From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 4 January, 1901. 1d.

DEATH IN A CELLAR

WORSE THAN AN IRISH WAKE

On Friday afternoon the Borough Coroner held an inquest at the “Esplanade Hotel” on a market porter named William Goodburn, who on the previous day died in a cellar at 6, Adrian Street.

The evidence revealed that the deceased was in a shocking condition, and that an extraordinary state of affairs existed in the house.

Mr. Pointer was foreman of the Jury, and after inspecting the body at the mortuary, Mrs. Charlotte Goodburn, wife of the deceased, said that his age was about 49. he worked at the market, and had continued to do so up to the present week. Recently he had been suffering from dropsy, and was not very well. They lived in the basement of the house.

The Coroner: Is it not the cellar?

The witness said it was like a cellar. On Boxing Day her husband went out about ten in the morning and did not return until ten at night. During the night he was very restless. He asked for some water, but witness would not give him any. As soon as she could get it she got some beer for him, but he would not drink it, and afterwards she got some brandy, and he took that. He refused to have a doctor, and also go to the infirmary. He took nothing to eat on Boxing Day. He complained chiefly of his breathing. He got worse gradually, and died about 12 o’clock. He was insured for £7 in the Pearl Life Insurance Company.

Louisa Page, the wife of a Colour Sergeant now at the front, said she lived at 6, Adrian Street. She last saw the deceased alive when he returned home about twenty minutes to ten. On the following morning, between eight and nine the wife came up to witness’s room and tried to sell her an opera cloak. Whilst up in witness’s room her husband died. Directly the wife went downstairs she called witness, who went down, and Mrs. Goodburn said her husband had died. Earlier in the morning she heard loud words between the woman and her husband, - that was a frequent occurrence. The deceased was lying on a flock mattress on the floor. Lately he had been suffering from bronchitis.

In reply to some questions, witness admitted that she might be mistaken in the time, and it might be after eleven when the deceased died.

Police Sergeant Fogg said that about 2.25 he was called to No. 6, Adrian Street, by a woman who lived there. He went to the cellar of the house, and saw the deceased lying on a mattress. The first witness said she had not sent for a doctor. Dr. Bird was sent for, and he ordered the body to be removed to the mortuary. The deceased was a market porter. The room was in a most disgraceful condition, and when he got there it was filled with seven or eight women, who were all talking at once. He had heard talk of an Irishman’s wake, but this beat even the Irishman’s wake, (Laughter.)

Another woman, the wife of a navvy, attended to give evidence. She was not sober, and during the taking of the previous witness’s evidence, she constantly interrupted. It appeared that the opera cloak which Mrs. Goodburn had tried to sell belonged to this woman, and it appeared to be a particular grievance. She also remarked that she knew of what deceased died. It was pneumonia, and he died of dropsical affection. The other witnesses were d____ liars. (Laughter.) The Coroner allowed the woman to come forward, but did not swear her.

Dr. Bird said he was called about three o’clock by the Police, who informed him that a man was lying dead at 6. Adrian Street. Witness found the deceased lying in the basement in the corner of a room on some flock. He had only his shirt on. There were no marks of external violence, but the deceased was suffering from dropsy of the legs. There was nothing suspicious, and witness considered that death was due to natural causes, either heart or kidney disease.

The Coroner said that the evidence appeared quite clear. He was informed that the body was found by the Police in a room full of women, who each knew something the other did not, and to allay the peace of Adrian Street which was sometimes rather lively – (laughter) – he held this enquiry.

The Jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural Causes.”

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 17 March, 1905. Price 1d.

TERRIBLE DEATH OF ARTHUR HOULDEN

FATAL FALL OVER SHAKESPEARE CLIFF

Yesterday afternoon about three o’clock, Mr. Arthur Houlden, son of Mr. D. Houlden, draper, of Snargate Street, met with a terrible death by falling over Shakespeare Cliff. It appears that a shepherd named Jones saw the deceased standing on the grass near the stile half way up the cliff on the Dover side. His back was towards the side of the cliff, and he was smoking a pipe. Suddenly, the shepherd saw the man fall down and roll over the side. He immediately gave the alarm, and the Police were informed by the Coastguards. Police Constable Vincent, to whom the report was made at 3.35, at once proceeded there in company with Police Constables Pierce and Roberts, together with the ambulance. On the way there they met Dr. Elliot, who accompanied them to the foot of the cliff. The body was found at the first lot of broken chalk behind a big rock. The head was terribly battered, and there was also a very big wound on the thigh, the body presenting a fearful sight, the worst, Dr Elliot said, he had ever seen. No one then knew who the deceased was. He was wearing a grey kid glove on one hand, and was well dressed, it being imagined that he was a stranger. The body was taken to the mortuary, where, on being stripped by the Police, it was found that nearly every bone had been broken, and on the shirt the name of the deceased was discovered. Mr. Percy Houlden, of Cannon Street, was sent for, and he identified the body as that of his brother Arthur, aged 33. Mr. David Houlden, with whom the deepest sympathy is felt, was afterwards informed. The deceased had assisted his father in his business at Snargate Street for many years. Just before Christmas he underwent an operation for appendicitis at Guy’s Hospital, London, and, although the operation was satisfactory, he did not recover well, and was ordered six months’ rest by the doctors, and it is possible that he was seized with a sudden spasm of illness when he rolled over.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 March, 1905. Price 1d.

