Kentish Gazette 28 January 1778.

City of London Inn and Tavern, Dovor.

Mary Payne, (widow of the late John Payne.) Most respectfully informs the Nobility, Gentry, and Public in general, that she continues the above house as usual, and humbly entreats the Honour and Favour of her Friends, whose Continuance and Protection she hopes to merit by the Assiduity and Attention which she will ever employ to oblige them.

Neat Post-Chaises with good horses.

Also a Machine every day to London.

Kentish Gazette, 20 December, 1780.

Sophia Belchier, from the "Coffee House," Dovor, Begs Leave to acquaint the Nobility, Gentry, and the Public, that she hath removed to the "City of London" there, with the purposes to open as a Tavern, Inn, and Coffee-house, having taken the choice Stock of Old Wines of Mr. Anthony Payne, the late tenant, and laid in a large assortment of all kinds of liquors for the Accommodation of those who may favour her with their Commands, to whom it will be her constant Study to render everything agreeable.

She returns her very grateful acknowledgement to all her Friends for their kind Assistance; and takes the Liberty of entreating their future Favours, as every possible Attention will be paid, on her Part, to merit their good Opinion and Support.

Neat Post Chaises, with exceedingly good Horses and careful Drivers, to any Part of England.

Kentish Gazette, 9 May, 1781.

Dovor.

Sophia Belchier, from the Coffee House on the Quay, begs leave to acquaint the Nobility, Gentry, and others, that she is removed to the "City of London Inn and Tavern," a large and commodious house elegantly fitted up, commanding a prospect of the Harbour, Castle and Sea; is situated at a small distance from the Wharf, Quay, which has a convenience landing place, and from whence the Packets and Passage Boats set sail for Ostend, and is extremely convenient for the removal of passengers and their baggage.

Such of the Nobility and Gentry, as may be pleased to honour her with their company, may be assured of the best accommodation, the genteel usage, and lowest terms.

Post coaches, Chaise's and Saddle horses, to any Part of England.

A machine too and from London every day.

Kentish Gazette, 4 November, 1783.

At a General Court Martial held at the sign of the "City of London," in the town and port of Dover, in the county of Kent, on the 4th of November, 1783, by virtue of his Majesty's special warrant, bearing date the 24th October last.

Kentish Gazette, 4 November, 1783.

Extracts of a Letter from Dover, Nov 7.

"Last Tuesday a General Court Martial was held at the "City of London Inn," on an Officer of the 16th regiment, now laying in Dover Castle, a Lieutenant Colonel James, of the 3rg Dragoons Guards, is President, and Mr. Bunby, Attorney Deputy Judge Advocate, appointed by Sir Charles Gould. The Trial is not yet over."

Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 2 August 1796.

If any person, who left a Roan horse at the "City of London" in Dover, on the 30th of June last, does not fetch him away before Saturday next, at 12 o'clock, he will be sold at that hour by auction, to defray expenses.

Kentish Gazette, 29 November 1803.

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, On Wednesday the 7th day of December next, at three o'clock, in the afternoon, at the "City of London Inn," Dover.

ALL those extensive Premise called the "PARIS HOTEL,", (formerly "Mariea’s Hotel") situate in Snargate street, in Dover, comprising the spacious dwelling-house, fitted up with every suitable appendage as an inn, extensive stabling, lofts, coach-house, coach-yard, a large cave, used as a store-house, and other valuable appurtenances.

The premises, which are held under lease from the Warden and Assistants of Dover Harbour, may be taken possession of immediately; and particulars known of Mr. Shipden, attorney at law, Dover.

28th Nov. 1803.

From the Kentish Gazette, 12 January, 1810.

DREADFUL FIRE AT DOVER.

