BELL AND ANCHOR Pubs of Sandwich

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Sandwich, December, 2023.

Page Updated:- Saturday, 16 December, 2023.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1749-

Bell and Anchor

Latest 1903+

High Street

Sandwich

Above engraving, 1890, kindly sent by Michael Mirams.

Above photo, date unknown, the "Bell and Anchor" is seen through the archway of the Barbican. Kindly sent by Bob Audley.

Above photo, 1905, kindly sent by Michael Mirams.

Kentish Weekly Post 5 April 1749.

To be Lett, and Enter'd upon immediately.

A Large Commodious and Well-accustom'd Inn, situate in Strand Street in Sandwich, and known by the Name or Sign of the "Bell and Anchor;" with a Coach House and Stables thereto adjoining and belonging, all in exceeding good Repair, and formerly in the Occupation of Anthony Stewart, and now or late of Thomas Jolley.

Inquire of Mr. David Lance at Sandwich, or of Samuel Simmons, Attorney at Law in the same Place.

Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal, Tuesday 16 September 1823.

To Be Sold.

The "Bell and Anchor," Public house, situated in High Street, Sandwich.

Enquire of Mr. Hoile, Brewer, Sandwich.

South Eastern Gazette, 3 July, 1860.

Sandwich. A Serious Disturbance. Three Men Stabbed.

A serious and alarming street broil disturbed the peace and quiet of our townspeople in the vicinity of High Street, shortly before midnight on Saturday last, and resulted in the life of one man (Henry Gatehouse) being placed in immanent danger, no less than four distinct wounds having been inflicted in different parts of his person, while two other men were more or less injured. The outrage commenced in front of the "Bell and Anchor," in High Street, and terminated near the residence of Captain Stewart, in the same street.

The original of the affair no one appears able satisfactory to explain, but the following particulars have been gleamed from persons who were present when the row began to attract attention.

It appears that shortly before 12 o'clock, Thomas Kent, belonging to one of the colliors trading here (and who have received his money during the day), was seen in company with a desolate woman, named Lawrence, alias Wootton, and a man, near the "Bell and Anchor," all the worst for liquor. There they fell in with Henry Gatehouse, and it is presumed that a quarrel ensued, for the latter and East were soon scene fighting. They fell very frequently, more from the effects of the liquor than from the blows received, and a great noise was made. This quickly drew a crowd to the spot, and cries were raised that East had a knife, which he was brandishing about in all directions.

James Harvey, a sawyer, pulled East off Gatehouse, and tried to persuade him to go home. This only excited the rage of East, who then fought with Harvey, and while down managed to stab him in the thigh, at the same time threatening to rip him open.

East then returned to Gatehouse, stabbing him several times, and also inflicting several wounds on Alfred Martin. Although there were a great many person standing around, the violent conduct of East appeared to daunt them, and it is fearful to contemplate the mischief he might have inflicted if he had not been timely overpowered and knocked down by Harvey. He was then taken to the lock-up by the constables, who were assisted by superintendent Stokes, of the K.C.C. His appearance indicated the character of the character in which he had been engaged, for he was completely covered in blood, his left eye closed up, and his right finger cut, evidently by one of the knives he had used, for one was knocked from his hand and a second was picked up in the road; one of the knives is a spring-bladed sharp-pointed one, the other a common sailor's knife.

Doctor Emerson and his assistant (Mr. Joseph Young) was summoned to the wounded man, and they as certained that Gatehouse was suffering from an incised wound in the left side of the neck, three in, in length, a cut across the nose and cheek, and a flesh wound in the back. The injury to the neck was of a very serious nature, some of the smaller arteries having been completely severed, and great loss of blood having taken place. The surgeons having prevented the man to be in a very critical state, the mayor (R. Ralph, Esq.,) was immediately called up, and the injured man's deposition was taken, in the presence of East. It was to the effect that East was the person that inflicted the injuries upon him. He added that he had never seen the prisoner before that night; that he had not been previously drinking with him, but only accidentally met him before the occurrence.

James Harvey it was found, had received a stab in the thigh of considerable depth, and about an inch and a half in length, and Alfred Martin two puncture wounds in the left arm. All the parties were more or less under the influence of liquor at the time, and it is said that a man whose name has not transpired actually held Gatehouse on the ground, while his antagonist was stabbing him. The woman, it would seem, disappeared soon after the row commenced.

Yesterday (Monday) the prisoner was placed at the bar of the borough police court, at the Town- hall, before R. Harrison, Esq., Capt. Stewart, William Castle and R. Marsh, Esqrs. He gave the name of Thomas Goodwin East. The more serious charge was not gone into, as Gatehouse, the injured man, was still in a very precarious state, and it was said that under the most favourable circumstances he would not be able to give evidence in less than three weeks. Under these circumstances, the charge against East of unlawfully cutting and wounding James Harvey was heard. Harvey, Mr. Joseph Young, and Frederick Marshall having been examined, they evidence being in substance as above, the prisoner was remanded for a week, bail being refused.

