From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 4 January, 1929.

THE GREYHOUND, AYLESHAM

The Licensee of the "Greyhound," Aylesham, submitted plans for a dance hall, as an extension to the premises. It would hold about 250 people and would be chiefly used for meetings. The Police had no objections, and the plans were approved, subject to the condition that no drink would be supplied in the room.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 4 January, 1929.

TROUBLE AT THE GREYHOUND

John Holland and Joseph Holland, both of Aylesham, were charged with wilfully damaging a window at the "Greyhound Hotel," Aylesham, on December 2nd, the property of William Arthur Roberts, to the value of 30s.

Joseph Holland pleaded guilty, and his brother not guilty.

they were further charged, and the same time and place, with disorderly conduct and refusing to quit the premises when requested.

Both defendants pleaded guilty.

Mr. P. Bracner, of Maidstone, prosecuted, and asked the permission of the Bench to withdraw the charge of wilful damage against John Holland as there was no evidence against him. He asked the Bench to treat the case seriously as the licensee wished his authority to be upheld by the Bench, so that he could conduct his business in the house in an orderly manner according to the law.

Daniel Condrey, a barman at the "Greyhound," said that he served the defendants, and just before 10 o'clock the licensee shouted "Time!" so witness went round the house getting the people to go. In the jug and bottle departments were the defendants and a man named William Baines. He asked them to go. One of them was drunk, and they said they wanted some more. Mr. Roberts then left the till and asked them to go. he then tried to push them out as they would not go, and witness help Mr. Roberts.

Frances Donnelly, a barmaid at the "Greyhound," said that she heard the licensee call "Time!" punctually at 10 o'clock. From her position she could see three bars - the big saloon, the small bar, and the jug and bottle department. All the men left the premises except the two defendants and the other man. Mr. Roberts asked them to go, but they took no notice of him, so he asked witness to go for the Police. She could not find the Police, so she returned through the kitchen entrance. When she went into the jug and bottle department it was all confusion, and everybody seemed to be scuffling about. Then the Police arrived but by that time Mr. Roberts had got the men out.

William Arthur Roberts, the licensee of the "Greyhound," said that he always called "Time!" at five minutes to 10, and his assistant went round locking the doors as the rooms became empty. On this occasion there were at least 200 people on the premises and everybody left in an orderly manner except the two defendants and Baines, who were in the jug and bottle department. He was at the till. and asked them to go, but they would not. he counted some more money, but they kept on shouting for more drink. he kept on telling them to go, but they would not, and, in fact, told him where to go to! he then got hold of John Hollands' arm and pulled him out. While he was doing so a hand came round and hit him on the mouth, so he started to use forcible methods and after a melee he got them all out. he went back to the till, and he heard four panes of glass in one window were broken. he went outside and told the Police Officers to take them in charge. Directly he got outside Baines commenced to assault him, so he shook him up and put him in a taxi. he turned round to help the Police, and Baines got out of the taxi and "ran for it." The defendants were taken to Sandwich Police Station, and charged, but he bailed them out as he did not want them to spend the Christmas there, and took them home in his own car. he had had trouble of this kind before, and on one occasion he had to put John Hollands out. As a rule he was a quiet and well conducted man until he had drink. Joseph always looked for trouble; in fact, he asked one of witness's servants to fight him.

P.C. Chalmer, K.C.C., said he was outside the "Greyhound" at 10.10m p.m. The doors were then closed and everything was apparently orderly. Five minutes later the door of the jug and bottle department was opened and three men left hurriedly. The two defendants were shouting and threatening the licensee. The third man was sitting on the ground and was quiet quiet. He spoke to the defendants and asked them to desist, but they refused, and continued shouting. P.C. Ward then arrived and also asked them to stop. Joseph Holland then rushed up to one of the windows and put his fist through several panes. They were arrested, taken to Sandwich Police Station, and charged.

P.C. Ward, K.C.C., said the defendants appeared to have a grievance against the licensee. He asked them to be quiet, and as soon as he had said this Joseph rushed towards the hotel and put his fist through a window and said, "If I cannot get in through the door I'll go through the window." Joseph made a statement at Sandwich, and they both signed it.

Joseph Holland said the licensee hit him with a piece of lead in a leather case, and he still had the wound, in which he could nearly put his finger.

Superintendent Lane said that Joseph came from Wigan, where he had twice been convicted for drunkenness. Ever since he had been in the district he had been a source of annoyance, and when he was brought into the Police Station he was very threatening.

