BLACK HORSE (Bridge Street) Pubs of Dover

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1839

Black Horse

Latest 1915

Charlton

Elvey's Lane in 1833

44 Bridge Street

A beerhouse of Leney which opened at some time between 1823 and 1869. I believe it must have opened after 1839 as surely there wouldn't have been two houses with the same name at the same time less than 100 yards apart. It was mentioned in Pigot's Directories as having the address of just Charlton, but that's close enough for me to believe it is this house in Bridge Street they are referring to. Travelling towards Charlton from Tower Hamlets the house would be on your right. Previous to 1916 the number was 44. The site remained the same. It was an effort on the part of somebody to improve the street numbering. Unfortunately its new denomination proved unlucky. Before the paint was dry it had been declared redundant and compensation was paid in 1915 as follows. Sarah Dennis the owner got £698.10s. Leney and Company got £109 and the tenant, Harry Clark, got £95.10s.

From the Dover Telegraph. price 7d. 23 November 1833.

The Royal Cinque Ports Assembly Booth.

Will be open during the Fair, at the tea-gardens and bowling-green of the Black Horse, Charlton, on which occasion there will be a GRAND FANCY DRESS BALL each evening.

An excellent and efficient band will perform every evening, and the booth will be brilliantly illuminated with variegated lamps.

S Clarke, proprietor of the above booth, which he has erected at the request of his numerous friends, most respectfully begs leave to state that every arrangement has been made to ensure the accommodation of all who may be pleased to humour him with their company. He also begs to leave to mention that he not only deals with the tradesmen of Dover for goods, &c but he also employs Dover mechanics and labourers to erect booths, &c, &c.

Tickets may be had at the Black Horse Tavern, Elvey's Lane, for the above booth, at 6d each, for the evening.

S. C. wishes it to be understood that no noisy, or otherwise objectionable character, will be admitted; as it is his determination to preserve the order so essential to the well being of respectable society.

(At present I am not sure where Elvey's Lane was.)

Bridge Street is part of an ancient road running from Charlton to Hougham, which continued on up Black Horse Lane (now Tower Hamlets Road) and is obviously where the pub gained its name, although there is listing of another Black Horse, now the "Eagle" on he corner of Tower Hamlets Road. That Black Horse was demolished on 4 September 1839 and I assume the one in nearby Bridge Street took its name and the new building became what is now the "Eagle".

Although Bridge Street itself probably got its name in 1829 when a brick bridge was built across the river Dour. Originally the road was crossed by a ford, with a wooden bridge for pedestrians.

LICENSEE LIST

DENNIS George 1858