From the Dover Express 20 October 1994.

HISTORIC Southern House the former Lord Warden hotel in Dover's dockland - is gelling a facelift.

The massive building, hemmed in at the Western Docks by railway lines, is undergoing repairs and a paint-up.

Owner Stena Sealink said it was still looking for tenants for the property that is virtually empty. A spokesman said its policy was to try to keep its properties in good order.

The Lord Warden, this week clothed in scaffolding, was once Dover's top hotel and guests there included Louis Napoleon and his family, Charles Dickens and a host of diplomats and titled heads of Europe.

During the war years it became a headquarters for the Royal Navy in Dover and in the days of peace was the local headquarters of British Rail Board and the seat of the Dover Collection of Customs.

Stena, who inherited the property via British Rail and Sealink, at one stage was preparing to offer it for sale but later decided to keep it.

It is next to the area zoned for development under Dover Harbour Board's £100 million ten year plan for the regeneration of the Western Docks.

From the Dover Express 3 September 1998 by Bob Hollingsbee.

HOTEL SPLENDOUR PRE-1900: The former Lord Warden Hotel which once entertained important guests from around the world, including Napoleon III and his wife Eugenie.

SOON after joining the Dover Express in 1954 as a very raw junior (after a false start in engineering, which I soon discovered was not for me), I realised what a rich source of local history the files of a newspaper are.

So, when I heard the good news that the former Lord Warden Hotel, for many years in recent times used as railway company offices, was to be taken over by the Dover Harbour Board, I knew where to find a 'potted history' of the building.

And that was a cuttings file I have built up over many years of Express features written by members of the editorial staff over four decades I have been with the paper, and before that back to the legendary local historian and editor of the Express, John Bavington Jones.

In fact the year before I joined the staff there was a feature about "The Building which knows 100 years of Secrets." It tells how the building opened a century before, in 1853, having been built by the South Eastern Railway Company as the Lord Warden Hotel.

It entertained a long line of distinguished men and women from England and overseas and its fame for entertaining soon spread throughout the world.

Commanding fine views along the coast, across the harbour and out to the Channel it also had the advantage for passengers of having a covered walkway at first floor level to the old Town Station which was just across the street.

Also but a short step across the road on the seaward side of the hotel was a station on the Admiralty Pier, and later the much grander Marine Station which replaced it. The latter of course has now been converted in to a modern liner terminal.

It was within the hotel walls that in March 1671 Napoleon III was reunited with his faithful wife Eugenie after his release from Wilhelmshole Castle, Germany where he had been kept since his surrender at the fall of Sedan.

Charles Dickens was a regular guest and in a letter dated 1863 he described mine hosts at the hotel, Mr and Mrs John Birmingham as "my much esteemed friends," at the same time adding that they were "too conceited" with the comforts of the establishment, especially when the night mail boat or train was about to start.

The hotel was owned at one time by Gordon's Hotels and later by Fredericks. Between the wars the hotel still attracted a polished clientele and many still recall the nights of dancing and eating in the once celebrated ballroom. During the Second World War it played an important military role as a rest and signal centre but by the end presented a sorry sight for those who remember its past splendour.

Then it became offices for British Railways as Southern House, later had a Customs role and then Stena took over.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 20 February, 1864.

FELONY OF A KITCHEN MAID.

Louisa Skates a kitchen maid at the Lord Warden Hotel, was charged with stealing a piece of mutton value 1s 6d from that establishment, and Elizabeth Winter an elderly woman with receiving the same knowing it to have been stolen. P.C. Irons saw the last named prisoner coming up the area steps with a parcel containing the meat and upon enquiries it turned out to be stolen. Mrs. Birmingham appealed to the clemency of the Bench on behalf of the prisoner’s the first of who was sentenced to fourteen days hard labour while the elder woman was dismissed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 24 April, 1864.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LORD WARDED HOTEL

The alterations now being carried out at the "Lord Warden Hotel," Dover, will have the effect of adding very materially to the comfort and convenience of what is already one of the finest salles â manger in the kingdom, and will be hailed with considerable satisfaction, we doubt not, by the numerous guests who patronise Mr. Birmingham's magnificent establishment. The improvements comprise a ladies' withdrawing room on one side of the salle, and a library and reading-room for use of gentlemen on the other. Both will be spacious rooms, and will meet in every respect the requirements to which they are to be devoted. They are being rapidly constructed, and will be fit for occupation in a very short time.