We stop the press to announce a report that has just readied us, which states, that an alarming fire broke out this morning, between one and two o’clock, at the "City of London Hotel," in Dover, which raged with such unabated fury as to destroy the whole of that extensive building, and a range of nine or ten houses adjoining. It is feared that one or two persons have perished in the flames. We have not an opportunity of learning further particulars of this dreadful catastrophe at present; but trust the latter part, at least, will not prove true. The fire was burning with such violence, when our informant left Dover, that the greatest fears and apprehensions were entertained for the safety of the town.

The above Hotel has been lately taken, and, fitted up by Mr. Giles Gimber, formerly of Sandwich.

From the Kentish Gazette, 12 January, 1810.

In the course of last night a dreadful fire broke out at the "City of London Inn," at Dover, which at the hour of three this morning when the coaches left that place had wholly consumed that Inn with the stables, and otherwise damaged or destroyed ten other houses, and was still raging.

From the Kentish Gazette, 16 January, 1810.

Fire at Dover.

We stated in our last such an account of this calamitous event, as the vague re port of the moment only would permit; its consequences we are since happy to learn, have been much lets destructive in buildings than then reported, the "City of London Hotel," where the fire originated, having been the only house destroyed.

It appears that the fire broke out at about a quarter before three, occasioned, without doubt, by a foreign gentleman, (a Russian, who it is said went to bed intoxicated,) setting fire to the bed in which he slept, from having left a candle in a chair by the bed side, and the flames communicating to another bed in the same room, very soon spread to every part of the house, and from the materials of which it was constructed, (most of the rooms being wainscotted,) in the short space of two hours and a half the whole was consumed, leaving only the bare walls standing. So astonishingly rapid was the progress of the flames, that not a single article of furniture could he preserved, and it was with difficulty that the landlord, who was awoke by the person who was the cause of this dreadful disaster, with the various inmates, (one alone excepted, who unhappily perished in the flames,) could escape, with their night clothes only upon them.

At the back of the Inn was the range of large stables full of hay, straw, &c. and adjoining a large tallow house, and nothing but the most unwearied exertions prevented the communication of the flames to these buildings: had they taken fire, the consequences, from the confined situation of the neighbourhood would have been truly dreadful. Most fortunately at the moment, the water was up in the harbour and the wind moderate, and a number of engines being procured were worked by the inhabitants, assisted by the military, who proved themselves, (as adds our Correspondent they always do on such occasions) of the greatest service in extinguishing the flames and in preserving order.

The houses in front of the Inn (the street being very narrow), were much scorched, and the adjoining house of Mr. Philpott partially damaged.

Several other persons in the vicinity also suffered in their windows and furniture, which they were in haste to remove.

The Premises were insured in the Phoenix Fire Office for £1500, not more however than a quarter of the loss which the proprietor, Mr. W. Crow, will sustain, the furniture, the property of the Landlord Mr. G. Gimber, who had lately taken the Inn, was uninsured and is valued at £500. The stock of wine and spirits it is said was nearly all preserved — but the principal sufferer on this dreadful occasion is not him who has lost his property but him who has lose his life — this unfortunate man is Mr. James Robinson, a cork cutter of this city. Having gone to Dover on business, which he was in the habit of doing at stated periods, he had for the first and last time fixed his lodgings at the above Inn, and on this fatal night, after supping with the landlord with whom he had a previous acquaintance, he retired to rest in a lower room. In the confusion incident to the event, it would seem he was forgotten and all recollection of him buried, till on Sunday his wife becoming alarmed at his not returning from his journey as was expected on Friday morning, sent a messenger to Dover to make enquiry respecting him, when after digging in the ruins for several hours, about four on that day, his body was found yet smoking and dreadfully mangled. — Of the merits of this individual in the humble walk of life in which he trod, more cannot be said than that he was a kind husband, a tender father, and in every sense of the word, a good man. How much the more then will his loss be deplored by a widow, four children, and their relatives, to whose comforts he administered, and whose wants he supplied!

From the Kentish Gazette, 16 January, 1810.

FIRE AT DOVER.