It should be mentions that Mr. Seath rendered very essential assistant to the injured man (Gatehouse), and that, without the prompt aid forwarded, there is very little doubt but that he must have expired, from the extent of the haemorrhage that had taken place. The woman in whose company the prisoner has been seen is believed to have robbed him of his purse and it's contents. The former has been found, but without the money.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 7 July, 1860.

SANDWICH. THREE MEN STABBED BY A SAILOR.

Considerable excitement has been occasioned in this town and port by the perpetration of a brutal outrage, early on Sunday morning, in the public street. It appears that a number of labouring men had been drinking together at the "Bell and Crown," (sic) situate in the High Street, and that they left the house about midnight. Among them was a man named Henry Gatehouse, and also a sailor named Thomas Goodwin East, a strong powerful man, who was accompanied by a low woman of the town. They were all considerably the worse for liquor. Some wrangling took place between East and Gatehouse, and they ultimately stripped and fought. They fell frequently. The noise soon brought together a great number of persons, most of them of the lowest clans in the place. An attempt was made to separate the combatants, when East became very violent and quickly brandished a sharp-pointed knife, with which he managed to inflict four serious wounds on Gatehouse, and also stabbed two other men, one of whom was merely standing looking on, and had not taken any part in the affray. It is reported that a companion of East’s held Gatehouse down, while the former was stabbing and cutting him with the knife. There were two knives used in the affair—one a deadly looking instrument, with a spring back, and the other a common sailor's knife.

Two medical men were sent for—Dr. Emmerson and Mr. Young. On examining Gatehouse, they found a frightful incised wound on the left side of the neck, three inches in length, completely severing the smaller arteries, a deep cut across the nose, a severe wound in the cheek, and a stab in the back. Prompt measures were adopted (by the assistance of medical men and Mr. Seath), or death must have immediately ensued.

From a belief that it was impossible for Gatehouse to recover (the surgeons pronouncing him to be on the point of death), the Mayor was called up, and the wounded man’s statement taken down in writing. It was to the effect that East (who was covered with blood, and presented a most sickening spectacle) was the man that stabbed him. He had never seen the man before, nor had he been drinking with him. The prisoner was then removed to the lock-up, and closely watched by the constables in charge. The other men injured were James Harvey and Alfred Martin; the former was stabbed in the thigh, and the latter received two punctured wounds in the left arm.

On Wednesday East was examined before Captain Stewart, R.N., and three other justices, in the Town-hall; but as Gatehouse was represented as being still in a very critical state, the charge of attempting to commit murder was not gone into, the inquiry being limited to the facts connected with the stabbing and wounding of James Harvey. The following evidence was taken:—

James Harvey:—I am a sawyer, and reside in Sandwich. About five minutes before twelve on Saturday night last I came from the "George and Dragon" public-house into High-street. I heard a row near the Seven Posts-alley. Gatehouse and East were quarrelling, and they commenced fighting. Both of them fell down, and I stepped up to take East off, and tried to persuade him to go home. East was bleeding very much at the time, and as I was getting all over blood I let him go. He ran up the street, and then returned, and was going to hit Gatehouse, when I interfered, and he struck me instead. We then had a tussle, and both fell down, I uppermost. Whilst down I felt something hurt me in my leg; but I did not know what it was. It commenced bleeding shortly after, and I called out that I was stabbed. There was a crowd round, but no one interfered with me but East. It was not very dark at the time. East then went and fought with Gatehouse, and stubbed him with a knife; after which, he returned to where I was standing, with a knife in his hand, and tried to job it into me; at the same time saying he would stab me. I jumped upon him and knocked him down, and the knife was taken from him.

Mr. Joseph Young, a surgeon, described the nature of the injury sustained by Harvey. It was a deep gaping wound, from an inch and a half to two inches is length, and had evidently been inflicted by some sharp instrument.

Corroborative evidence was then given, and the prisoner was remanded for a week on both charges.

South Eastern Gazette, 17 July, 1860.

SANDWICH. The late Case of Stabbing.

Yesterday (Monday) Thomas East was again brought up before the borough justices, on the charge of unlawfully cutting and wounding James Harvey, and attempting to murder Henry Gatehouse, on the night of the 7th inst., and was again formally remanded, in order to suit the convenience of the prisoner’s legal, adviser, Mr. Towne. Gatehouse, whose life at one time was despaired of, is now much improved, but the wounds still present a frightful appearance.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 4 August, 1860.

THE STABBING CASE AT SANDWICH.

Thomas G. Eastes, mariner, was indicted for stabbing and wounding, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, Henry Gatehouse at Sandwich, on the 1st July.

