as they were fighting. I told her to let all the fowls out of the pen except the one that I had bought on the previous day; but it flew out with the rest as soon as the pen was opened. When I went home on that day I found the new fowl gone. I have since seen it in the prisoner's posession. Prisoner lives in Brook Street. I told him it was my fowl, but he said it was his and that he had brought it up. I am quite sure the fowl produced is mine.

By the prisoner: You did not tell me that the fowl flew into your yard because it was yours. I remember taking the fowl to Mr. Lamberton's and to Mr. Grimes's. Mr. Grimes said that the fowl he had sold Mr. Lamberton was almost twp years old.

James Charles Lamberton deposed: I am a licensed victualler, and keep the "Tower Inn," Tower Hamlets. The fowl produced by defendant is the same one that I sold to Mr. Ash on the first of January. Mr. Ash gave me 2s. 6d., and immediately took it home with him. I recognise the fowl again by the marking of its neck. It is a good deal more than seven months old. O brought it in exchange from Mr. Grimes with another one of the same kind.

The Magistrates thought the evidence of Mr. Lamberton was conclusive, and recommended the prisoner to return the fowl to its rightful owner.

Prisoner refused to do this. He thought it impossible for Mr. Lamberton to swear to the fowl by the marks on its neck. He could not swear to it from any marks, but he felt certain it was a young bird he had lost, as it had come back to his yard again.

In reply to the Bench, Mr. Lamberton said he was a poultry fancier on a small scale, and he had no hesitation in saying that the bird produced by the prisoner was quite an old one and not a young pullet.

Prisoner felt sure the bird was a pullet. He had bred it.

Mr. Grimes came forward, but said he could now swear that the fowl produced was one of those that he had exchanged with Mr. Lamberton. He had some more at home very much resembling it. The fowls he had given Mr. Lamberton were eighteen months old.

The Magistrates, after a short consultation, said it seemed to be a case of disputed ownership, and was therefore one for the County Court. The charge would be dismissed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 March, 1874. Price 1d.

IN LIQUIDATION, DOVER, KENT

Important sale of an old-established and well-arranged BREWERY, together with 13 Freehold and Leasehold Public and Beer-houses, a Private Residence, Malt-house, Stabling, &c.

WORSFOLD, HAYWARD, & Co. Have received instructions from the Trusteee of the Estate of Mr. G. S. Page (in liquidation by arrangement, in connection with the Mortgagees, to Sell by Auction, at the “Royal Oak Hotel,” Dover, on Tuesday, 24th March, 1874, at three o'clock precisely, in one or right lots, the following important and Valuable Property.

LOT 6.

A Commanding Freehold Public-house, known as the “Tower Inn,” Tower Hamlets, Charlton.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 June, 1876. Price 1d.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY CLASS

William Todd, labourer, was charged with being drunk and disorderly and using obscene language in Tower Street, Tower Hamlets. He was also charged with using obscene language at the Police-station.

Police-constable Prescott deposed: On Saturday evening at half-past eight my attention was called to the “Tower Inn,” Tower Hamlets. I saw prisoner outside the door trying to burst it open. He said if they did not open the door he would smash all the windows. He was very drunk and used obscene language. I told him to go away, but he refused. I took him into custody. He was very violent, and I was obliged to get assistance. Prisoner said that when he got his liberty again he would smash me. He continued to use most obscene language all the time.

Prisoner was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment.

The Bench expressed their satisfaction to the landlord of the “Tower Inn” for not allowing the ruffian to enter his house.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 2 September, 1881. 1d.

WEST CLIFF BREWERY SALE

A corner public-house, known as the “Tower Inn,” Tower Hamlets, Charlton, in the Borough of Dover, containing attractive bar, bar parlour, public parlour, tap room, wash-house, three good bedrooms, sitting room, and cellar, let to Mr. George Long, at the yearly rent of £25, was put up at £300, and was rapidly run up to £1,020, at which sum it was bought by Mr. Flint, of Canterbury.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 September, 1887. Price 1d.

SUNDAY CLOSING ACT

A full report of the case of alleged infringement of the Sunday Closing Act at the “Fountain Hotel” will be found on our last page. Another case under the same Act came before the Bench this morning, in which Mr. Martin, the landlord of the “Tower Inn,” was fined £10 and his license endorsed for having his house open last Sunday, and seven men who were in the house were fined 2s. 6d. and 8s. 6d. costs each. We shall recount the case next week.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 16 September, 1887. Price 1d.