Lord Northbourne, addressing Joseph Holland, said it was quite evident that he was a very foolish person when he was drunk. If he could not carry drink properly he should never take it. There had been a silly brawl and he was at the bottom of it. he would have to pay the damage, 30s, and he would be fined 10s. They would both be convicted of disorderly conduct and fined £2 each.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 3 May, 1929. Price 1½d.

PROPOSED CLUB ROOMS AT AYLESHAM

Plans for the construction of a club room on the first floor at the “Greyhound Hotel” were submitted by Mr. H. Ashenden, of Canterbury. Supt. Lane opposed the application on the ground that the entrance to the hotel was adjoining the entrance to the club room, and drew attention to the fact that a club room in another part of the premises was approved by the Bench recently and restrictions were placed on the sale of intoxicants in that room. In his view, the present proposal was in order to escape those restrictions. Mr. Ashenden said the brewers had no objection to similar restrictions being placed on this proposed club room, and added the other scheme had been dropped because it was found too costly and it would have involved an expenditure of about £2,000.

The Bench, after a lengthy consultation, adjourned their decision for a month.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 May, 1929. Price 1½d.

AYLESHAM EXTENSION

Supt. Lane said that in the case of the application for an extension by the “Greyhound,” Aylesham, he had told the licensee he would oppose it, and the licensee then said he would not appear.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 February, 1931. Price 1½d.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

Mr. Bracher on behalf of Messrs. Jude Hanbury and Company owners of the "Greyhound Hotel," Aylesham, applied for the renewal of a term licence as the previous term licence of 3½ years had now expired. The term licence was undoubtedly for the purpose of the monopoly value and he now asked the bench to grant a further terminal of 5¼ years. There was an agreement with the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue whereby, if the application were granted, the monopoly value of £1,750 extended over five years.

The Chairman: Why should it take the place of the annual licence?

An official of the Inland Revenue Department said the monopoly value had been agreed at £350 per annum. he thought it was usual to grant these licences for three years, then five years and annually afterwards. he asked the Bench to consider the district as developing and at the end of five years they would be in a better position to arrive at the future profits.

The bench retired and on returning, the Chairman said they had decided to grant as annual licence, and the question of the monopoly value would have to be adjourned to the 5th March.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 March, 1931. Price 1½d.

THE GREYHOUND ALLESHAM

Mr. F. Miskin, appearing on behalf of the brewers, the owners of the "Greyhound," Aylesham, said the monopoly value had been agreed wuith the Excise Authorities at £5,100, payable in one instalment.

Mr. Chamberlain, for H. M. Customs, said the agreement was subject to the jurisdiction of the Bench, and he asked the Bench to make it a condition that the amount be paid before the next Excise Licence was taken out, before 1st October next.

This was agreed to.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 November, 1936.

AYLESHAM LEGION DINNER

The licensee of the "Greyhound," Aylesham, was granted an extension on November 7th for the annual dinner and dance of the British Legion.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 24 November 1939.

Obscene language at Aylesham.

David Mavin, 54, Hyde Place, Aylesham, pleaded guilty to using obscene language in Doorman Avenue South, Aylesham, on 21st October.

P.C. Starbuck said that the offence occurred at 11.10 p.m., outside the "Greyhound" public house. Defendant had been drinking.

Defendant said he must have had too much to drink. He remembered nothing of it in the morning.

Fined 21s.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 27 February 1942.

Aylesham Nuisance.

John Brown, 44, Meyrick Rd., Willersden, was summoned for committing an indecent act, contrary to the K.C.C. bye-laws, at Dorman Avenue, Aylesham, on Jan. 17th.

P.C. Starbuck said the offence was committed when defendant came out of the Greyhound public house at 10 p.m. He took no notice when twice told to go to the proper place.

Defendant wrote that he was sorry he had made a nuisance of himself.

A fine of £1 was inflicted.

From the Dover Express, 19 May 1950.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

In contrast to their seven hour sitting at Dover a fortnight ago, business on Thursday at Wingham Petty Sessions, apart from income tax and maintenance defaulters was confined to two small cases. The Magistrates ordered an adjournment until 15th June in the case of Charles Jaynes, of "The Grayhound," Aylesham, summoned for leaving his car in the centre of a road and with no rear light, and an absolute discharge for Bmdr. William Thompson, of 6c, Old Broadlees M.Q., Guston, summoned for keeping a dog without a licence.

From the Dover Express, 18 May 1951.

Not Licensed for Dancing.

Snowdown Masked Ball Problem.

When Charles Jaynes, of the "Greyhound," Aylesham applied at Wingham Petty Sessions at Dover yesterday for an occasional licence to sell liquor at Snowdown Restaurant on June 9th at a masked ball there, the Chairman (Mr. T. G. Elphinstone) pointed out that the restaurant was not, in fact, licensed for dancing.