In our last we stated that a fire broke out, at the "City of London Hotel," Dover, and had burnt several of the adjoining homes but we are happy to learn the damage has not been so considerable as our first report mentioned. The following letter contains a tolerably accurate account of the melancholy catastrophe.

Dover, Jan. 12. — This morning, about 2 o clock, a most alarming fire broke out at the "City of London Hotel," in this town; it raged with the utmost violence for two or three hours, in which time it entirely consumed that building, and damaged many houses contiguous. Seven engines were at work, and as providentially there was plenty of water in the harbour, they were, by the indefatigable exertions of the inhabitants of the town, and the soldiery (who were quickly collected together by the alarm drum), well supplied with water. It was long feared the flames would extend to the stable and coach-houses, where were a great number of carriages, horses, and a considerable quantity of corn, hay, and straw; had this been the case, in all probability several whole streets would have been consumed from their close connection with each other nothing less could have been expected; this mischief was, however, prevented, and providentially no lives were lost.

Mr. Crow, the proprietor of the Hotel, was insured to the amount of only £500, his loss is estimated at upwards of £3000.

Mr. C. Gimber, the tenant, has, most unfortunately, lost in this dreadful fire all he possessed in the house, not having been able to preserve a whole suit of clothing.

The whole of these misfortunes are to be attributed to the inebriety and persevering obstinacy of a Russian, who, though repeatedly urged to permit his candle to be removed after he had retired, would not comply, and being, from intoxication, unable to take proper care of it, his curtains caught fire. As it is understood he is a man of large property, it is to be hoped (if that is the case) he will make what reparation is now in his power; he fortunately escaped from the flames by the window, and by climbing over the tops of several houses.

In addition to the above statement, it is with extreme regret, we add, and it is feared to be ascertained beyond a doubt, that Mr. Robinson, of Canterbury, cork-cutter, perished in the flames. Mr. R. it appears, went to bed at the Inn on the night of the fire, and it was supposed he had escaped and gone to Folkestone; but his family not hearing any tidings of him, a person was sent to Dover, on Sunday, to make the necessary enquiries, when, dreadful to relate, upon digging amongst the ruins of the Inn, the remains of a human-body were found, which, it is supposed, was that of the unfortunate Mr. Robinson. The deceased was a very honest and upright man, and has left a wife and family of small children to lament their loss.

From the Kentish Gazette, 16 January, 1810.

FIRE AT DOVER.

MESSRS. W. CROW and G. GIMBER, beg leave to return their best thanks to the Inhabitants of Dover, also to Brigadier-General Nightingall, the Officers, Non-commissioned officers and Privates of the Garrison for their very kind attention, and great exertions in subduing the dreadful - dreadful Fire, which happened on their premises on Friday morning last.

Dover, Jan. 15, 1810.

From the Kentish Gazette, 19 January, 1810.

The melancholy remains of Mr. James Robinson, who perished in the late fire at Dover, were on Wednesday evening conveyed to this city for interment on Sunday. Among the fatalities of this unfortunate event, it is singularly remarkable that from the lime the fire broke out to the moment that it reached the room in which he slept, the period was full three quarters of an hour, and during that space horses as well as carriages (with the consequent noise in the yard), were continually passing before the window of his room. The only possible inference which can he drawn why he should not have been awoke in consequence is, that he was probably suffocated from the smoke of the burning materials which successively fell from above.

The foreigner who was the unfortunate cause of the fire has been committed to Dover goal, under the Alien Act, not having a passport; this has been adopted as the only mode of punishment which could be resorted to. He had not before the night of the fire slept in the house, and on that night came in intoxicated after the landlord was in bed, and insisted on sleeping there. He was heard to make a great noise in the hall of the Inn, for some time previous to the fire being discovered; but not being able to articulate the English language, his cries were disregarded as those of a drunken man.

From the Kentish Gazette, 3 April 1838.

DEATHS.

March 24, at Dover, at a very advanced age, the wife of Mr. Steriker, some years landlord of the "London Hotel," Dover.

