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Information supplied by Michael White.
HISTORY OF THE DOLPHIN INN AND THE NEW DOLPHIN INN.
The two bays which formed Herne's shoreline were divided by a small
point near the present Clock Tower. The "Ship Inn" at the foot of the
Downs served the Lower Bay as the "Dolphin Inn" did the Upper.
This original "Dolphin Inn" was sited literally on the Beach in the
days before Herne Bay developed as a town. The tenant of this original
"Dolphin Inn" was moved there by Cobb's Brewers of Margate in
anticipation of its demolition when the proposed Pier and Promenade were
built in 1831. In fact matters turned out rather differently, and a true
‘new' Dolphin rose close to the old site, and remained a Cobb's house
for 30 years.
In 1806, following his marriage to Ann (Solley), James White took
over the tenancy of the "Dolphin" from William Taylor about whom there
had been allegations of ‘gaming' on the premises.
In 1819, James White being the father of a growing family nearly lost
the sight of an eye when a cartridge which had been tossed into the
taproom fireplace, exploded in his face; he died four years later, and
his widow was allowed to take over the licence.
Samuel Hacker, a Canterbury architect with interests in Sir Henry
Oxenden's plans to develop land at the lower Bay, wrote to Cobb's (the
brewers) in June 1826 to inform them that they ought to replace the
Widow White at the "Dolphin" ‘she having been imprudent as to be Large
in the Family way, by, I understand, a man of a drunken bad character';
in fact she gave birth to a son Henry at the end of that year.
However Ann did continue as Cobb's tenant at the "Dolphin" until
shortly before the construction of the new Pier and Promenade, when she
was transferred to premises in William Street, just back from the sea
front, which became the "New Dolphin Inn."
The "New Dolphin Inn" itself continued in business under that name
until the mid 1990's (at which time the name was changed to the "Scruffy
Ducks"). This establishment was burnt down in 2006 and was completely
demolished in 2007.
In the Pigots Directory of 1840, a sort of visitors' guide of the
time, Ann White is shown as the licencee of the "New Dolphin," William
Street and Jonathon Acres as the licensee of the "Dolphin," Telford
Terrace which is listed as a ‘hotel and commercial inn'.
Herne Bay is described as ‘a hamlet in the parish of Herne, hundred
of St Augustine and lathe of Scray, between six and seven miles north of
Canterbury – situated on the most delightful part of the Kentish coast
and endowed with superior local advantages for the establishment of a
town and watering place; it occupies a gentle elevation, commanding in
front an open unrestricted view of the ocean and inland a picturesque
country, intersected with well wooded walks and rides. …… The parish
(including Herne Bay) contained in 1831, 1876 inhabitants, which number
has greatly increased since that period.' |
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