DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Dover, October, 2021.

Page Updated:- Monday, 18 October, 2021.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1860-

Golden Cross

Latest Oct 1940

13 St. James' Street

Dover

Golden Cross circa 1940

Above showing the "Golden Cross," with thanks from Bob Hollingsbury, showing the war damage. Circa 1940.

Golden Cross 1940

Above photo, 7 November, 1940.

Lord Lothian, British Ambassador to the United States, who is taking the opportunity afforded by his stay in Britain to make himself familiar with the manner in which the British people are fighting back against intensified enemy attacks, inspected coastal defences and also visited Dover. Photo shows Lord Lothian (right foreground) passing wrecked buildings in Dover. With him is Captain Llewellyn-Morgan of the Royal Navy.

G November 7th 1940. r. Censor No. 90554.

1937 map

Above map 1937.

Golden Cross location 2009

Similar shot taken in 2009.

Golden Cross

Dover Mercury 6/4/2000

Pub outing facts arrive.

THE ink had hardly dried on the Dover Mercury two weeks ago before we started receiving information about the mystery picture in our Those Were The Days feature.

The picture showed people about to go on a charabanc outing from a pub in Dover.

Bob Dunford was the first to get in contact, telling us it was taken at Golden Cross Passage and the pub was the Golden Cross in at St James's Street. Adding more information was Barry Smith who said the pub, run by Charringtons, was at 13 St James's Street.

Quoting from the book By The Way, which is available in Dover Reference Library, Mr Smith said: "The Golden Cross opened at 5am from 1881. Another with the sign was reported in Snargate Street in 1826.

"Bomb damage was responsible for the closure on October 7, 1940. Further damage made the building so dangerous that rebuilding was called for.

"It was ruled that although rebuilding was out of the question, the brewer should not forfeit his licence.

"Post war, a compulsory purchase order was made for the site and war damaged building thereon in January 1954.

"The brewer in turn asked for the licence to be transferred to a newly-built house on the Buckland Estate and it then passed to the Wheelwright's Arms in 1956."

Local historian Joe Harman confirmed it was the Golden Cross Inn in St James' Street and the picture was probably taken about 1925.

"The charabanc is probably one of Father Wills' from Folkestone," he said. "There was a Golden Cross Passage with a grocer's shop on the other side, hence the Nestle's Milk sign in the picture."

 

From the Kentish Gazette, 23 October, 1860.

DARING ROBBERY.

Early on Wednesday morning the inmates of the "Golden Cross Inn," St. James's-street, were disturbed in their lumbers by a noise as of some one moving about in the lower part of the premises. A lodger in the house was so far persuaded of this, that she got up and went out of her bed-room door to listen for a repetition of the sounds which had attracted her attention, but not hearing anything more she went to bed again. Later in the morning, on the servant going down stairs and engaging in normal domestic work, she went into the bar, when her attention was called to the waste-tin, which was broken down, apparently by some one clambering over it into the bar, while one of the pots was lying on the floor. The attention of the landlord being called to the circumstance, he examined the till. It had been broken open, and its contents, which fortunately did not amount to more than 5s. 6d., extracted. It is supposed that the thieves entered the house by the back way, and a ladder some painters who were at work at an adjoining house had left behind, had evidently been made use of by the thieves in scaling the wall of the yard at the rear of the house. The perpetrators of this daring robbery have not been discovered.

 

Dover Express, Saturday 12 March 1864.

Application was made by the executors of the late Mr. G Hipgrave, for a new licence for the "Gun Hotel," Strond Street., and permission to sell was given until the next transferred day. A similar application was made by the widow and sole executrix of Mr. Barton Venner, for the "Golden Cross," St James's Street, and permission to sell was given.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 28 January, 1865.

INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE

Charlotte Venner, landlady of the "Golden Cross," was charged by Police-sergeant Bayley which serving during the prohibition hours on Sunday morning last; but as this was her fist offence, and as Mr. Knocker, who attended for her, adduced some extenuating circumstances, the Magistrates dismissed the summons on defendant paying the costs, 6s. 6d.

 

Kentish Gazette, 4 January 1876.

DOVER SUDDEN DEATH OF A SOLDIER.

Corporal Ford, R.E., died very suddenly on Thursday morning last. The deceased man had been engaged in his usual health, but, complained of feeling poorly, retired rather early than usual that night. Early next morning his wife was awakened by hearing a peculiar noise, and then discovered that her husband was in a critical condition. Dr. Marshall was sent for and was promptly in attendance, but before his arrival the unfortunate man had breathed his last. An inquest was held on Friday at the "Golden Cross Inn," before the Borough Coroner (W. H. Payne, Esq.) when a verdict was returned in accordance with the foregoing facts.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 25 January, 1895.

WATERS v WILSON

This was a claim for £2 0s. 0d., a month's wage. The plaintiff, a lad had acted as groom and stable boy to the defendant, who had lived successively at the “Pavilion” public house, Castle Street, and the “Golden Cross,” and was discharged on December 29th at a minute's notice. The next day the plaintiff saw the defendant and asked for the wages due. Defendant stated he had paid him the previous day.

