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29 Snargate Street and Northampton Street
Photo by kind permission of Dover Library. ILL/759. Date unknown. |
In 1839, J. Dickenson opened a gothic fronted house on
this site in order to retail coffee, spice and cigars. I do not know how
long he reigned but he stated at the time that he did not intend to sell
goods at tremendous sacrifice, or greatly below prime cost, or twenty five
per cent cheaper than any other house in the trade.
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From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General
Advertiser, Saturday 18 May, 1839. Price 5d
GOTHIC TEA SHOP
J Dickson begs to inform his Friends in Dover, and the Public, that
he has opened that Gothic-fronted House, 29, Snargate Street, as a TEA,
COFFEE, SPICE, and CIGAR SHOP, and hopes by his mode of doing business
to obtain a share of public favour.
J. D. does not pretend to sell Goods at "Tremendous Sacrifices," or
"Greatly below Prime Cost," or "25 per Cent. Cheaper than any other
House in the Trade," - neither does he intend to cope with that class of
Tradesman who compete with each other, who can produce the worst
Article, (for the lowest priced means nothing else); but hopes by
selling a good Article at a fair price, and for a moderate profit, to
secure and retain the approbation of hose who may be kind enough to give
him a trial.
The Stock of CIGARS will be found extensive and curious, and worthy
the attention of those who indulge in those narcotic luxuries.
29, Snargate Street, April 19, 1839.
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From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General
Advertiser, Saturday 24 August, 1839.
ROBBERIES
On Wednesday, some person entered the shop of Mr. Dickson, at the
"Gothic Tea Shop," and took away the contents of the till, amounting
upwards of four pounds. Other depredations have also taken place during
the week.
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Originally just a tea shop but became a fully licensed house of George Beer and Rigden, open in
1868 when I suggest it would have belonged to Kingsford.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer,
11 September, 1868.
THE ANNUAL LICENSING DAY
THE GOTHIC INN
In the case of the "Gothic Inn," Snargate Street, there had been a
conviction against the landlord of the "Star," and the Magistrates
administered a similar admonition.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday,
15 May, 1868.
INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE.
John Foord, the keeper of the "Gothic Inn," Snargate Street, pleaded
guilty to having his house open at half-past eight last Sunday morning,
contrary to the statute.
Police-sergeant Stevens proved the facts, from which it appeared the
landlord was not up at the time, and his barmaid, who did not know much
about the business, served beer at the time the front was being cleaned.
Fined 10s, and 9s. 6d. costs.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 16
April, 1869.
INFRINGEMENT OF PUBLIC HOUSE LICENSES
John Ford, the landlord of the "Gothic Inn," Snargate, was charged
with having his house open contrary to the statute on Sunday last.
It appeared from the statement of police-sergeant Barton that he
visited the defendant's house at twenty minutes to nine o'clock on
Sunday morning, accompanied by another constable , and found two men
drinking at the bar.
The defendant did not deny the offence, but pleaded in extenuation
that one of the men he had served had been looking after his horses and
needed refreshment and that the other was a sailor under orders to go to
sea, who had asked to be supplied with some beer and a biscuit and
cheese as he (the defendant) was sweeping out his bar, with the door
open.
This being defendant's second offence, the magistrates fined the
defendant 10s. and 9s. 6d. costs, which he paid.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer,
21 April, 1870.
John Foord, landlord of the "Gothic Arms," was fined 10s. 6d. and
10s. 6d. costs, for having his house open on Sunday morning, contrary
to the terms of his license.
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Apparently it was closed prior to Mr. Allen of the "Three King's," Union
Street's application due to the way the previous tenant had conducted the
house, after his public house was bought by the Harbour Board in 1871 for
demolition. Eventually he was granted permission to have his license
transferred, but not after the original decision not to allow the transfer
by the Broadstairs licensing meeting was overturned.
(Read report.)
Redundancy was avoided by the pub in 1915 when the back
bar in Northampton Street was said to average eight and a half barrels a
week.
In 1938, Dover Harbour Board the owners, were anxious to
remove the house but considered they might be saved the expense and
embarrassment if it was dealt with by the Compensation Authority. The
brewers naturally took exception to that interpretation of the Act but the
claim was pressed nevertheless. Within four hundred yards were another forty
one licensed premises as well as six clubs. What more could be said? Another
pub ended its days and compensation was paid on 24 December 1938. It proved
