FLEUR DE LYS Pubs of Sandwich

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1642

Fleur de Lis

Still open

6-8 Delf Street

(Sandwich)

Photos taken by Paul Skelton 17 Feb 2008.

The Fleur is located in the heart of Sandwich. It comprises 12-room hotel accommodation, a bar and a spacious restaurant.

The "Fleur De Lys" is named after the emblem adopted during the reign of Edward II into the Royal Arms to back up his claim to the thrown of France. By 1700 this establishment is recorded as being the "Flower of Lewis," and had served as a recruiting post during the Civil War for the Royalists, volunteers to the colours being instructed to repair there "where they will be entertained with drinks and entertainment".

The first recorded mention of the Fleur de Lis was in 1642, when the town crier proclaimed it as a meeting place for volunteers to fight for Charles I.

According to information on a board inside the pub today, the current day establishment was built in 1785 during the reign of George III.

In 1790 it was the coaching office in sandwich. Coaches could be booked to go to Canterbury, Ramsgate and Dover. A coach house and stable yard ran adjacent to the inn and coaches and horses could be hired to take passengers to the main stops. By the start of the 19th century a stable lad and coach boy were employed here. The Fleur-de-lis operated a coach service until the arrival of the motorcar. It was also at this time that the corn market came to be held at the Fleur. Every Wednesday farmers would meet here to sell their corn and barter and haggle over prices. The prices of corn were displayed on the board inside the Inn and still has the wooden screens where people made their bids and transactions.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 4 May, 1839. Price 5d

POLYANTHUS AND AURICULA SHOW

On Tuesday last about 30 gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner, provided by the worthy landlord of the "Fleur-de-Lis," Sandwich, Mr. Cramp; - Thomas Gillow Esq., in the chair. As soon as the cloth was removed the Flowers we shewn and highly commended by the judges; especially the Auricula shewn by Mr. Doorne. The following gentlemen obtained prizes:-

Polyanthus - First Prize. Thomas Gillow Esq. Second ditto, Mr. B. Coleman. Third ditto, Mr. Davis. Fourth ditto, Mr. Cramp.

Auricula - First Prize, Mr. Doorne. Second ditto, V. Hoile Esq. Third ditto. T. Gillow Esq.

The Arrival of the Railway at sandwich in 1847 increased the trade to such an extent the licensing hours were extended on a Wednesday and the inn would open at 5.30am. In the latter 18th century a corn market was held there on Wednesdays and for most of the 19th century a sign displayed outside the Inn read 'Commercial Tavern, Corn Market and general Coach Office.

Today a sign inside the pub adds, "We no longer accept haggling and bartering." But still maintains its wooden screens where traders made their transactions.

Kelly's Directory of 1899 stated that a corn market was held at the premises every Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and an extensive cattle market every alternate Monday from 8 to 12 p.m. and was also known as a "Family and Commercial Hotel."

From the book "Inns of Kent", Whitbread & Co. Ltd., published 1948.

In the centre of Sandwich will be found The Fleur de Lis, an inn having rooms to let and catering for lunches and dinners. The Fleur de Lis is a straggling building or buildings of rose-coloured brick with associations from the Continental weavers some centuries ago.

Information received November 2011 tells me the pub is currently for sale with the leasehold asking price of £150,000. The pub is currently closed as of the end of 2011.

LICENSEE LIST

CLAIREBUT Daniel 1790 (Universal British Directory)

COLEMAN Benjamin 1839+