26 Strond Street

20 Strond Street

The number will vary over time in keeping with the changes. Before 1932 it was number twenty. Up to 1915 it also had a rear entrance from Commercial Quay.

In 1890 the owners would have liked to annexe their neighbour but were not allowed to do so. Leney and later Fremlin both utilised this one. Alterations and renovations meant a temporary closure in 1908.

A little past history might seem appropriate at this point. Strond Street was formed early in the seventeenth century but Custom House Quay not before 1670. I mention that because a severe storm struck the town at seven a.m. one morning in November 1662. It coincided with a high tide and the account mentions Master Elliott at the "Swan Inn", a building three storeys high, having all the floors flooded. The stable walls fell in and the horses tethered to the manger were lost. The wind was said to be North Westerly. Other reports spoke of the whole valley being flooded, with dead sheep floating in the water.

At the hotel we are now discussing, Martin served in 1792. With the exception of number 14, which was reckoned to be one of the oldest properties in the town, this street vanished in 1951. The road itself was closed to the public thereafter from July that year. Number 14 went shortly afterwards.

LICENSEE LIST

MARTIN Edwin 1791-93

ELLIS John 1805-26

BROMLEY Richard 1832-62+

BROMLEY John 1872-74+

SIMMONDS Joseph 1876

ROBERTS Alfred Millington 1882

COTTLE Miss 1889

WATSON R. 1889

GARDNER Charles 1895-98

MULLER Valentine William 1901

GARDNER-PEETERS 1904-08 end

WOOD William George 1908 and 1910-12

WEBB Mrs Ann Widdecombe 1910 end

HAMMOND F. 1921-23

HARRISON Walter Charles Robert 1924-37 dec'd

HARRISON Mrs Frances Elizabeth 1937

From the Pigot's Directory 1823

From the Pigot's Directory 1828-9

From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

From the Pigot's Directory 1839

From the Pigot's Directory 1840

From Bagshaw Directory 1847

From Melville's Directory 1858

From the Post Office Directory 1862

From the Post Office Directory 1874

From the Post Office Directory 1882

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1889

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1923

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33