KING WILLIAM IV Pub of Canterbury

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Canterbury, April, 2024.

Page Updated:- Thursday, 04 April, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1832-

King William IV

Closed 2009

64A Union Street / Victoria Row

Canterbury

Above photograph by Edward Wilmot in 1965.

Above photo, 1988.

Above photo June 2001 taken from http://canterburypubs.co.uk

Above picture taken from Google maps June 2009.

Sign left King William IV October 1991. Sign right, September 2012.

Sign left thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com. Sign Right from Doug Pratt.

I have found mention of another "King William IV" situated in North Lane in 1867.

Mentioned in the licensing lists of 1846 this inn was sometimes referred to as both the "King William IV" and also the "William IV" but not to be confused for the "William IV" that was found at 20 North lane.

An entry in Fremlin's 1950s publication called "Where shall we go," indicated the following:- Parking accommodation - Corner House, plenty in road outside. Lunch - Can be arranged. White Swan Restaurant 1 minute. Tea - Can be arranged. White Swan Restaurant 1 minute. Remarks - Piano available (large Tap room). Fine view of Cathedral/ 2 minutes from Canterbury City's new Sports Stadium.

Operating under Punch Taverns but closed in 2009 and is now of residential use. At least that is what I thought till I received the following photos taken in January 2010. Then again the pub could have been closed. Incidentally, the sign, taken September 2012 seems to have missed of the IV.

Above photo January 2010, kindly supplied by Doug Pratt.

Above Google image, December 2021.

From the Kentish Gazette, 20 August 1839.

DEATH.

August 13, aged three years, Edwin, son of Mr. Burrows, landlord of the "King William the Fourth," Union-street, Canterbury.

From the Kentish Chronicle. 13 August 1859. Price 1½d.

CANTERBURY POLICE COURT. THURSDAY.

(Before E. Holttum, Esq., in the chair, T. Philpott, Esq., and Capt, Love.)

James Pope, landlord of the “King William,” Union street, appeared in answer to a summons, to show cause why he should not contribute towards the maintenance of four of his grandchildren, who had become chargeable to the parish of St, Marylebone, London.

Mr. Delasaux appeared for the defendant.

The parish authorities from St. Marylebone were expected by the first train, to proceed with the case, but they did not make their appearance.

Mr. Delasaux said his client had been waiting more than half an hour, and he (Mr. D.) must ask the Bench to dismiss the application and to allow the defendant his costs.

The Bench accordingly dismissed the summons, but doubted as to their power to allow the costs, and therefore declined to make any order respecting them.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 24 November, 1860.

SUDDEN DEATH.

On Monday evening last James Pope, landlord of the "William the Fourth" public-house in Union street, fell down in a fit in his bar and expired in a few moments.

Mr. Tassell was sent for but his assistance was to no avail. An inquest was held on the body on Tuesday last and a verdict of "Natural Death" returned.

During the inquiry the Coroner requested Mr. Tassell to go and make an external examination of the body which he did, and for which service he required a fee of an extra guinea. This the Coroner refused, stating that it was only allowed in cases when bodies were opened, Mr. Tassell seemed dissatisfied with the reply and expressed his opinion that an examination after death, fully entitled him to an extra guinea, whether it was external or internal.

South Eastern Gazette, 27 November, 1860.

Sudden Death.

On Tuesday evening last the city coroner, T. T. Delasaux, Esq., held an inquest at the "Providence" public-house, Northgate-street, into the circumstances connected with the death of James Pope, aged 64, landlord of the "William IV." public-house, Union-street, who died very suddenly in a fit on the previous evening.

John Pope, son of the deceased, stated that he was with his father in the tap-room on Monday evening and he then appeared quite well, having been talking with his customers. Deceased left the tap-room at about tea minutes before 8 o’clock, and shortly afterwards witness went into the bar, and there found the deceased lying on his back quite insensible, and he died almost immediately. The deceased bad been subject to fits for many years past, and witness had seen him in two previous to that of Monday night.

Mr. Robert Tassell, surgeon, proved that he had made an external examination of the body of the deceased, and there were no marks thereon that would cause death. He had no reason to believe that the deceased had died otherwise than from a natural cause, and in all probability from the effects of a fit. The jury at once returned a verdict of "Natural causes." In the course of the inquiry, at the request of the coroner, Mr. Tassell made an external examination of the body of the deceased, as stated in his evidence, for which services he requested to be paid an extra guinea. This the coroner refused, stating that it was only allowed in cases where the body was opened. With this Mr. Tassell appeared dissatisfied, and expressed an opinion that making an examination after death fully entitled him to the extra guinea, whether the examination was internal or external.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 5 January, 1867. Price 1d.

Henry Kensey and George Holness were charged with stealing a sack of potatoes, the property of Mr. W. Cannon.

The prosecutor said on the 21st of October he missed one sack of potatoes, and on the same evening he went to the “William the Fourth” public-house, and there found his potatoes. They were exactly the same kind as some he had in his store. The potatoes were produced.

P.C. Hayward went to the “William the Fourth,” and saw the potatoes. The prisoner Kersey was lodging there. Witness took him into custody on the charge. He denied his guilt. Witness also apprehended Holness the same night, whom he found in a coal shed on the South-Eastern Railway. Holness said, “It's all right, I believe.” He then asked if witness had Kensey in custody, and said it was through him that he went, and he added that he consented, being drunk, and that they took the potatoes to the “William the Fourth.”

Holness denied that he made any such statement to the constable.

John Martin said that Kensey had asked him to help with a sack of potatoes on the 21st of Oct. He said Holness had asked him (Kensey) to help him, but he was too weak. Witness went with Kensey, and found Holness with a sack of potatoes by the river. He helped him up with the potatoes, and Holness carried them to the "William the Fourth.” Kensey did not go with him.

Mr. Cannon said that Holness was in his service at the time of the robbery.

The jury found both prisoners guilty.

Three months' hard labour.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 17 August 1867. Price 1d.

CANTERBURY POLICE COURT. Monday.

(Before H. G. Austin, Esq. (chairman), J. Aris, Esq., and W. Masters, Esq.)

Eliza Palmer was charged by the landlord of the "William IV.” with breaking two panes of glass in his house last night. It appeared that some altercation took place between the prisoner and the landlady, the result of which was that the prisoner committed the offence charged. She was given in charge, and the landlord having refused to appear, was sent for by the Magistrates. On his appearing he said he did not wish to press the charge. The Magistrates dismissed the case, and made the landlord pay the expenses.

The woman Palmer then applied for a summons against the wife of the landlord for assault, and detailed a series of acts of a rather extraordinary character. The Magistrates, after hearing the circumstances, granted the application.