From the Dover Express. 1865.

RESISTING THE POLICE.

Ann Stiff a woman of the town, was charged with drunkenness and resisting P.C. Bowles at midnight on the previous night. The constable said that about twelve o’clock on Sunday night he was on duty in Snargate Street when he had occasion to speak to the defendant as to her disorderly proceedings. He had already spoken to her several times when he saw her go from the Lord Warden Inn opposite the Grand Shaft with a pot containing something to drink and give it to a sentry who was on guard at the foot of the shaft. She remained on the pavement and witness had to tell her she must not loiter about. She then returned to the Lord Warden with the pot and afterwards came out and stationing herself on the footway defied him to remove her. He had to get assistance to convey her to the Station House and she resisted with very great violence on her way thither. The defendant seemed to have lost her crinoline in the struggle with the police judging from the appearance of her dress. She had nothing to say in her defence.

The magistrates said she would be fined 2s. 6d and the costs 6s. A voice in the court, it will be paid. The money was then handed in and the defendant on leaving the court was cautioned to be more careful of herself in future.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 5 June, 1868.

REMANDED CHARGE.

Frederick Knowles, the young man charged with stealing certain articles of jewellery from the "Lord Warden Hotel," was further remanded till Friday (this day), at the request of the Superintendent of Police.

Frederick Knowles, who had been remanded on the charge of being concerned in the stealing from a dressing-case at the "Lord Warden Hotel" a quantity of jewellery value £400 or £500, was again brought up.

The police now stated that there appeared to be doubts respecting the prisoner's guilt, although the circumstances were very suspicious, and they therefore did not intend proceeding with the charge.

Prisoner was therefore released from custody.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13 May, 1870.

OBSTRUCTION AT A RAILWAY STATION

Frederick Hicks, the conductor of an omnibus, was charged with obstructing the footway in front of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Station, in Strond Street, on the previous Monday.

Police-constable George Baker said he was on duty in Strond Street on Monday evening last on the arrival of the 6.50 train of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway. Three omnibuses were drawn up close to the kerb with their backs facing the doors of the station, and when this was the case and a conductor stood with the door of his omnibus open, the passage of the footway was obstructed .Four gentlemen came out of the station and said they were going to the "Lord Warden." Three got into an omnibus; but the prisoner caught hold of the fourth and said, "This is the 'bus for the "Lord Warden." Witness told him that he must not molest passengers, and informed the gentleman that all the omnibuses went to the "Lord Warden." Passengers, the policeman said, were greatly annoyed by the conductors of omnibuses touting and obstructing the footway, and he had cautioned the defendant.

The defendant said the omnibus being backed in to the kerb, he was compelled to open the door to let people get into the vehicle, and this was what the policeman called touting and obstructing the footway.

The Magistrates said the omnibuses must back so that when the door of the vehicle was open the conductor would stand clear of the kerb. In this case, the defendant, as he had been previously cautioned, would be fined 2s. 6d. and the costs 9s. 6d.

The money was paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 8 December, 1871. Price 1d.

SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT

A fatal accident of a very singular and at the same time fatal nature occurred to a man names Henry John Phipps, a waiter engaged at the “Lord Warden Hotel,” on Wednesday evening last. The accident happened in Liverpool Street, through which thoroughfare the deceased had occasioned to pass, between seven and eight o’clock. He was first discovered by a woman named Mary Ann Greenaway, who happened, owing to the bad state of her eyesight, to trip up against him. Air having been procured, a light was brought, and on the deceased’s head being extricated from some spikes on the top of the iron pilings fronting a house, between which it appeared to have been jammed, he was discovered to be dead. An examination of the man’s head was made by Dr. Marshall on the following morning, and a wound was discovered in the neck 2½ inches in depth, from the effects of which he, in all probability, died.