THE INQUEST. VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH

The inquest on the body of the late Mr. Arthur Houlden was made this afternoon at the “Esplanade Hotel,” by the Borough Coroner (Sydenham Payn, Esq.) the Jury were as follows:- messrs. T. V. Suimmonds (foreman), F. J. Isworth, R. Wood, R. J. Pexton, A. H. Pointer, E. A. Wilcox, A. L. Thompson, J. Tanton, A. Tyrrell, J. Cheeseman, J. R. Eaton, W. George, F. Farley, and W. H. Broad.

The Coroner in opening the enquiry, said that he was sorry to have to call them together to enquire into the death of the son of an old and respected townsman.

Percy Houlden, Draper, 16, Cannon Street, Dover, said: The body at the Mortuary is that of my brother, Arthur. He was 32 years of age last November. He was a draper assisting his father. I last saw him on Wednesday evening, when he spent the evening with us, and I walked home with him. Since he went under an operation for appendicitis at Guy’s Hospital in November last he was gradually getting better. He was very weak when he came back just before Christmas. On the evening in question he was not al all depressed. He was not in a state of health to be very cheerful. The discharge from the wound had not finished, and it rather worried him. He never threatened to do anything to himself, and he was the last person we should ever expect to do so. Yesterday afternoon he left his house at 2.30 for a walk. He seemed quite cheerful then. As he went out he slapped his brother on the back and said he was going out to get some fresh air. His brother said, “That is right, go on the Admiralty Pier, and get some fresh air. Have you got plenty of tobacco?” he had no reason to worry, because he was told he must have six months’ holiday and he could have had six years’ holiday if he liked.

In reply to the Jury, witness said that the wound was not painful. The discharge from the wound was very slight indeed.

In reply to the Coroner, witness said he had never heard his brother complain of any giddiness.

William John Jones, living at Maxton, said: About 3.30 I was engaged on Mr. Broadley’s farm near the stile on Shakespeare Cliff. I saw the deceased standing on the cliff close to the edge, about 20 yards from the stile, which is two-thirds of the way up. I was 50 yards from him and walking up to him. He turned round and lit his pipe, and then threw the match away. He then made a step round, and fell down and rolled over the cliff. The path is three or four feet from the edge, and the deceased was between the path and the edge. He did nit jump over, but fell down and rolled over. It is a very dangerous spot, as there is a hole where a post had been, in which he might have caught his foot. The cliff at this spot bulges out. The hole is two or three feet from the edge of the cliff. He could not see any marks in the hole, but he might have tripped over it. It was all done in an instant, and I could not say that the deceased tripped. He turned round quietly, and it looked as if he were coming away. I then told a passer-by that I thought a man had gone over, but he took no notice, I afterwards told a Sergeant who was passing, and the Police came.

The Foreman: Your distinct impression is that he caught his foot and tripped over?

Witness: No, I would not say that.

Mr. George: You are quite sure he did not jump over?

Witness: I am quite sure of that.

William John Pilling, Marine, Shore Staff S.E. and C. Railway Company, said: At 3.20 I was going up to my garden at Haycliff. I got as far as the Coastguard Station, and met a soldier sergeant going towards the Coastguards, who said that a man had gone over the cliff. I went down below nearly to the point and found the deceased lying on the rocks 15 yards away from the base of the cliff, which is sheer. I waved my hat to the cliff officer of the Coastguards, who was at the top of the cliff. I stopped there till the Police came and took the body away on the stretcher off the ambulance.

Police-constable Vincent, said: About 3.35 on yesterday afternoon I was in Strond Street, when the Coastguard informed me that there was a man over the cliff. Having obtained the ambulance, and accompanied by Police-constables Pierce and Roberts, I went nearly to the point, and there found the body as described by the last witness, some portions of the skull being some distance away. At the top of the cliff I fell in with Dr. Elliot, and he came down with me. The body was placed on the stretcher and taken to the mortuary. I searched the body and found some money, and two letters which had nothing to do with the occurrence. His name was found from the letters, and the name inside the shirt. Mr. Houlden was informed and he came and recognised the body. I went to the spot above, but could see no marks whatever. The hole was nearly grown over, and would not be seen by anyone walking along. There was not enough wind to blow anyone over.

