DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Dover, September, 2021.

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 29 September, 2021.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1847-

British Queen

Latest 1975

76 Biggin Street in 1913 Pikes 1923Kelly's Directory 1950Kelly's Directory 1956

81 Biggin Street in 1874Post Office Directory 1874 & 1899.

Dover

British Queen

Photo above shows British Queen date unknown.

British Queen mid 1930's

Above photo shows Biggin Street in the mid 1930's. British Queen shown on the left, with The Salutation on the right and Prince Albert in the centre.

British Queen business card 1959

Above is shown a business card as supplied from The British Queen circa 1959. Card kindly supplied by Eric Taplin.

British Queen 1976

Above photo circa 1976.

 

A rather vague title that. Present in Victoria's reign in 1852. The number was always 81 in earlier years but I know of no rebuilding. Around 1900, some of the surrounding properties were renewed, no doubt on a grander scale.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 March, 1906. Price 1d.

ALTERATIONS TO PUBLIC HOUSES

At the Police Court this morning, Mr. A. K. Mowll asked permission of the Bench to make alterations to the structure of several public houses.

At the "British Queen" it was proposed to slightly alter the internal arrangements in order that the tenant should have greater supervision over the house.

The Magistrates approved of the various plans showing the alterations.

 

Dover Express 8th June 1917.

Kentish News Faversham. DOVER PUBLICAN IN TROUBLE.

At the Faversham Borough Police Court on Saturday before Mr. F. Austin (in the chair) and Mr. G. Johnson, Dick Wakefield, a publican, of 76 Biggin Street, Dover, was charged with using obscene language in the Market Place on the previous night. P.C. Bowsher stated that at 10 p.m. prisoner wanted to shake hands with several persons in the Market Place and, when they refused, he made use of bad language. He had had a drink or two but was not drunk. Supt. Lawrence stated that prisoner was very excited when in the cells and he had to turn his light out to keep him quiet. Charles Frederick Taylor, 8 Mendfield Street, corroborated P.C. Bowsher’s evidence. The Supt said he thought the prisoner ought to be made an example of, as being a licensee in another town, he ought to have known better. Prisoner, who denied the offence, was fined £1 which he paid out of the £1. 13s 10d found on him.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 27 March, 1925. Price 1½d.

ALLEGED DRINKING OUT OF HOURS

At the Dover police Court on Monday, before Messrs W. J. Palmer, S. Lewis, C. E. Beaufoy and W. Hollis.

Edward John Wood, 65, Clarendon Street, was charged with unlawfully consuming intoxicating liquors on licensed premises; and Dick Wakefield, licensee of the "British Queen," was charged with aiding and abetting him in the offence.

Mr. Rutley Mowll defended, and pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Taylor prosecuted and outlined the facts of the case.

P.S. Merricks said on March 6th, in company with P.C. Pollington, he entered the "British Queen" public house by the back door at 4.05 p.m., finding the back door standing wide open. they went into the passage and heard voices in the smoking room. He tried the door, found it unlocked, and they entered the room. Defendant Wood had a pint glass to his lips, and was drinking apparently alcoholic liquor. Witness said to him, "What are you doing here;" and he replied, "I have just finished my pint of beer." He then added, "I bought it before half past two." Mrs. Wakefield was present and drew her attention to Wood's remark, and she said he was served with the drink before 2.30 p.m. the defendant Wakefield then came in. Witness cautioned him, told him what he had seen and what had been said. he replied, "Quite right; there has been no beer served here in this room since 2.30." Witness told him he would report the matter.

In reply to Mr. Taylor, witness said that defendant was just finishing the drink.

Mr. Mowll: Did you actually see what was in the glass?

Yes, sir.

Did you taste it?

No, sir; there was nothing to taste.

Mr. Mowll: Then you could not have seen it. (Laughter.)

P.C. Pollington said he was present with P.S. Merricks, and he corroborated his evidence.

Mr. Mowll questioned whether there was any evidence against Wakefield, as he was not present. There was some evidence against Wood on account of his remarks.

The Bench decided there was no evidence against Wakefield.

Mr. Mowll said that the law was that no alcoholic drink must be sold between 2.30 and 6 p.m., and neither must a customer consume what he had previously bought. There was no objection to a customer being on the premises. Public houses might be open all day and night, and non-alcoholic liquors could be supplied at all hours of the day and night, and a licensee was entitled to treat his friends during prohibited hours and was entitled to supply persons who were residents in the house, although that did not apply to this  case.

Dick Wakefield said he had been a licensed victualler in Dover for 20 years, and this had been the first summons he had ever had. On March 6th Wood came in at 2.05 p.m. he knew him well, said he was a friend of his since a boy. he supplied Wood as a customer during permitted hours. When they closed he invited Wood to come in and have a drink. He "stood" him a glass of beer, and they sat down together with his (Wakefield's) wife in the smoke room and made arrangements  to go out together that evening. At about 3.30 p.m. the defendant said he was going to have a half hour's nap.

Mr. Mowll: Nap! That is an unfortunate word. I suppose you mean sleep, not a game of cards. (Laughter.)

Continuing, the defendant said on going through he met the Police. There was only a speck on the glass when the Police came in. The drink that Wood had when the Police arrived was the drink he had treated him to. Wood remained and had tea with them, and then went out in the evening.

Mr. Taylor: You often give Wood drinks?

Yes - and he is not the only one - and anyone else who wants one.

Mr. Taylor: He is rather fortunate, is he not?

He is, absolutely.