The Borough Coroner, W. H. Payn. Esq., held an inquest yesterday afternoon at the “Mail Packet Inn,” in Woolcomber Street. Mr. Edward Todd was chosen foreman of the Jury, and the body, which lay in a house near at hand, having been viewed, the following depositions were made:-

Mary Ann Greenaway, a nurse, residing at Waterloo Crescent, said: Last night, about seven o’clock I took my mistress out to dine. I left her at the door of the house, and returned home to fetch a letter for the post. On my way home, through Liverpool Street, after having posted the letter, I tripped against a man who appeared to me to be kneeling on the pavement, facing No. 14. My eyesight is rather dull. I did not see the man until I tripped against him. I asked him what business he had there; and, as he did not reply, I asked him in a sharp tone, why he did not get up. I then saw that his head was jammed between the railings. I immediately went to the door of No. 14 and asked for a light. Mrs. Dorker, a person residing there, brought one out. Some persons then came up; but when I first saw him there was no one near, except a little boy, who was standing near Dr. Marshall’s door. I had known the deceased previously; bit I did not recognise him on the night in question. Medical aid was sent for, and Dr. Marshall came immediately. The pavements were very slippery at the time. The deceased appeared to me to be quite dead.
George Gibbs, a fly-driver, residing at Douro Cottages, Douro Place, having been worn, said: Lat night, about twenty minutes to eight, I was walking home by Liverpool Street; and, on arriving opposite No. 14, I saw some people standing by the gate, and the lady, the last witness, I believe, standing at the door. The lady asked me to see what was the matter with the deceased, and, on proceeding to the spot, I found his head fixed between the iron railings, his hands grasping them on either side of him. I endeavoured to extricate his head; but I could not do so. A boy connected with the Post Office came along. We both tried to raise his head, but we were unsuccessful. A man, who appeared to me to be a baker, next came up, and with his assistance we removed the deceased’s head from between the railings. I did not notice that the spike was driven into his neck, nor did I afterwards see any mark there. He had no blood on his face. He seemed to me to be dead. Dr. Marshall was present before we removed the deceased’s head from between the railings, and assisted us in doing so. The pavement was slippery, as it was freezing sharply at the time. The deceased’s age was 56 last May. When I first saw deceased there were only two children and a lady near to the spot.

The Coroner enquired whether there were any person present who could identify the deceased, and the witness said he had known the deceased for six years. A waiter also came forward and said he had worked with the deceased for two years, and during that time he had known him to be a steady and sober man.

John Marshall, a surgeon, residing and practising in Dover, deposed: At a few minutes before eight last evening, someone came to me and asked me to look at a man who had fallen on the railings of the next house. I went out immediately and found the deceased’s head resting between two of the large spikes of the railings, it being fixed in that position by a smaller spike, which had passed into his neck just below the chin. A candle was brought to the door at the moment, and I at once perceived that he was quite dead. I directed two young men who were standing by to raise deceased’s shoulders, and lift his head off the spike, which they did. He was then carefully laid down on the step at the door of No. 14. I had recognised the man, having attended upon his professionally some two or three years since. I have occasionally seen him about in the town, and I believe he was a waiter. I examined the deceased’s neck this morning in the presence of two of his friends; and after a portion of his beard had been cut off, I found a wound in the neck immediately below the chin. I passed a probe into the wound to the depth of two inches and a half. The direction of the wound was upwards and then backwards. There was no external bleeding. I believe death to have been caused by the pressure of the spike upon the upper part of the windpipe, accelerated probably by internal haemorrhage.

Dr. Marshall said the deceased must have fallen with considerable force to have wounded his neck with the smallest spike, as he had since measured the large and smaller spikes, the smaller one being three and five-eighths inches and the larger ones eight and five-eighths inches in length. The spikes, he added, were by no means sharp.

The Coroner then summed up, and the Jury immediately returned a verdict of “Death caused by accidentally falling upon a spike.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 29 May, 1874.

SUICIDE OF A BANKER AT DOVER

On Sunday night a London bank manager, named Frederick Boulderman, shot himself with a five chambered revolver in his bedroom at the “Lord Warden Hotel.” Particulars will be found in another column.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 29 May, 1874.

