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18 Market Square
13 Market Square
 
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Duchess of Kent next door to The Walmer Castle circa 1960 |
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A VIEW of the Market Square, looking into King Street,
taken during a procession through streets lined with spectators, many
standing on farm carts suggesting it was market day. Young sailors
marched alongside an old Dover lifeboat, drawn by a team of six horses,
followed by members of Dover Friendly Society. Tramway standards date
the picture as post-1896. Pictured on the corner of King Street is
Burton's Fountain Hotel and, next door, the Duchess of Kent Inn. One
sign on the Fountain advertises "MacDonald's Teeth Guaranteed.
Information taken from John Bavington Jones' book "A
Perambulation of the Town, Port and Fortress of Dover", 1906. (Reprint
in The South Kent Gazette, June 27th, 1979.) |
MEMENTOES of Dover Tramway: One of the first Dover trams,
car No 3, with open top deck heads for Buckland from the Pier terminus near
the Crosswall quay and is about to overtake a cart hauled by two horses
standing outside the Metropole Restaurant which was opposite St Mary's Church.
In the background can be seen the Duchess of Kent and Walmer Castle public
houses standing side by side near the King Street corner of the Market
Square. Behind the tram is believed to Waterloo House, the very distinctive
shop of Hart & Co Incorporating a very useful public clock. |
Butchers Lane once stood nearby and in 1690 this sign was the "Butcher's
Arms". It still traded as such in 1822 but had deteriorated so much that it
was subsequently re-fronted. It was named "Duchess of Kent" in 1835
in honour of Queen Victoria's mother. The
sign depicted her wearing a turban so obviously a story there. She honoured
the town with a visit that year certainly, but her needs were attended to by
the "Ship Hotel".
You could down a pub pint at three in the morning, a privilege renewed in
1874 and 1900. Legislation of 1914 banned the sale of alcohol after 9 pm,
only the Duchess, the Walmer Castle and buffets at the town and harbour
stations were exempt.
The "Duchess of Kent" was referred to as an eating house and
mentioned as such as early as 1838 and as late as 1875
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Mr. J. R. Williams, who kept the "Duchess of Kent", was the founder of
the Dover Philanthropic Society. The idea occurred to him on a snowy
December day in 1838, on seeing a number of unemployed men standing in the
Market Place with their hands, and nothing else, in their pockets, and
starvation stamped on their wan faces. He thought with how little money
their pressing wants could be met, and, on stating the case to Mr. Steriker
Finnis, Mr. S. M. Latham and others, a sufficient fund was soon raised, and
a soup kitchen was established.
It was the custom here to open at three thirty a.m. and that privilege
was renewed in 1874 and 1900.
At the end of the nineteenth century coaches were leaving the inn for St.
Margaret's Bay at four thirty p.m. every day except Sunday.
It was offered to the highest bidder by Mrs. Harding in 1890 but was
withdrawn at £1,100.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 May, 1896.
WILFULL DAMAGE
Herbert Cordukes, a private in the West Yorks, was charged with wilfully
breaking a window at the “Duchess of Kent,” Market Square, value £1
15s., and stealing there from a bottle of brandy, value 3s. 6d.
P.C. James Lockwood said: On Saturday night shortly before 12 o’clock, I
was in the Market Square, and heard a smash of glass in the direction of
the “Duchess of Kent,” and I then saw the prisoner across the Market
Square, with the bottle of brandy (produced) in his hand. I stopped him
and took him back to the “Duchess of Kent,” and found the corner pane of
glass broken. There was a vacant place on the shelf inside where the
bottle had been taken from. The prisoner was not drunk but had been
drunk. There was a second pane of glass in the partition inside the
window broken.
Charles Hubbard said that the “Duchess of Kent” was kept by his wife.
The window was all right when the premises were closed. About twenty to
twelve, whilst in bed, he heard a smash of glass, and on looking out of
the window saw the prisoner in custody. The damage was estimated at 35s.
The prisoner, who pleaded “Guilty,” was sent to Canterbury gaol for two
month’s hard labour.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 3