ANOTHER RAID ON SUNDAY DRINKING

At the Dover Police Court on Friday, before T. V. Brown, and A Bottle Esqrs,. William Martin, the landlord of the “Tower Inn,” Tower Hamlets, was summoned for selling beer during prohibited hours on Sunday the 4th instant, and William Hubbard, William Huntley, William Gregory, Henry Brockman, John Curd, Thomas Langley, and Noah Dodd, were summoned for being on the premises.

Mr. Vernon Knocker, on behalf of the Watch Committee, prosecuted.

Police-sergeant Suters said, on Sunday September 4th, in consequence of complaints received at the Police Station, in company with Police-constable Fox, watched the defendant Martin's house at Tower Hamlets from six o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock. At intervals of about two minutes he saw several men go into the house, but he was only able to get the names of the defendants charged. After watching the house he went in the side door with the other constable.

The sergeant writing his evidence said: I said to Martin the landlord, “I suppose you know what our business is?” and he said “Yes,” I said “This is very wrong, you know, having your house open and serving customers at this time on Sunday morning,” he said “Yes, I know it is,” I then took the names of the men who were inside, and spoke to Gregory, who said, “Oh! I have come to see about some whitewashing,” (laughter in court). I told him he had better leave the premises. Hubbard said, “What about the beer? Now we have got into trouble we may as well drink the beer.” The landlord came and took the beer away and the men then left the premises. There was another glass on the counter which had just been used, and when I called martin's attention to it, he said, “I have had a glass myself.”

In reply to the Bench the Superintendent of Police said that there had not been a conviction against this house before, but he had every reason to believe that this sort of thing had been carried on for a long time.

The Clerk: This tenant had only been in the house ten months.

The Superintendent of Police: I am told that after this occurred on Sunday, beer was carried up into the garden, and high jinks were carried on after the police left. I have also had letters from wives complaining of this sort of thing on Sunday mornings when the men have got their week's money.

The Chairman: Mr. T. V. Brown, said: We consider the conduct of the landlord extremely bad. This is one of the worst cases of wholesale defiance of the licensing laws that has come under our notice for a long time. The landlord, William Morris, will be fined £10 and 8s. 6d. costs, and his license will be endorsed. The men who were found on the premises will be fined lightly, and they will have to pay costs for the Magistrates must show that wholesale violation of the laws in this way will not be allowed. The defendants who were on the premises will be fined 2s. 6d., and 8s. 6d. costs being 11s. each.
Some of the defendants asked if time would be allowed to pay.

The Magistrates said that if they had goods which could be destrained they might have time. In default of payment the landlord would go to prison for one month, and the other defendants for one week.

One man threw down his 11s. immediately and said he had still enough for a pint of beer. Subsequently the landlord and other men paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 27 February, 1914. Price 1½d.

LICENSING SESSIONS

Plans were approved for the alteration of a window at the “Tower Inn” into a door for entrance to the jug and bottle department.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 2 March, 1917.

ADJOURNED LICENSING SESSIONS

The adjourned Licensing Sessions were held at the Town Hall this (Friday) morning, before Sir William Crundall (in the chair), Messrs. W. J. Barnes, H. Hobday, and W. Bradley.

The license of the “Tower Inn,” Tower Street, was transferred from Mr. W. Dobson, to his wife, Mrs. A. J. Dobson, during his illness.

Dover Express 20th August 1943.

At Dover Licensing Transfer Sessions on 13th August 1943.

Approval was given to alterations to the "Tower Inn," Tower Street.

From the Dover Express, 22 November 1946.

DART CHAMPIONS

Above shows the presentation of the Dover Licensed Victuallers' Darts Trophy for this year to the "Tower" Inn by Mr. George Watson (Chairman of the Association), at the "Tower" Inn, on Thursday last week. Mr. Watson is in the centre, and Mr. Fred Merricks (the "Tower" captain) is on his left. The "Tower" also hold the Dover and District Darts League cup. The man centre back, is Thomas Storey.

Dover Express 22nd August 1947.

Town, port & garrison.

When the licence of the “Tower Inn” was transferred from A. J. Whale to Malcolm McLeod, at a sitting of the Dover Magistrates Court on Friday, the Chairman (Mr. G. Golding) remarked “You have been very happy during your service in the Police Force, Mr. McLeod, and I hope you will be successful in your new profession.