SHOCKING SUICIDE AT DOVER

On Monday morning it was discovered that a gentleman named Frederick Bolderman, a banker, and general manager of the Anglo-Austrian Bank, had shot himself with a revolver in his bedroom at the “Lord Warden Hotel.” It seems that the unfortunate gentleman arrived at Dover by the Calais boat about four o’clock on Saturday morning. The chambermaid who showed him to his room noticed nothing in his demeanour except that he seemed exceedingly anxious to obtain possession of his portmanteau. On the Saturday evening he dined at the hotel, and the waitress described him as being particularly chatty and jolly. On Sunday morning he rang his bell at about half-past nine, and ordered some tea and toast. He remained in his room the whole day on Sunday. About noon the chambermaid having knocked at his door, he gave out the tray on which his breakfast was served, and said he should not require anything more. He was then partially dressed, and appeared somewhat strange in manner, for when asked if he intended sleeping at the hotel on the Sunday night he gave no answer. Several times during the day the servants knocked at the room door, to inquire if the occupant wanted anything, but after giving out the tray at noon he gave no answer. On Monday morning nothing was heard in the room, the door of which was locked inside, and the manager of the hotel (Mr. Pearse) was called, and he having failed to get an answer directed the dorr to be forced open. On going in he found the deceased lying in a corner of the room with a travelling rug thrown over his head. The Superintendent of Police (Mr. Sanders) was sent for, and he soon arrived, accompanied by Dr. Marshall. The doctor removed the rug and saw that the deceased was lying on his back, with a five chambered revolver on the floor, the barrel of which rested on his right hand. Blood was issuing from a wound in the right temple, which on examination proved to be a gunshot wound from which death had ensued. On searching the deceased’s property, the Superintendent of Police found address cards with “F. Boldemann, General Manager, Anglo-Austrian Bank,” upon them, and other papers giving his private address as 34, Marborough Hill, St. John’s Wood, London; about £40 in English money, a cheque for £20 in the Westminster Bank, two blank cheques, and a quantity of foreign money. The revolver, three chambers of which were still loaded, was of the XXX standard, containing five chambers, the maker being “Martin, New Haven, Con., U.S.A.” There were amongst deceased’s property two boxes containing about 90 cartridges for the revolver, also a dagger knife and a large clasp knife. It had been suggested that the deceased was distracted by financial matters. A small scrap of paper found in the room seems to favour that theory. There was written on it in a very illegible hand, “I advise you to sell your ______ as best you can. Will explain reason on return. Do not let _____ know of this.” It did not appear from the paper whether the deceased received or whether he intended to dispatch the message. We believe he was not known to post or receive any letters while at the hotel. Another theory is that the deceased was a great sufferer from neuralgia, and that he destroyed himself while distracted with pain.

On Tuesday afternoon, W. H. Payne, Esq., held an inquest on the body at the “Lord Warden Hotel.” The jury was composed of the following gentlemen:- Messrs. J. R. Adams, Austin, Burt, Elgar, J. I. Fletcher, Fuhr, Gandy, Horsnaill, D. Houlden, C. Pain, Smith, G. Spain, and A. Wells. Mr. Elgar was chosen foreman. The body having been viewed, the following evidence was taken:-

Colonel Richard Andrew Doria said: I reside in Bury Street, London. I have known deceased about two years. He is a native of Germany, and I know he was a banker, or connected with the banking interest – the Anglo-Austrian Bank. He resided at Marlborough Street, London. His age was, I should say, between 50 and 60. After I made his acquaintance about two years since, I left England and did not renew the acquaintance until about two months back. He used to suffer from neuralgia, and I have seen him very lately in intense pain from the same cause. I last saw him alive about 16 or 17 days ago in London. He looked very ill, and was then suffering from neuralgia. I have not seen him since till I saw him dead. He never hinted at self-destruction. Indeed, he is the last person in the world I should have thought would have done it.

Elizabeth Moses said: The deceased came to the hotel from the Calais boat on Saturday morning about four o’clock. I am chambermaid and I conducted the deceased to his room. The deceased was polite and civil, but rather excited. He seemed in a very great hurry for his portmanteau. After the gentleman asked for his portmanteau I said it might be some time in coming from the Custom-house, but the porter should bring it as soon as it came. He followed me down almost immediately for the portmanteau. It was afterwards taken to his room. I saw no more of him afterwards.