From the Kentish Gazette, 9 October 1838.

DOVER. OCT 8. Accidents.

Yesterday morning, the boots at Bunn’s "London Hotel" discovered a gentleman named Butler, who had been staying there some few days, hanging from the bed post. An alarm was immediately given, and assistance rendered, but life was extinct. The deceased, it is said, was in possession of a thousand pounds and upwards when he arrived at the hotel, but that he had lavished nearly £200 away in the purchase of trinkets and other articles as presents to the fair sex. We understand that inquiries have been instituted to learn who are his friends. He had been previously residing at Boulogne.

From the Kentish Gazette, 22 February 1842.

LONDON HOTEL, DOVOR. TO BE LET,

With Immediate Possession, (Owing to the death of the Proprietor.

ALL that long-established INN and POSTING HOUSE, called the "London Hotel;" with the Stables and Premises thereunto belonging, situate in Council House-street, in DOVOR, late in the occupation of Mr. Joseph Bunn, deceased.

The Furniture and other Effects on the Premises (with or without the Stock of Wine and Liquors, and the Horses and Carriages) to be taken by the incoming tenant on a valuation.

These Premises, from their contiguity to the Harbour and the intended Terminus of the South Eastern Railway, are well worthy attention.

For particulars, apply to Mr. Ledger, Solicitor, Dovor.

Dovor, 21st February, 1842.

From the Kentish Gazette, 28 January 1845.

DEATH.

HOLLYER - Jan. 22, at Dover, Clara, wife of Mr. W. J. Hollyer, of the "London Hotel," aged 22.

Kentish Gazette, 17 September 1850.

Petty Sessions.

Monday week being the day for renewing the licences to public houses, the court, in addition to that business, by request. An application also was made to transfer the "City of London Tap," but it was refused.

Kentish Gazette, 19 October 1852.

Quarter Sessions.

The Michaelmas Quarter Sessions for the Borough of Dover and its Liberties took place on Thursday, at the new Sessions House, before W. H. Bodkin, Esq., Q.C., Recorder; Thos. Birch, Esq., Mayor, W. Cocke, Esq., E. Poole Esq., J. B. Knocker, Esq., J. Coleman, Esq., &c. The calendar, in point of number, contained more prisoners than ordinary, and two cases of appeals. The appeals were called on at nine o'clock.

In the first case, James White appeared as appellant, supported by Mr. Horne as counsel, and Mr. B. N. Watson as solicitor; and Edward Sibbit and S. M. Latham, Esqrs., were the respondents, supported by Mr. Burrow, and Mr. Kennett. It was an appeal against a conviction of the appellant on the 9th of August, 1852, by the respondents an Justices of the Peace, for this borough, for selling by retail, excisable liquors, without being duly licensed so to do. The line of argument chosen in support of the appeal was, that the premises, known as the "London Hotel Tap," were duly licensed, inasmuch as they formed part of curtain premises known and licensed at the "London Hotel."

For respondents, it was shown that there was no enclosed internal communication; that from 1816 to 1850 appellant held a licence for the tap. In the latter year, complaints of the conducting of the premises by appellant were made to the authorities, and a renewal of the license to White was refused. A transfer to a person named Smith resulted; but subsequently, on its transpiring that Smith was only the extensible—that White was still in occupation—the licence was refused altogether. In 1851, Mr. Jarman took the "London Hotel," and obtained at Margate a license for it; but no licence for the "Tap" was given.

That however wan opened, without the sanction of the magistrates, under the plea of an excise entry of the two premises as one; and hence the appearance before the Bench and conviction of appellant in August 1852. The learned Recorder confirmed the conviction of the Justices, and expressed an opinion that the conduct of the local Bench in the case would be found promotive of of the interests of the hotel keepers generally. To admit that such premises were but one, would afford scope for classing a whole street under the same designation, and the object of granting licenses, by which the magistrates had a hold of the party, would he frustrated. Forty shillings costs were given with the confirmed conviction.