Mr. Taylor: have you ever given his tea before?

No, I cannot afford to give him too much.

Mr. Taylor: On this occasion you particularly wanted him to be a friend?

Not particularly, because he is a friend.

Edward John Wood corroborated Wakefield's evidence.

Mr. Mowll said that was the case for the defence, and if those facts were true the defendants were entitled to be acquitted. The case Corbett v. Hague was cited in such cases, and the editor of "Patterson's Licensing Act" noted in reference to it that a person holding the position of a customer could not become a friend. They would find, however, on reading the judgement of the case that the view was quite wrong. It simply came down to the point that if they were satisfied that the evidence that had been given was true, both were entitled to be acquitted, and Wakefield was quite entitled to give his friend liquor. No doubt the Magistrates  were thinking of  the Police evidence, in which Wood was said to have said, "I bought it." he could not get away from that, and it was for them to say whether they believed the evidence or whether they thought that the statement made to the Police on the spur of the moment was more correct.

The Bench retired to consider the case. They were away some minutes, and on their return the Chairman said that they believed the statement of Wood to the Sergeant was correct, and that the liquor was bought before 2.30 p.m. They had taken into consideration Wakefield's previous good character, and they had decided to dismiss the summons against him on payment of costs. Wood would also be dismissed on payment of costs.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 27 February 1953.

Jack Wittall, British Queen darts 180

THREE IN THE SIXTY.

Jack Wittall, the well-known local darts player, receives a certificate for obtaining a "possible," three sixties, from Mr. Harry Vyse, captain of the Elvington Working Men's Club team. Jack was playing for the "British Queen" against the Elvington Club when he scored his points.

 

Inside the "British Queen" circa 1963.

Inside the british Queen circa 1963

Above photo kindly sent by Ken Burnett, showing the following people from left to right:- Dennis Smith, Brian Gee, Wilf Dixon, Johnny Lee holding the monkey, David Crippin and Vick Blythe.

 

Redevelopment saw the closure of the pub on 12 November 1975. The property itself disappeared in November 1979. I noted with interest at the time the chalk blocks which formed one of the cellar walls.

 

British Queen demolition

British Queen shown on left just before demolition.

 

LICENSEE LIST

WEBB James 1847-61+ (age 62 in 1861Census) Melville's 1858

WELLS George 1871-1884 (age 42 in 1881Census) Post Office Directory 1874Post Office Directory 1882

HEARN D 1886

STROUD James White 1891 (age 37 in 1891Census) Post Office Directory 1891

APPLETON Thomas July/1891-95 Next pub licensee had Pikes 1895Dover Express

BEATTON Henry 1899-1900 Kelly's Directory 1899

GANDY Ernest 1901-1903 Post Office Directory 1903Post Office Directory 1903Kelly's 1903

COX T R 1903 end

HUNTER William Thomas Next pub licensee had 1903-Mar/05 Dover Express

SAUNDERS Thomas William Mar/1905-06 end (Baker from London) Dover Express

Last pub licensee had DYER William C 1906-08 end

WAKEFIELD Richard 1907-25 (age 34 in 1911Census) Post Office Directory 1913Post Office Directory 1918Post Office Directory 1922Pikes 1923Pikes 1924

VINALL/VISALL John William 1925-Apr/32 Post Office Directory 1930Dover Express

BARRY Leo Richard Apr/1932-Aug/33 Dover ExpressPikes 1932-33 (Former head waiter from Rye.)

BOTLEY John Aug/1933-37 end Next pub licensee had Dover Express (Maidstone timekeeper)

HELLIWELL William 1937-Aug/43 Post Office Directory 1938Pikes 1938-39Dover Express

MARTIN W Aug/1943-Aug/44 Dover Express

LAMBKIN William Alfred Aug/1944-Aug/53 Pikes 48-49Kelly's Directory 1950Kelly's Directory 1953Dover Express

BLOOR Kenneth L Aug/1953-54 end Dover Express

NEAL Ralph L E 1954-56 Kelly's Directory 1956

CLAYTON 1956

SMITH Bernard Stanley 1956

MEAD Mrs 1962 end

STERRY or STURRY Philip A 1962

STERRY or STURRY W 1964

GERALDAS Ernest 1974-75 end Next pub licensee had Library archives 1974 Fremlins

 

Melville's 1858From Melville's Directory 1858

Post Office Directory 1874From the Post Office Directory 1874

Post Office Directory 1882From the Post Office Directory 1882

Post Office Directory 1891From the Post Office Directory 1891

Pikes 1895From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895

Kelly's Directory 1899From the Kelly's Directory 1899

Post Office Directory 1903From the Post Office Directory 1901

Post Office Directory 1903From the Post Office Directory 1903

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Post Office Directory 1913From the Post Office Directory 1913

Post Office Directory 1918From the Post Office Directory 1918

Post Office Directory 1922From the Post Office Directory 1922

Pikes 1923From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1923

Pikes 1924From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924

Post Office Directory 1930From the Post Office Directory 1930

Pikes 1932-33From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33

Post Office Directory 1938From the Post Office Directory 1938

Pikes 1938-39From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1938-39

Pikes 48-49From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1948-49

Kelly's Directory 1950From the Kelly's Directory 1950

Kelly's Directory 1953From the Kelly's Directory 1953

Kelly's Directory 1956From the Kelly's Directory 1956

Library archives 1974Library archives 1974

Dover ExpressFrom the Dover Express

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

TOP Valid CSS

 

LINK to www.DeadPubs.co.uk