Elixa White, chambermaid, said: On Sunday morning the deceased rang his bell at half-past nine and had tea and toast in his bedroom. He had a hearty breakfast. About 12 o’clock I went to the room again, thinking he might be gone down, but he was in the room. I knocked, and after a little time he came to the door with his trousers on only, and gave me the tray. I went again at about half-past one and knocked. I heard some shuffling, but he made no answer. I went again at half-past three and knocked and shouted to know if he wanted anything, but he made no answer. About seven o’clock in the evening I spoke to the house-keeper, Miss Forster, that there was a very strange gentleman in the bedroom; he had had no dinner. I knocked several times after that, and could get no answer. I thought he was a foreigner, for when I asked if he would sleep here the night he seemed undecided. On Monday morning I mentioned the matter in the house, and told the manager. We went upstairs and getting no answer, a locksmith was sent for, and the door was forced open. I did not see the deceased, but I believe he was found in the room dead.

Mr. John Pearse said: I am manager at the “Lord Warden Hotel.” On Monday morning at about half-past nine, the last witness came and said that the gentleman in 75 had seemed very ill on the previous day, that she had knocked several times at his door, and that she had had no answer. I at once went up with her and knocked as loudly as I could. I could get no answer, and I looked through the keyhole, and saw that the key was inside. There was a locksmith at work downstairs. I had him upstairs to see if he could pick the lock. He came up and forced the door open. The first thing I saw was deceased lying down on the carpet in a corner of the room near the fire-place. There was a sort of rug over his head, and some blood on the carpet. I came to the conclusion that he had cut his throat, and at once sent for Mr. Sanders, who came, accompanied by Dr. Marshall. We all entered the room, and on removing the rug I saw the revolver produced clenched in his right hand. Dr. Marshall turned his head, and I then saw a wound on the right side of his head near the temple. He was quite dead, and his fingers were beginning to turn black. I did not see deceased arrive on the Saturday, but I saw him in the coffee-room, and he then seemed very jolly.

Mr. Wells: Did he have any conversation with you?

Witness: No; but he was very chatty with the waiters.

Mr. Austin: Were any letters of importance found on him?

Witness: No; only foreign business letters.

Mr. Superintendent Sanders said: On Monday morning shortly after ten o’clock, I was sent for from the “Lord nelson Hotel” relative to this case. Accompanied by Dr. Marshall I went at once, and being sent to the bedroom upstairs we saw deceased lying in the corner of the room with the rug produced over his head. [The rug was here shown to the Jury, and it was seen that there was a small perforation through which the bullet had passed.] he had the five chambered revolver produced I his right hand. Dr. Marshall looked at him and pronounced him dead. I searched the body and the room and amongst other property found £44 3s. 3½d. in English money, a crossed cheque for £20 on the London and Westminster Bank, three blank cheques of the same bank, two Prussian notes, one 25 and the other 10 thalers, a gold watch and tortoiseshell chain, one dagger knife, and a clasp knife, keys, a large quantity of papers, and 35 pieces of foreign money. I found no paper to indicate the cause of the act, but several cards “F. Boldemann, General Manager, Anglo-Austrian Bank,” and a card addressed “Mr. Boldemann, 34, Marlborough Hill, St. John’s Wood.” In consequence of that address I communicated with the Police in London. I afterwards examined the revolver produced and found there were three of the chambers loaded, one empty cartridge and one chamber empty. I also produced two boxes of cartridges which I found in the portmanteau.

Mr. Fuhr said it seemed by the coupon found on deceased that he had come from Hamburgh on the 21st.

Dr. Marshall said: On Monday morning at about ten o’clock I was requested by Mr. Sanders to accompany him to the “Lord Warden Hotel,” to se a gentleman who was supposed to have committed suicide. I accompanied him to the hotel, and was shown into a large bedroom on the upper floor. On entering the room I observed the body of a man lying on the floor between the door and the fireplace, with his head and shoulders covered with a rug. I removed the rug and then saw a quantity of blood on the floor. On closer examination I saw there was a revolver in deceased’s hand, the barrel being grasped by the fingers. His head was turned to the right side, so that I did not discover the wound until I moved the body, when I saw a wound on the right side of the head, from which blood had issued. I believe the cause of death to have been a penetrating gunshot wound of the skull. I think deceased must have been in a sitting or lying position when he fired the revolver.