to be March 1949 before the building was taken down.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 19 February, 1937.
DOVER LICENSEE'S FAILURE
The public examination in bankruptcy of Mrs. Eva Phillips, a widow,
recently trading at "The Gothic" Inn, Snargate Street, Dover, took place
at Canterbury Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday.
Her statement of affairs disclosed assets of £184 19s. 6d. and
liabilities of £141 9s. 11d., giving a surplus of £43 9s. 3d.
Debtor explained that the surplus depended on the value of a house in
Hertfordshire, which was twice mortgaged. When her husband died in 1932
she invested £300 in a grocery business, which she had brought her to
the position she was in. She had no experience, and regretted that she
did not seek expert advice. She had lost all her capital and had since
found that the business had been "on the books" for twelve months.
The examination was closed.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 17 June, 1938.
CLOSING DOWN PUBLIC HOUSES
The East Kent Licensing Authority met at Canterbury on Friday last,
when the four Dover houses referred to by the licensing Justices came
up.
THE "GOTHIC," SNARGATE STREET
The "Gothic," Snargate Street had also been referred.
Mr. Waddy, for the Renewal Authority, said that the "Gothic" was a
fully licensed house.
Colonel F. G. Hayward, giving evidence as Surveyor to the Dover
Harbour Board, said that the house was in a very good state of repair,
having recently been done up.
Replying to Mr. Doughty, witness said that he did not know that the
brewers had spent £450 on the premises in the last nine years. The
locality was going to be considerably changed in the near future. He
knew that one scheme was that Snargate Street should be widened.
To other questions, witness said that the Harbour Board were the
owners of the premises, and if the premises were pulled downthe Board
would have to compensate the tenant. It would save the board a lot of
money if they could get Compensation Authority to pay the tenant.
In reply to a point raised by Mr. Waddy, Mr Doughty said that the
terms of the lease provided for a year's notice being given, and
compensation must be paid - such sum as the lessors considered to be
reasonable.
Replying to Mr. Waddy, Colonel Harward said that the Harbour Board
has statutory powers. If the Harbour Board did as suggested, the tenant
would be entitled to apply for special removal.
After further evidence of the same nature as had been heard for the "Wheatsheaf,"
Mr. Doughty, for the brewers, said that the Authority had used its
discretion in deciding whether a licence should be renewed or not.
Referring to the proposed scheme called "The Re-Development Scheme,"
particulars of which he said were given with a map in the Dover
Express," Mr. Doughty said that if the "Gothic" was pulled down the
Harbour Board would have to pay compensation to the tenant. How nice it
would be to get someone else to pay that compensation. If the
re-development scheme could be carried out through more cheaply, how
convenient for the Harbour Board. He asked the Authority to say that the
Compensation Fund should not be used for this purpose.
Mr. Waddy suggested that Mr. Doughty should call evidence to prove
what he said about the re-development scheme.
Mr. Doughty: It is felt that the Compensation Fund is being
victimised by the Harbour Board, and that is why it has been felt
necessary to come here and object so strongly.
The Chairman, after further evidence, announced that the Authority
refuse to renew the licence.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 20 October 1939.
Snargate Street demolition work between the old Wellington Hall and
the "Gothic" public house is now practically finished, and only the
remains of the dilapidated shop fronts intervene to prevent the
Wellington Dock from being completely open to view from Snargate Street.
The work which was held up at the outbreak of war was recommended at the
beginning of October.
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LICENSEE LIST
DICKENSON J 1839+
FOORD John 1868-69
ALLEN Mr 1871+
LAMBERTON James Charles to Jan/1873
PARKER Frederick 1873-74
BREWER Samuel 1875 (Gothic Tap)
GURRY John Mark 1875-78+
BROWNING Edward 1882+
LUNNUNS William 1891+
SWAIN Ralph 1895+
MILLINGTON Arthur John 1901
CHAPMAN John 1899-1901 end
 
ROBERTS Arthur 1903
BENGE C N 1903
BUNN C N 1906-07 end
CLARK Albert or Andrew R 1906-07 end
GOLDSWAIN Henry 1907-Mar/10
WHITE William G Mar/1910-21 end
PENNOCK Nelson E 1922-25 end
 
SIMMONDS William 1925-31 end
RIGDEN Frederick 1931-33 end
SAPWELL Harry Vincent 1933-35 end
MIDDLETON Bernard Herbert 1935-Jan/36
PHILLIPS Mrs Eva Jane 1936-Mar/37
MARTIN Wilfred Mar/1937+
MILLS Mrs Emily Mary 1937-38 end
 
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From the Post Office Directory 1878
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 Pikes Dover Blue Book 1909
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 Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33
From the Post Office Directory 1938
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1938-39
From the Dover Express
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