Jaynes: No, I know it's not, but they do have dancing there.

Remarking that it was no concern to the Bench yet, because no offence had then been committed, the Chairman announced the Magistrates' decision to grant the application until 10 p.m.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 3 April, 1953.

DARTS CHAMPIONS

"The Greyhound," Aylesham, darts team, which won the Whitbread Challenge Cup. Standing: J. Henderson, G. Gibson, V. Roycroft, B. Wall, F. Llewellyn. Front: C. McIntyre, T. McEwen, F. Carman, J. Robson and F. Waller.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 18 January, 1963.

Former Snowdown, Dover and Margate footballer Jim Jenkin's receives parting gifts from friends at the "Greyhound," Aylesham, before his departure, last week, for Australia.

From the Dover Express, 31 July 1970.

Bench grant license for gambling card games at the 'local'

An application to play solo, Nap and Nine Card Don had Mr. Frank Rose, the chairman, and the bench foxed at Sandwich. "This is what is known as groping in the dark," he told the applicant, Mr. Ted Cooper, of the "Greyhound Hotel," Aylesham.

The application, the first of its kind to come before the bench, was granted, but not before Mr. Cooper had explained the workings of Nine Card Don to Mr. Rose. "I can see I shall have to come over and be initiated," said Mr. Rose.

Nine Card Don is a game similar to whist, with a tricky system of trumps card values and scoring. Mr. Cooper learnt it as a boy in Staffordshire. "I have a large number of visitors from the north who like to be able to play it," he told the court.

LOW STAKES

Stakes for the game, and for Nap were fixed at 1s. maximum, with 3d., 6d. and 9d. for Solo.

"I expect there will be more applications coming before the courts." Mr. Cooper, chairman of the Wingham and Sandwich Division, Licensed Victuallers' Association told the Dover Express. "We are always being asked what games can be played besides cribbage and dominoes."

From the Dover Express, 1 April 2010

Report by Ryhs Griffiths

LANDMARK TO VANISH

One of Aylesham's most prominent landmarks is to vanish after a last-ditch effort to save it failed.

The "Greyhound" pub in Dorman Avenue South, locally known as the Dog, is to be demolished by its owner after a bid to have it granted listed-status was rejected by English Heritage.

Attempt to gain listed status fails

Fight to save pub is over.

ONE of Aylesham's most prominent landmarks is to vanish after a last-ditch effort to save it failed.

The Greyhound pub in Dorman Avenue South, known locally as the Dog, is to be demolished by its owner after a bid to have it granted listed status was rejected by English Heritage.

Built in the 1920s when the village was constructed to house miners at the nearby Snowdown Colliery, the pub was a focal point in the community for generations.

Councillor Linda Keen, who represents the village at the district council and was at the heart of the campaign to save the pub, told the Express the loss of the building is a sad moment for the community.

She said: "It was all we could do to try and save it when we found out by accident they intended to demolish it. At the time Dover District Council had no obligation to notify anyone.

"English Heritage decided not to list with great reluctance, essentially they said too many original features had been lost over the years so it was not enough to be of interest.

"But they said we should look at the other public buildings left in the village, like the cafe on the square which used to be the miners Library."

After discovering the plans to knock down the pub, Cllr Keen successfully put a motion before the district council which would require the planning department to inform ward councillors of plans to demolish buildings in their neighbourhood.

But despite this small victory, she is still disappointed the Greyhound could not be saved for future generations.

Cllr Keen said: "It was the original hotel built in the 1920s, people who came to mine here stayed there before the houses were built. People are sad to see it go.

"People get on their high horse about castles and cottages, but buildings like this are an incredibly important part of east Kent social history.

"At least the district council will be doing the decent thing in the future."

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 17 November, 2011. 60p

A FUTURE FOR THE OLD GREYHOUND

Plans have been submitted for six  homes, two designed to be rented, on the site of the old the "Greyhound" public house at Aylesham. Maidstone based Wright Holdings is applying for planning permission for three pairs of two-storey semi-detached three bedroom houses on the land.

A dozen car parking spaces to be provided.

The "Greyhound," in Dorman Avenue South was once one of the most popular pubs in Aylesham.

From the Dover Express, Thursday 2 December, 2010.

PUB SITE PLANS

EIGHT semi-detached houses are planned for the site of what was once a popular drinking hole.

Kent miners and their families used to frequent the popular "Greyhound" public house at Aylesham but now a detailed planning application is being made to Dover District Council to build the eight homes along with two double garages on the site. The application is being made by Wright Holdings through agents.