Mr. Pain: How long do you think he had been dead?

Dr. Marshall: Eight or ten hours, or longer.

The Coroner having summed up, the Jury returned a verdict of “Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.”

Two years later the same firearm was used in the Suicide of a Policeman. (Click here)

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 1 January, 1875. Price 1d.

A KIND ACCUSER

Parker Young, a youth of 17 was charged with stealing £20 from the "Lord Warden Hotel." Mr. Birmingham being reluctant to prosecute, the case was dismissed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 3 November, 1882. Price 1d.

AN OLD OFFENDER

Elizabeth Thompson, an unfortunate, better known as “Topsy” was brought up charged with being drunk and disorderly in Clarence Place the previous Saturday afternoon.

Police-constable Wickham said: At about half-past 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, I was on duty at Clarence Place at the Pier, when I saw the prisoner drunk and disorderly. She was making a great noise by shouting to the passers by and was trying to go to the “Lord Warden Hotel” to see Sir Garnet Wolseley. She was drunk and refused to go away when I told her to do so. The prisoner was in a most deplorable condition, being wet through. She held her dress up to her waist, and had her stockings down, and her hair was like a lot of rats tails. (Laughter.)

The prisoner: You are highly complimentary, I must say. (Laughter.)

The Superintendent said that the prisoner had frequently been “had up” for the same offence and had various terms of imprisonment.

The prisoner promised to join the Blue Ribbon Army again, she knew she had been much better when she kept the pledge before, but if they would let her off, she would join the pledge for life.

The Bench sentenced the prisoner to 14 days imprisonment with hard labour.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 23 January, 1885. Price 1d.

Mr. Swainston, the proprietor of the "Lord Warden Hotel," is seriously ill.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 9 August, 1889.

SUDDEN DEATH AT AN HOTEL

An American gentleman, Mr. Milano Carey Tilden, who had for the last few days been staying at the “Shakespeare Hotel,” and previously at the “Lord Warden,” died suddenly at the former hotel early on Thursday morning. The deceased gentleman was staying at the hotel with his wife and family, and died from epilepsy a certificate to that effect being given by Dr. Barton, who attended him. Mr. Tilden was born at new York, and was 35 years of age. The body was removed the same evening to Mr. Flashman’s, the undertaker, who had charge of the funeral arrangements.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 24 April, 1896.

ACCIDENT AT THE LORD WARDEN HOTEL

During the work of renovating that is being carried out at the “Lord Warden Hotel,” a bricklayer named Albert Ford, 29 years of age, was taken in a fit on Monday, and falling backwards on to the ground sustained some severe scalp wounds. He was taken to the Hospital and found to be suffering shock to the system.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 June, 1904. Price 1d.

PUBLIC HOUSE TRANSFERS

THE PORT OF CALL

In accordance with notice, Mr. Rutley Mowll applied for the final confirmation of the license granted to Mr. Coxan of the “Lord Warden Hotel,” to supply refreshments at a building (which he had completed according to plans previously approved by the Bench on the Prince of Wales Pier, which will shortly be used for the embarking and landing of passengers using the Atlantic liners which will call at Dover on and after the 1st of July. Mr. T. A. Walmsley, Engineer of the Dover Harbour Board, proved that the building in which the refreshments would be served had been completed in accordance with the plans previously submitted to the Bench, except that it had been put a little further towards the west for the convenience of the Station.

Mr. Bottle: And the building is actually completed?

Yes, I saw it half an hour ago – Mr. Mowll said that there was a little telegraph office and other conveniences for travellers in the course of erection, but the building in which the refreshments would be served was completed. The license was confirmed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 28 May, 1937.

The Fire Brigade show off their new ladder.

This picture shows the ladder at its full height. The Lord Warden Hotel is about 70ft. high. The fireman ascends 25ft, and the ladder is then automatically extended to the required height.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 1 December 1939.

Mr. H Stanley Wharton, the Chairman, speaking at the annual meeting of the Frederick Hotels, said in reference to the Lord Warden Hotel:- "After the closing of the port of Dover we decided to close the Lord Warden Hotel, the boat service no longer in operation, resulting in the loss of the catering on the cross-Channel steamers to Dover. This hotel is in course of being requisitioned.