The defendant denied that he owed the defendant any money.

His honour gave judgement for the plaintiff in 14 days.

[I will say I do not know of a "Pavilion" public house in Castle Street, and believe it to be an error. Paul Skelton.]

 

 

http://www.dover.freeuk.com/entertainment/pubs/golden_cross.htm

 

Thanks to the sharp eyes of readers of the Dover Mercury for the following information:

The public house was called the Golden Cross, 13 St James' Street, on the corner of Golden Cross Passage. The shop on the opposite corner of the Passage was a grocer's, which explains the Nestles Milk advert on the wall.

A poster in Dover Museum proclaims "We were bombed and shelled out of the Golden Cross and now we have no roof, but Hitler can't stop us! (we hope)". According to the accompanying label, the pub was damaged by bombs on 7th October, 1940. The area was badly damaged by shellfire and the pub was eventually demolished in 1958, having never reopened.

The pub and the adjoining passage got their name from a golden cross which was found when structural alterations were being carried out in 1860.

In 1881, this was another hostelry that opened its doors at 5 a.m.

Help wanted:

We still don't know what the occasion was, who the men were or where they were going. Can anybody help us with this one?

 

This outlet of Charrington stood on the corner with Golden Cross Passage and opened at five a.m. from 1881.

The 1881 Census gace the address as 13 St. James Street, St. James the Apostle.

 

When structural alterations were made in 1860, a small gold cross did come to light. It has been passed down through the family and the proud possessor today is David Clark of Tenterden.

 

Dover Express 18 September 1903.

DOVER POLICE COURT. THE GOLDEN CROSS.

An application for temporary permission to draw pending transfer was made by E. A. Dane to take over the "Golden Cross Inn," St. James's Street, from F. R. Cole, was granted.

 

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 4 May 1907.

CANTERBURY BANKRUPTSY COURT.

Re. Frederick Richard Cole, of 52, Clarence Street, Townwall Street, Dover, Carpenter formerly residing and carrying on business as a licensed victualler at the "Golden Cross Inn," St. James's Street, Dover.

The liabilities were returned at £266 2s 9d., and the assets were estimated to produce £22 15s. 2d., leaving a deficiency of £243 7s. 7d.

Debtor stated that he first started in business in 1885 as a licensed victualler. He had had several houses since then, the last one being the "Golden Cross" at Dover. That was about ten years ago. he had always kept a carpenter's shop on in Townwall Street, in addition to the licensed victualler's business. In 1908 he took a book-making and lost pretty well £300 over it.

The examination was closed.

 

The Dover Tribunal 18th October 1916.

Mr. E. A. Dane, aged 37, landlord of the "Golden Cross", having been granted leave to appeal, applied for further time on the grounds of serious hardship owing to the illness of his wife. He admitted he had not been to the brewers since the last appeal. The Tribunal decided to deal with the cases of two other licensed victuallers before coming to a decision.

Mr. E. J. Le Gros, aged 36, married, landlord of the "Avenue", Snargate Street, also applied for further time. He said, in reply to the Military Representative, that he had not gone to the brewers to see what they would do. He had tried to get his father to try and keep on the business.

The Military Representative said that these men did not seem to have "crossed the road" to get rid of their houses. They seemed to be playing with the Tribunal.

Mr. A. E. Elms, aged 28, married, landlord of the "Grapes" also applied for further time. He stated that he spoke to the traveller the previous day and they were very loth to lose him. They were leaving the matter until they found out what time he got.

The Tribunal decided to refuse each of the three cases.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 31 July, 1925. Price 1½d.

ST. JAMES'S STREET FLOODING

Golden Cross flooded

After heavy rain, St. James's Street is flooded from one side of the street to the other, and large quantities of mud deposited. It comes from a manhole in the street and fills the cellars of the "Golden Cross," and prevents people from getting to the shops adjoining. Although repeated efforts have been made to get the matter seen to, these have been in vain.

The scene shows the flooded street after the heavy rain on Monday.

 

 

In August 1917, during the first world war, licensee Mr. Dane left to join the colours, and his brother-in-law, Mr. Gillett took over the license.

 

Dover Express 12th July 1918.

The Dover Tribunal met on Wednesday afternoon at the Town Hall. The Mayor presided and there were also present Messrs. Robson, Barnes and Beeby.

Mr. R. Mowll appeared for Mr. H. Gillett, aged 47, Grade 1, licensed victualler. It was stated that the applicant had been enrolled by the Kent War Agricultural Committee but the voucher had not yet arrived and the case was adjourned for a month.

 

Golden Cross 1932

Above photo showing the Golden Cross as the building on the far left, taken in 1932 from Britain from Above.

 

Bomb damage was responsible for the closure on 7 October 1940. Further damage by March 1941 made the building so dangerous that rebuilding was called for. That produced a decision which was to affect all the licensed premises throughout hostilities. It was ruled that although rebuilding was out of the question the brewer should not forfeit the licence.

