Commercial House Street

39 Council House Street

The Clarence Hotel, Dover - Mr. Whichcord, Architect.

A neighbour of the "London Hotel" is the first observation. The Hotel was built on the site of a building called "Clarence House". My notes inform that a new licence was provided for the reopening in 1852 and a new lease for 61 years commencing on 6 April 1867 was made later between Dover Harbour Board and William Pascall and was called the "Imperial Hotel".

Clarence Place stood nearby and the Duke of Clarence later William IV, was a frequent visitor to the town.

The hotel was closed from 1871 to 1897, when it was restored and reopened as the "Burlington Hotel" by the Frederick Hotel Company. This outlet of Kingsford passed to George Beer and Company. It was fully licensed but was declared redundant in 1911. Total compensation of £788 was agreed in October that year. £140 went to the owner or mortgagee, Mr. Hind. George Beer received £628 and £20 went to James French the licensee. He moved the following year to the "Two Brewers" in Limekiln Street.

I have a list of licensees dating from 1847 to 1912, and also other mentions of a "Clarence", "Clarence Inn", "Clarence Tap, "Clarence Saloon", "Clarence Theatre" and "Clarence Music Hall". I am unsure of the connection.

LICENSEE LIST

BARTHOLOMEW William D. 1847

HARRADEN Thomas H. 1854

BAKER G 1858-59

MURRAY James 1867

PASCALL William 1867 (Clarence Inn)

MURRAY Mrs Sophia 1874-75 dec'd

BAKER William Bishop 1875-79 end

WARE George 1879 (Clarence)

RUSHTON John Perkins 1879-82 end (Clarence Inn)

BIRCH Joseph or John Charles 1882 (Clarence)

BIRCH Joseph George 1883

STEWART Charles 1888-95 (Royal Clarence, Snargate Street)

BOORMAN George 1891-99 

WALFINGRAMER Carl 1898 ?

NERRETER C. W. 1900

MARJORAM David 1901-04 end

ANNING John Alfred 1903 end

PILCHER Herbert R. 1903-06 end

WILLIAMS John Harry 1906-07 end

FRENCH James Percy 1907-12 end

From Melville's Directory 1858

From the Post Office Directory 1874

From the Post Office Directory 1882

From the Post Office Directory 1891

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895

From the Kelley's Directory 1899

From the Post Office Directory 1903