In reply to a Juryman, witness said that the grass did not look as if anyone had tripped in the hole, but he might have tripped over it without showing any traces. The hole was not very wide, but of considerable length.

Dr. Elliot said: I was driving out to the Coastguard Station, and hearing that someone had gone over, I went down and saw the body. The skull was smashed in, the left thigh was broken, and the right leg and arm and some ribs on both sides. Death must have been instantaneous, and was due to the fracture of the skull.

The Coroner, in summing up, said that the evidence of Mr. Jones was that the deceased turned round suddenly, and probably caught his foot in the hole, and not being able to recover, went over. This was his impression, but if they thought that was not quite sufficient they might return an open verdict. There seemed to be no reason why he should take his life, and he did not think a man would have lit his pipe in the way the deceased had, if he had any intention of doing anything to himself, and it certainly seemed to be an accident.

The Jury at once returned a verdict of Accidental Death.

The Foreman asked the Coroner to convey a vote of sympathy from the Jury to Mr. and Mrs. Houlden, and the Coroner said he would do so, as he fully joined in their views.

Mr. P. Houlden expressed his thanks for the sympathy shown.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 24 March, 1905. Price 1d.

THE FUNERAL

The funeral of the late Mr. Arthur Houlden, who met his death by falling over Shakespeare Cliff, took place at St. James’s Cemetery on Monday afternoon. The cortege left the premises in Snargate Street at 2 o’clock, and proceeded to the Cemetery, which was reached at 2.30. there was a large crowd gathered at the graveside to witness the interment. The mourners were: Mr. D. Houlden (father), Mr. P. Houlden, Mr. W. Houlden, Mr. A. Houlden and Mr. R. Houlden (brothers), Mr. Walter Houlden and Mr. Harry Houlden (cousins), Mr. W. G. George, Mr. A. Tapley, and Mr. R. Jarrett. Those present at the graveside included Messrs. W. H. Fairbairn (Capt. Of the Dover Cycling Club, of which the deceased was a member). H. W. Durrant, F. Norton, W. H. Broad, R. Pexton, H. Masters, C. Marsh, E. W. Ewell, J. Webber, A. E. Pritchard, H. H. Goodwin, Farley, Britt, Smith, J. Gandy, W. License, and R. Morgan. The service at the chapel and at the graveside were conducted by the Rev F. P. Basden. The coffin was of polished oak, and bore the inscription of “Arthur Houlden, died 19th March, 1905, aged 32 years.” The floral tributes were very beautiful and numerous, the following being a list: To our dear son, Arthur: With fond love, from Percy and Nell: In loving memory, Walter, Archie, and Ro: To dear Uncle Arthur, from Douglas; With best love, from Fred; From his loving sisters, Sissie and Alice; With heartfelt sympathy, from the employees; With deepest sympathy, from his friend, W. J. George; With sincere sympathy, from L. Matson; A tribute of sincere sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Norton and family; With Mrs. Sydney Hipkins’ sincere sympathy, Great Yarmouth; With deepest sympathy and regret, from Mr. and Mrs. A. Tapley; From Archie Knight, with sincere sympathy; With Mr. and Mrs. Delehave and family’s deepest sympathy – Peace, perfect peace; With deepest sympathy, from Kitty Belcher; With sincere and condolence, from E. and l. Thompson; With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs., and Miss Appleton; From his chum, W. H. Greenhaulgh, Dover Cycling Club; An old friend’s tribute, W. H. Broad; With Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jarrett’s and family’s deepest sympathy and loving remembrance, Clyde House, Dover; With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. John Ingleton and family; With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. J. Gandy and family; Tribute of sincere sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Pritchard; With loving sympathy from the Officers, Committee, and members of the Dover Cycling Club; With sincere sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Falconer and family.

Taken from the Dover Express 20 January 1950

ANOTHER LANDMARK GOES

For many years, well-known to visitors as well as townspeople, the Esplanade Hotel, opposite the entrance to the Prince of Wales Pier, is being demolished. It was closed about the beginning of 1941, and subsequently suffered war damage. The site is needed by the Harbour Board in connection with their quay-space improvement scheme.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 20 January 1950.

TWO-IN-ONE FIRE CALL

Called to one fire at the docks on Wednesday evening, Dover firemen discovered another in adjoining premises.

They had been called to Messrs. Crow, Catchpole wharf, where electric wires at the base of a ballast elevator had fused and caught fire. After dealing with this the firemen smelt smoke in the vicinity, and found a quantity of rubbish alight in a basement room of the Esplanade Hotel, which is being demolished. This too, was quickly extinguished.