From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 September, 1886. Price 1d.

DEATH OF HORSE

Last Tuesday evening, as a horse and cart belonging to Mr. R. Beer, “Volunteer Inn,” Buckland, were coming down Crabble Hill, the horse fell down, but afterwards got up, and proceeded on its way down London Road. When opposite the Buckland Schools the horse was taken out of the shafts, as it was found to be unwell, and was taken further down the road in the direction of its home. When opposite Eric Road the poor animal fell, and shortly afterwards expired. After much difficulty and delay it was lifted on to a cart and conveyed home.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 11 January, 1907. Price 1d.

PUBLIC HOUSE CHANGE

At the Dover Police Court this morning, before Captain R. D. Cay, R.N. G. C. Rubie, and E. Chitty, Esqrs., the license of the “Volunteer Inn,” London Road, was transferred from James Lock to W. S. Carter, who held the license of the “Crown,” Deal, for the last three years.

Mr. Chitty made a long objection to the other Magistrates, principally the Chairman, who apparently did not agree, and said to the tenant, “Why are you going out?”

The tenant: It does not suit my wife.

The Chairman: There you are, Mr. Chitty.

The application as granted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 15 February, 1907. Price 1d.

DOVER LICENSING MEETING

The Annual Licensing Meeting of the Dover Magistrates was held at the Police Court on Monday at noon. The Magistrates on the Bench were:- The Mayor (G. P. Raggett, Esq.), Sir William Crundall, Messrs. J. L. Bradley, M. Pepper, W. J. Barnes, W. J. Adcock, H. W. Thorpe, H. F. Elwin, J. W. Bussey, F. G. Wright, E. Chitty, J. Scott, F. W. Prescott, and T. A. Terson.

THE VOLUNTEER

Mr. R. Mowll said that in reference to the objection of the “Volunteer,” London Road, he had been instructed since he came into the Court, as Messrs. Flint, the brewers were under the impression that it would not be heard until the adjourned Sessions, as was the case at other licensing meetings. He asked that the Magistrates should either adjourn it so that he could, or he would if that were not convenient, reserve his opposition till the case was heard at Quarter Sessions.

The Magistrates intimated that they would prefer to hear the case, and not adjourn it.

The licence holder, Walter Stanford Carter, was then called forward and informed that the Superintendent of the Police objected to the renewal of the licence. (1) Having regard to the character and necessities of the neighbourhood and the number of licensed houses in the immediate vicinity being excessive, the licence now held by him was unnecessary. (2) That in the interests of the public the renewal of the licence was undesirable.

Chief Constable Knott said that the “Volunteer” was a fully licensed house situates in London Road. The present tenant, W. S. Carter, had the licence transferred to him on January 25th this year. A former tenant, Thomas Beer, he'd the licence from March 4th, 1878, till his death. The licence was transferred to his widow on 21st August, 1900, on 2nd June, 1905, it was transferred to James Lock, who held it until the present tenant took it over. That was two changes in less than two years. The licensed houses in the immediate neighbourhood were the “Milestone” 22 yards distant, the “Rose and Crown,” 35 yards, the “Crown,” 154 yards, and the “Plough,” 170 yards. The rateable value was £33 net, £26 10s. The frontage was 14ft 6in. There were a public bar, bottle and jug bar entrance, a living room and parlour combined, and stabling at the rear. The sanity accommodation was good. A side passage from the front led to the stabling. The premises were visited on Saturday, 8th December, at 11.15 a.m. and there were no customers on the premises. On Friday, February 1st, at 7.15 p.m. there were two customers. On Tuesday, February 5th, at 10.35 a.m. there were no customers. He considered that the house was not required. Beer was a carrier and had another source of livelihood. The trade also appeared to have gone from the house to another close by.

Inspector Fox, who visited the house with the Chief Constable, gave corroborative evidence. He said that on Thursday, January 5th, in company with Police Constable Husk, he visited the premises at 6.30 p.m., and there were no customers. He lived very nearly opposite the house, and very few customers visited it. He had lived there nine months.

Mr. R. Mowll: That is just the time the trade has been going away.

Inspector Fox: Perhaps I frightened them away. (Laughter.)

Mr. R. Mowll: Just what I was thinking. (Laughter.)

Police Constable Husk corroborated.

Mr. J. L. Broadley asked the licence holder what sort of trade he did.

Mr. R. Mowll said that he must ask for an opportunity of conferring with his client before allowing the trade to be mentioned in Court.

Mr. Carter remarked that he was doing a nice little trade. He was picking up nicely.

Mr. Prescott: Have you brought the invoices of the beer laid in?

Mr. R. Mowll: Do you ask for them?

Mr. Prescott said that it would be necessary to show what trade was being done.

Mr. R. Mowll: Mr. Bradley said that he did not want to do but what was fair. Now one of the Magistrates is asking the man point blank for his invoices.

Mr. Prescott: I only wanted to help your client.

The decision of the Bench was reserved till later.

After the luncheon adjournment:

The Magistrates' Clerk announced that all the five houses, i.e. those at the “Star,” the “Volunteer,” the “Comet,” the “Nottingham Castle,” and the “Ordnance Arms,” would be provisionally renewed so that they could go before the Compensation Authority the Quarter Sessions at Canterbury with a view to compensation.

From Dover Express 12 July 1907.

DOVER PUBLIC HOUSE REDUCTION.

The previous action of the Dover Magistrates in refusing the licences of the "Nottingham Castle," Adrian Street, the "Star," Trevanion Lane, the "Comet," Priory Road, and the "Volunteer," London Road, was at the Licensing Committee of the County Magistrates yesterday at Canterbury, confirmed, the owners making no objection.