32 Strand Street

(Sandwich)

Photo left, shows the old "Dolphin"

From 1642.

In 1642, at the beginning of the Civil War, The Town Cryer declared that men should report to The Three Kings, the Fleur de Lys, The Dolphin, and The Black Bear, if they were willing to take employment under the command of the Earl of Essex, in defence of His Majesty Charles I. Only Three recruits came forward! The people seemed more interested in coastal defence.

According to historian David G Collier, in 1648 it was also used by Captain Thomas Boys as well for a Royalist Army recruiting centre, and in 1682 it hosted a meeting of prominent townsfolk who were concerned by the growing number of Protestant dissenters who were settling in Sandwich, but whether their concerns were on religious grounds, or lack of employment for locals, is not clear.

The inn may have a French connection through its name, as "Dolphin" may be a corruption of the French 'Deaufin' a title given to the eldest son of the French king in the Middle Ages, when every English monarch too considered himself king of France - thus the Deaufin was also the Prince of Wales.

The pub changed name to the "Bricklayers Arms" and later, date unknown, back to the "Dolphin again.

LICENSEE LIST

MILES William 1823+

From the Pigot's Directory 1823