CHEQUERS Pubs of Hougham

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1740-

Chequers

Latest 2006

(West Hougham)

Above photograph of the Chequers, date unknown.

Above the Chequers at Hougham offering a village activity, in 1986.

Above Chequers taken 11 February 2001.

Above, yours truly with Sundance, date circa 1994.

Just after closing circa 2007.

Photo above and below by Paul Skelton (15 Sept 2007), boarded up and awaiting demolition.

Earliest reference found so far is in the Wingham Division Ale Licence list, which shows the "Chequers," Hougham, to be re-licensed for the sum of 8 shillings in 1740 indicating that the pub was present before 1740. Afraid at this time I do not know when it was built.

Obviously renovated at some time with the addition of wood panels on the outside to make it look older than it actually is, or perhaps not as the case may be.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 21 April, 1838.

DOVER POLICE COURT

George Straw, 24, a private in the 69th Regt. stood indicted for stealing in the parish of Hougham, Dover, a promissory note, value £5, the property of Capt. C. J. Coote, of the same Regt. Sir Walter Riddel, who had previously opened the case, when it was sent back to amend the indictment, called the prosecutor. He stated that on 27th March, he enclosed a £5 note of the bank of Messrs. Latham and Co. in a letter addressed to Mr. Coote, at Liverpool Terrace, which Sergeant Poole, with the concurrence of witness, gave to the prisoner to convey. It was the duty of the latter to carry it, in obedience to the command of his superior officer, Sergeant Poole deposed that he gave a letter, part of which was produced in Court, and inside of which he had seen Capt. Coote place a £5 note, to the prisoner for the purpose of its being conveyed as above stated. Thomas Thackery, a private in the 69th, saw the letter given by last witness to the prisoner. He was afterwards sent after Straw, and found him in the evening at a public-house in Hougham. Witness got a constable; and taking him into custody, conveyed him to Dover. Colour Sergeant Phillips, of the 69th, received the prisoner from the last witness and a constable, and conveyed him to the Regimental guard-house, where, on searching him, the portion of the letter produced, together with a sovereign and thirteen shillings, were found on his person, and a sovereign in each of his boots. Hannah White, of the "Chequers," at Hougham, deposed to a soldier coming there, at noon, on the 27th of March, and saying he would have a glass of ale if she could change him a £5 note. She sent out and got change, and the soldier remained drinking with other persons, and spent more than a pound. In answer to a question by the Recorder, the witness said she was not surprised at a private soldier spending so much money. Mr. Thomas Loud remembered giving change for the note, at Hougham, and which he produced.

The prisoner said nothing in his defence. The Recorder, addressing the jury, explained the nicety of the law in such cases; the prisoner not being exactly in service of the prosecutor; but as a soldier liable to obey orders. A question for the jury, was, whether the prisoner intended to steal the note at the time of its being put in his charge? If they considered so, it would become a felonious taking, and enable them to convict the prisoner. The learned gentleman further explained the law in cases similar to that of the prisoner; when the jury, after some consideration, found the prisoner guilty of appropriating the money to his own purpose; but not with that intention in the first instance. The Recorder explained to them it was clear that the prisoner could not have the intention to steal before he knew what was in the letter; but he broke it open and took the note, he committed a larceny by doing so. The then returned a verdict of Guilty; and the Recorder, addressing the prisoner on his so disgracing Her Majesty's service, sentenced him to twelve months' imprisonment. The note was ordered to be given up by Mr. Loud; but it was understood that Capt. Coote immediately returned it to him.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 16 April, 1875.

A CONSTABLE SENTENCED TO HARD LABOUR

Thomas Harvey, a police-constable stationed at Hougham, was summoned before the Dover County Magistrates on Saturday, charged with assaulting Richard Holmes, a waggoner, in the employ of Mr. Bromley, at Church Hougham. The affair arose out of the constable turning the complainant out of a public-house, the "Chequers." He described the assault to the Magistrates as follows:-

"On Saturday, March 21st I was at the "Chequers." I left at ten minutes to ten, with George Smithson and William Ladd. I was sober. Defendant, who was in plain clothes, came along with a young woman. I did not speak to him, but he came up to me and said, "Get away." I said, "I am going away." I was then saying good night to my friends. He then took me by the collar and shoved me along. I told him to let go, and he said, "If you say anything to me I will knock you down like a nine pin." He said he would take me to Dover, and I told him I was willing to go. He said he would put me in the lock-up at Hougham. I told him he had not got one. He took me to his lodging and told George Hogben to bring his tunic, belt, and scarf out. He put them on, and putting his staff in his belt he up fist and knocked me down three times. I got up each time and he knocked me down again. Then he out with his staff and told me that if I did not go off he would lay that over me. I ran off." The testimony having been supported by two other witnesses, and no witness being called to deny it (except the defendant, through his solicitor, Mr. Worsfold Mowll, asserted the evidence as to violence was false,) the Magistrates considered the case proved and sentenced the prisoner to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 29 July, 1881. Price 1d.

HOUGHAM

On Thursday the Wingham Petty Sessions were held in the Sessions Roo, of the Maison Dieu Hall, Dover, before Steriker Finnis, Esq. The only business of the Court was an application on the part of Mr. F. Beer, landlord of the "Chequers Inn," West Hougham, for a license to open his house one hour earlier in the morning during harvest time. The application was granted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 March, 1882. Price 1d.

APPLICATIONS

The license of the “Chequers,” at Hougham, was transferred from Finnis Beer to Stephen Law Gilbert.

From the Dover Express. November 1890.

Fire at Hougham.