 

Post war, a compulsory purchase order was made for the site and war damaged building thereon in January 1954. It was confirmed in May 1955. The brewer in turn, asked for the licence to be transferred to a newly built house on the Buckland Estate and it then passed to the "Wheelwright's Arms" in 1956.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 19 August, 1938.

DOVER PUBLIC HOUSE CHANGES.

The Bench approved plans for alterations to the "Golden Cross," St. James's Street.

 

From the Dover Express, 9 June 1950.

OLD ST. JAMES' TOWER.

To the Editor of the Dover Express.

Dear Sir, - I am sure there were many like myself who appreciated the appearance of the two photographs of Old St. James' Tower in your recent issue (shown below).

St. James' TowerSt. James' Tower

ST. JAMES' OLD CHURCH.

On Monday night the tower of war damaged St. James' Old Church collapsed. The photograph above (right), by Mr. E. Austen, of 128 Snargate Street, taken only a few days before, gives an interesting comparison with a similar view today. (1950)

 

This was the only church tower to be destroyed in England by shells from the Cross Channel guns on the French coast, although many Towers were within range. The Tower has now collapsed and gone, but the bell, cast by John Warner, of London has been saved and it will be honoured for years as a treasure in the history of a fighting Dover. It was dedicated for service in 1872, replacing a peal of six, cast in the year 1637. Thus it was this last bell to sound out from the tower which no doubt had bells to use as far back as the 14th century. Many old books contain reference to the long connection of the church with the Cinque Ports and the admiration of old Dovorians is revealed by the nearby hostelry in St. James' Street, "The Golden Cross," being named in close connection.

The Bell of St. James' is no oil-painting, therefore it cannot adorn the walls of the Town Hall, but it can sound out in remembrance of the courage and fortitude of all those who defended Dover during the shelling and upheld the freedom of the ideal for which it was cast.

CHARLES TURNER.

(Capt.) St. Mary's Ringers.

 

Golden Cross 1940

Photograph above, kindly sent by Paul Wells shows the Golden Cross just after being hit by enemy fire in 1940.

 

Above photo showing the location today (September 2015.) Kindly supplied by Paul Wells.

 

LICENSEE LIST

HATCH John 1851-61+ (also brewer age 55 in 1861Census) Melville's 1858

VENNER Barton Mar/1864 dec'd

VENNER Mrs Charlotte 1864-July/68 Dover Express

PEARSON Mr July/1868+ Dover Express

BEYNON Misses A & VENNER 1874 Post Office Directory 1874

VENNER Jane Julia to May/1880 Dover Express

Last pub licensee had YOUNG George Charles May/1880-Aug/82 Next pub licensee had (age 47 in 1881Census) Dover ExpressPost Office Directory 1882

DUNGEY John Aug/1882+ Dover Express

REED T B 1887 end

MACEY William Haynes 1887-91+ (age 59 in 1891Census) Post Office Directory 1891

NOBLE George Charles 1894-95 Pikes 1895

Last pub licensee had COLE Frederick Richard 1897-Sept/1903 Kelly's Directory 1899Post Office Directory 1903Post Office Directory 1903Kelly's 1903Dover Express Next pub licensee had

DANE Edward Alfred Sept/1903-Jan/17 Next pub licensee had (age 31 in 1911Census) Pikes 1909Post Office Directory 1913Dover Express

GILLETT Mr H Jan/1917-22 Dover ExpressPost Office Directory 1922

AMBROSE W 1922

FAGG J 1923-Dec/32+ Pikes 1923Pikes 1924Post Office Directory 1930Pikes 1932-33Dover Express

HOLNESS William James Dec/1932-Apr/36 Dover Express

OTTLEY Charles William Apr/1936-38 end Dover ExpressPost Office Directory 1938Pikes 1938-39

HAYWARD Enoch 13 Jan 1939-40 end Next pub licensee had Dover Express (Enoch Hayward was a general stores keeper from Ramsgate)

 

Pigot's Directory 1828-29From the Pigot's Directory 1828-9

Melville's 1858From Melville's Directory 1858

Post Office Directory 1874From the Post Office Directory 1874

Post Office Directory 1882From the Post Office Directory 1882

Post Office Directory 1891From the Post Office Directory 1891

Pikes 1895From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895

Kelly's Directory 1899From the Kelly's Directory 1899

Post Office Directory 1903From the Post Office Directory 1901

Post Office Directory 1903From the Post Office Directory 1903

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Pikes 1909From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1909

Post Office Directory 1913From the Post Office Directory 1913

Post Office Directory 1922From the Post Office Directory 1922

Pikes 1923From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1923

Pikes 1924From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924

Post Office Directory 1930From the Post Office Directory 1930

Pikes 1932-33From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33

Post Office Directory 1938From the Post Office Directory 1938

Pikes 1938-39From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1938-39

Dover ExpressFrom the Dover Express

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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