June, 1910
LICENSING BUSINESS
At the Dover Police Court this morning, before the Mayor (W. Emden,
Esq.) in the chair, W. Bradley and G, B. Rubie, Esqrs.
Application was made for certain structural alterations to the
Duchess of Kent, Market Square.
The Maror said that the plan submitted was very unsatisfactory, as it
did not distinguish between the old and the new part.
The applicant stated it was simply a matter of putting in a new
window.
The Mayor said the Bench must have a drawing showing the premises at
the present time. The plan submitted was of no use whatsoever. If the
applicant would bring the two plans up at a reasonable date, no doubt
the Magistrates would consider them.
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An unusual distinction was held by the business in 1914. That year, all
licensed premises and clubs were prohibited from selling alcoholic drinks
after nine p.m. The exceptions were the "Duchess of Kent" and the "Walmer
Castle" and the buffets at the town and harbour stations.
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The old Duchess of Kent and Walmer Castle public houses
in 1955 before they were merged to become the Elephant and Hind.
Information taken from John Bavington Jones' book "A
Perambulation of the Town, Port and Fortress of Dover", 1906. (Reprint
in The South Kent Gazette, July 4th, 1979.
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Above picture kindly sent to me by Andrew Emmerson who says he thinks
the picture was taken circa 1938. |
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From the Dover Express, 12 October, 1951.
The funeral took place on
Thursday last week, at Charlton Cemetery, of Mr Edward Charles Le Gross,
whose death, at the age of 71 occurred on July 29th, at the "Duchess of
Kent" Inn, Market Square, where he had been licensee for 30 years. The
Rev a. s. Cooper officiated, and mourners present were:- Mrs. A. E. Le
Gross (widow), Mr. M. Le Gross (son), Mr. and Mrs. Croucher (son-in-law
and daughter), Mrs. O Dunn (grand-daughter), Mr. H Le Gross (brother),
Mr. G Bonner and Mr. H. Sergtson (brother-in-law). Mrs. Booker, Mr. and
Mrs. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Moody, Mr. and Mrs. Copley, ("Walmer Castle"
Inn), Mr. W. Goodban, Mr. C. Nice, Mr. G. Watson, Mr. A. Hearn, Mr. G.
Askham, Mr. R. Bilton, Mr. W. Bryne, Miss. G. Yates, Mrs. P. Curling,
Mr. Thunder (representing Mackeson and Co., Hythe),Mr. and Mrs. McLeod,
Mr. and Mrs. A. Maslin, Mrs. F. Hammond and family, Mr. Hunt, Mrs.
Angell, Mrs. W. Sands and Mrs. Hogg (friends). There were numerous
floral tributes. The funeral arrangements were by Mr. B. J. Andrews, 33,
New Street.
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In 1962, planning permission was given for this house which belonged to
Mackeson, to merge with its neighbour the "Walmer Castle" which belonged to Fremlin. The licence of the "Duchess" was surrendered to make that possible
and by agreement, the two brewers held equal shares in the new pub. That was
named the "Elephant and Hind" to commemorate the trademarks of the two
breweries in 1964.
It is now trading like a French Café under the name of "Bar
Ellie".
LICENSEE LIST
WILLIAMS J R 1835
TRIM to July/1867 dec'd
TRIM Mrs Ann July/1867+
BAKER George Sept/1871+
HAMMOND George Jan/1874
HAMMOND Stephen A 1874-75+
MARSH Caroline to Jan/1880
MARSH Henry Jan/1882-92
(Blacksmith)
HAMMOND Mrs Caroline 1891-95
 
HUBBARD Mrs Annie Kate 1896
SUTTON Thomas 1898-99+
RACKLIFF Charles 1901-02 dec'd
 
RACKLIFF Mrs Julia Georgina 1902-Dec/03
WOOD Mark Witherden Dec/1903-1905 dec'd
WOOD Mrs Ellen Louisa 1905-10 end
FRENCH Owen F 1910-17end
BEANE Francis James 1917-23 end
LE EDWIN Charles junior 1923-51 end
     
(LE-GROSS)
CRONE Robert 1951-61 end
HARPER Eric 1962-64 end
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From Sinnock Directory 1875
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From the Post Office Directory 1891
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895
From the Kelly's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1901
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From the Post Office Directory 1938
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1938-39
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1948-49
From the Kelly's Directory 1950
From the Kelly's Directory 1953
From the Kelly's Directory 1956
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33
From the Dover Express
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