On Wednesday evening a stack between the Chequers Inn and a cottage was discovered to be on fire. The flames quickly spread to another stack, some cowsheds, a piggery and an outhouse, which were soon well alight. There was a great danger of the flames catching the public house - the part nearest the stack being only a few yards distant. A mounted messenger was at once despatched to Dover. The call was received at 7.10 and soon the fire engine drawn by three horses with the Superintendent, Sergeant Barton and three firemen was on the road to the fire. When they arrived they found the public house in great danger. A good supply of water was obtained from a pond on the opposite side of the road and they soon got the flames under and before the brigade left which was one o’clock not a spark was left. The property burnt was two stacks - one of hay and one of straw, a cow shed, from which the animals were got out unhurt, a piggery and some outhouses. The whole of the property is insured.

Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.

More reading of Dover at www.DoverHistory.co.uk

From an email received 10 November 2011.

I found a little snippet that might be of interest. I've obtained the War Diary of the 11th East Surrey Rt. who were based in The Citadel in early 1941. One of the pages lists the units stationed around Dover, and as you can see from the attached page, The Chequers at Hougham is mentioned. In May 1941 it was the base for the 6th Platoon, 'C' Company, 8th Cinque Ports Battalion HOME GUARD! They had 1 NCO and 23 men stationed there with 21 rifles.

Well I never!

Regards,

Phil Eyden.

In February 2001 the pub was put up for auction but managed to remain open for a few more years after this.

Village that has no draughts.

From the Dover Express 15 May 2001, by Nadine Miller.

FOR SALE BY AUCTION: Chequers Inn at Hougham Without which is losing heart

THE Chequers Inn in Hougham Without - which closed in February - will go under the hammer in London today.

But residents fear they will lose the heart of the village once it is sold off to the highest bidder and turned into housing.

After losing the Post Office and bus service, villagers met and unanimously agreed to fight any plans to turn the building into residential property.

Parish councillor Tony Rawlings said: "The pub has been there for time immemorial and it was expressed that there was a possibility it would be built upon.

"A decision was made to take all action to stop the loss of our pub."

Council spokesman Andy Steele said: "There is a policy in Dover District Council called the 'Draught Local Plan' which states that planning permission will not be granted for change of use for a rural shop or pub.

"That is unless its loss would not harm the economic and social viability of the community which it serves, or genuine and adequate attempts to market the premises for retail purposes or as a pub have failed."

Councillor Trevor Bamfield is committed to help the village retain its public house.

He said: "The parish council was asked to write to the auction house in London to say that strong objections will be made to any planning application.

"I support this action 100 per cent and we will oppose change at any stage.

"We've lost the school, the Post Office and the bus service. If our pub is taken away it will mean the heart of the village will be gone."

Joy as hotel group snaps up Chequers

From the Dover Mercury 24 May 2001.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Villagers collect signatures for their 'save the pub' petition in the run-up to the auction.

VILLAGERS at Hougham are celebrating this week after their village pub was sold to a Kent based hotel group which has said it intends to reopen it as a pub and restaurant.

The London Inn Group, from Maidstone, has bought and restored several other pubs in various parts of the country and villagers are hoping the same will now happen to The Chequers.

It is believed the group paid nearly £300,000 for the property, which closed as a pub in February and was put on the market.

Villagers feared that a new buyer might want to convert it into a private house and began a campaign to keep it as a pub.

"I am looking forward to being able to drink at The Chequers again," said campaigner, Linda Alvey, this week.

Six people from the village went to the auction at the Portman Hotel in London. Although the auctioneer would not allow them to hand out leaflets he did tell would-be purchasers about the villagers' desire to keep it as a pub.

"We've already lost our bus service, post office and shop," said Tony Rawlins.

"The pub could be a thriving business, with the right management. People from all over East Kent know The Chequers, and villagers would support it as well."

Peg Stopford started collecting signatures for a petition to retain the pub the previous weekend and within four days she had collected more than 230 names.

About 500 people live in Hougham, which is formally known as Hougham Without.

"The problem is we'll soon be without everything," said Mike Connolly, "We have a subsidised taxi service once a week, but that's about all."

From the Dover Express 15 November 2001.

New chapter in Chequers' history.

THE centuries-old public house at West Hougham, The Chequers, is to re-open this month.

When it closed in January this year there were fears in the village, between Dover and Folkestone, that "last orders" would never be called again.

Villagers were afraid that when the property was auctioned the pub would be converted into a private house.

But Dennis Ironmonger, 53, who has lived in the village for many years, decided to do something about it.

Now he has leased the property; which is said to have a history as a hostelry going back to 1507.

Former truck-driver Mr Ironmonger and his wife Jenny are aiming to re-open The Chequers next Friday.

The restaurant at the pub has been extended to 40 covers and chef Steve Shaw is standing by ready to start providing meals.

At this moment there's just one problem," said Londonderry-born Mr Ironmonger this week.

"I have been trying to get gas suppliers Transco to get cracking. They tell me it might be six weeks before they can supply The Chequers.

"I'm trying to speed up the process.

During 2006 The Chequers became a Thi Restaurant as well as a public house, but alas now closed (2007).

September 2007. I believe the pub has been bought by a property developer who is going to demolish the pub and build houses or flats on the grounds.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 1 May, 2008.

Checkmate for former boozer.

THE once popular Chequers Inn, off The Street at West Hougham, is to be demolished if a planning application goes through to build five houses with garages on the site. The pub, with its garden, was popular during the Hellfire Corner wartime days when Dover families used to walk out there for a picnic in relative peace. Years later it became a well-visited pub serving table meals. The planning application is to go before district council planners shortly.

The CAMRA branch meeting of June 2008 reported that approval for change of use has been approved.