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26 Priory Road (1 Priory Place till 1872)
There is evidence of a house called "Comet Star" and with nothing to
suggest otherwise, I am content to presume this is it. A passage from the
rear, led to the "British Queen" which demonstrates its location.
With the "Golden Lion" at No. 11, and the
Angling Club situated today at No. 14, and only St. Edmunds Chapel between
that and the "Prince Albert" it is
difficult to visualise exactly where No. 26 could be, but it must be very
close to the "Prince Albert". As an ale
or beer-house it had sold for £150 in 1798 and in 1884, Baxter and Company,
brewers, paid £300 for it.
According to further reference to Priory Place and Priory Road, mentioned
in the book by Derek Leach, titled "Streets of Dover," Priory Place ran from
New Street to Priory Street and is mentioned in the Paving Commissioners’
Minutes of 1822. Priory Road runs from Biggin Street to Priory Street.
Several streets leading to or close to the remains of St. Martin’s Priory,
now Dover College, use the word Priory. Previously called Priory Place,
Norman Terrace and St. Martin’s Terrace, and it is these that were renamed
Priory Road in 1872.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 3 October, 1884.
The "Comet" beerhouse, situated in Priory Road, was sold at the "Royal
Oak Hotel," on Tuesday afternoon, by Mr. Goatley, of Twickenham. The
bidding started at "150, and the premises was knocked down to Messrs.
Baxter and Co. Brewers, Sandwich, for £300. In 1798 the same premises
was sold for £150.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 March, 1905. Price 1d.
ENDANGERING A FRIEND
Francis Ashfield was charged with being drunk on licensed premises, vis.,
“Comet Inn,” Priory Road.
Police Sergeant Hambrook said: On Saturday at 11.40 I received
instructions from Inspector Fox to visit the “Comet Inn,” Priory Road. I
went with Police Constable Prescott. In the bar I saw the defendant
sitting in a chair asleep, and apparently drunk. In asked the landlord
how he accounted for this man being on his premises in that condition,
and he replied, “He came in, and as he is my customer I let him sit
there to sleep it off, but he has only had a small soda here.” I then
woke the defendant, and found he was drunk. I asked him his name and
address. He refused to give it, and I told him he would have to come to
the Police Station, I brought him there and though he was repeatedly
asked his name and address, he still refused. He was then charged with
being drunk on licensed premises and detained.
Inspector Fox said that defendant was not so drunk but that he might
have been proceeded against by summons if he had given his address.
Defendant said that he was not drunk, and all he did was to go to sleep
there. He would not tell his name because he did not consider he had
committed himself.
The Chairman: You are likely to get the landlord into trouble.
Inspector Fox said that the man was seen to go in the worse for liquor,
and he did not think he got anything from the landlord.
The Clerk: He let him remain there.
The Bench fined the prisoner 5s. including costs.
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The photo below, although taken in 1937, shows an
air-view of the vicinity and the "Comet Star" would have been somewhere
in the bottom centre of the photograph, although it is unknown if the
buildings shown there are the same.
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It was still a beer-house when kept by William Castle in 1907 and that
year the Bench considered it surplus to requirements. The Compensation
Authority thought likewise the following year and the premises were then
used in quick succession by a butcher, greengrocer, and finally as tea
rooms.
LICENSEE LIST
SMALL George 1835-73 (Listed as 1 Priory Place in census's 1841-71)
JOHNSON Mr 1873
KEELER Joseph W 1875
BARNES Mr pre 1891
BARNES Mrs to 1891
CASTLE Herbert H junior 1892-1906 dec'd
CASTLE William Joseph Marsh 1895-1907
 
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895
From the Kelly's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1901
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