Mr. Deedes prosecuted; Mr. Barrow defended.

The prosecutor said:— I am a labourer, and live at Sandwich. A few minutes before twelve, on the night of the 1st of July, I went into the "Bell and Anchor Inn," and called for a pint of beer. The prisoner was there with a female, who asked him to have a glass of gin. The prisoner then said to me he would fight any bargeman, but I replied that I did not want to fight. I left shortly afterwards to go home, but prisoner followed me, and, placing himself in front of me, said I should not go home until I fought with him. He then struck me and we both fell together. He held me down, and nearly tore the guernsey from my back. Some one took him off, and I went towards home. Prisoner, however, followed me, and presently struck me again. We then both fell together, and when I was on the ground the prisoner stabbed me in the back. I got up, when prisoner again rushed at me, but I knocked him down. I then went on my way homewards, but prisoner followed me and stubbed me in the neck. The wound bled and I fainted soon afterwards.

Cross-examined.:— When we fell the first time the prisoner was undermost, and he put his arm round me and stabbed me in the back. There was not a general row.

John Spain deposed:— I was in High-street, Sandwich, on the night in question, and saw the prisoner follow Gatehouse, who turned round and knocked him down. They then had a round, and both fell, the prisoner being undermost. When prosecutor got up his neck was bleeding, and a knife was taken from the prisoner's hand. The prisoner had been drinking, but Gatehouse was sober.

John Burrell.:— I witnessed the row, and saw the prisoner take a knife from his pocket. After the round, I saw Gatehouse bleeding from a wound in the neck, and prisoner threw a knife away.

A witness deposed to picking up the knife produced (a formidable clasp-knife), and the superintendent of police produced another which he had found upon the prisoner.

Mr. Young, surgeon, deposed:— I was called to attend the prosecutor, and found him lying on the pavement in the street. He was in a partially unconscious state. I observed a deep wound in the neck, another on the left side of the back, and several others about the head and face. They might have been inflicted with the weapons produced. The prosecutor’s life was at fist in danger by the wound in his neck, and he is still under my care.

Mr. Barrow having addressed the jury for the prisoner and his lordship summed up, the jury almost immediately returned a verdict of guilty, and he was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour.

This concluded the Criminal business of the Assizes.

South Eastern Gazette, 7 August, 1860.

Stabbing and Wounding at Sandwich.

Thomas G. Eastes, marine, was indicted for stabbing and wounding Henry Gatehouse, with intent, to do him grievous bodily harm, at Sandwich, on the 1st July. Mr. Deedes prosecuted, and Mr. Barrow defended the prisoner.

The prosecutor, a labourer at Sandwich, stated that shortly before twelve o’clock on the night of the 1st July he went into the "Bell and Anchor" public-house, Sandwich, where he saw the prisoner with a female. Prosecutor called for a glass of beer, and the female asked him to have some gin. Upon this the prisoner said he would fight any ----- bargeman, but prosecutor replied that he did not want to fight. He afterwards left the house, when prisoner came before him and said he would fight him before he went home. He (prisoner) then struck him, and they both fell. Prisoner held him down, tearing his guernsey nearly from his back, but he was taken off him, and prosecutor went away. Prisoner, however, followed, and again struck him. They also again scuffled and fell, and when down the prisoner stabbed him in the back. Prosecutor got up, and prisoner again rushed at him, but was himself knocked down. Prosecutor then turned to go home, when the prisoner came up and stabbed him in the neck, and he soon afterwards fainted from the loss of blood.

Cross-examined:— There was not a general row.

John Spain said he was in the High-street, Sandwich, on the night in question, and saw a man take Eastes away from Gatehouse. He afterwards saw Eastes go up to prosecutor, when the latter knocked him down. They then fought, and both fell down, Gatehouse undermost. When Gatehouse got up his neck was bleeding, and a knife was taken from the prisoner’s hand. The prisoner had been drinking, but prosecutor was sober.

John Burrell said he witnessed the fighting, and saw Eastes take a knife from his pocket. He afterwards saw Gatehouse bleeding from a wound in the neck, and the prisoner throw a knife away.

The person who picked up the knife (a large clasp one) gave evidence to that effect, and the superintendent of police also produced a knife which had been taken from prisoner.

Mr. Young, a surgeon, deposed to having been called to attend the prosecutor on the night in question, when he found him lying on the pavement in a fainting state. There was a deep wound in his neck, and other wounds in the neck and face, and also one in the back on the left side. The injuries had the appearance of having been inflicted with weapons similar to the knives produced. The prosecutor’s life was at first endangered by the wound in the neck, and he was still under witness’s care.

The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to eighteen, months’ hard labour.

LICENSEE LIST

STEWART Anthony to 1749

JOLLEY Thomas 1749+

RUTTER Jennings 1823-24+