From the Dover Express. 4 March 1999.

Customs will be new 'guests' hotel which greeted Napoleon.

Dock project is under way.

WORK has started on a project to move Customs clearance staff and others from the crowded Eastern Docks to the western dock.

The plan, to provide more operational space at the Eastern Docks, was revealed in the Dover Express last year.

Dover Harbour Board has bought from P&O Stena Line the former Stena-owned Southern House in Lord Warden Square and is converting the large block to offices.

This historic building was once the famous Lord Warden Hotel where wealthy travellers used to stay before crossing the Channel.

Guests have included Charles Dickens, the 19th century English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray and Napoleon Ill.

The port authority has renamed the property from Southern House - it was once owned by southern region of British Railways - to Lord Warden House.

"Lord Warden House is undergoing refurbishment to accommodate the freight agents making it more convenient for everyone," said a harbour board spokesman. In addition, a large building costing £2.5m is being constructed for Customs clearance facilities near the Viaduct that leads to Lord Warden Square and the western docks. These extra facilities should be available by the Spring, says the port authority.

This month, construction is due to begin on the dual carriageway access from Whitfield roundabout on the A2 into Dover Harbour Board owned Old Park Barracks.

When these road works are completed the former barracks can be opened up for port-related users.

Dover District Council officials, working with the port authority; are devising new traffic routing plans.

Traffic from Whitfield and heading for Melbourne Avenue on Buckland Estate will have to divert to the roundabout near Tesco before entering the estate, if proposals go through.

Drivers leaving the council offices at Whitfield will also have to divert to the Tesco roundabout.

This week saw the completion of the scheme to reclaim seven acres from the sea at the Eastern Docks to provide even more space for freight operations.

From the Dover Express, 25 March 2010

Report by Terry Sutton in his "Way We Were" articles.

PROUD BUILDING THAT ONCE HOUSED LORDS AND LADIES.

FEW majestic structures in Dover have suffered such a riches-to-rags existence as the majestic Lord Warden Hotel, now renamed Lord Warden House.

The four-storey hotel, known by many as Southern House, near what is now Dover cruise terminal, has over the years welcomed scores of lords and duchesses, artists, writers, diplomats and rogues.

Now in the ownership of Dover Harbour Board, it provides accommodation for ship forwarding agents and freight clerks dealing with Customs clearance.

The hotel, with its opulent ballroom, was opened in September 1853 by the South Eastern Railway which bought the site 10 years previously from the Dover port authority which was the ground landlord for the whole area.

Originally South Eastern Railway bought the waterfront land in order to provide space for a railway station, goods sheds and the tracks to serve it. Documents indicated the railway company paid £23,500 for the land.

The station was brought into use in 1844 and the hotel welcomed its first guests nine years later.

It quickly became popular with scores of well-heeled passengers waiting for favourable weather to catch a packet boat sailing from what is now the Western Docks. They arrived at Dover by train and just popped across the station to the hotel.

At one stage, and remaining in place for many years, there was an overhead covered walkway linking the station to the hotel building. Many around today will still remember it.

The Dover Express a century ago used to list the guests staying at the Lord Warden, at other hotels and boarding houses in the town. Personally, I wonder, why aristocrats and others would want the populace of Dover to know they were in town. The listings must have given the opportunity for some false titles while some of the guests would want to suppress the lady's name with whom they were travelling.

But we do know the hotel was regularly frequented by Charles Dickens on his way to France. Indeed he used the hotel scene for one of his yarns. Another writer who sat and watched his fellow guests was William Makepeace Thackeray.

Napoleon Ill, the Emperor of the French, was a guest at the Lord Warden several times but none so sad as the day he arrived in Dover from Ostend from a Prussian prisoner-of-war camp.

He had been released by the Prussians on his abdication and in March 1871 arrived at Dover quietly to be guided to the hotel to be reunited with his wife Eugenie and their son the Prince Imperial. (The occasion is marked by a Dover Society blue plaque on the exterior wall of the building.)

Between the two world wars the hotel continued to attract the rich and famous including members of the wealthy Rothschild family.

It was at the Lord Warden where, in July 1909, the French aviator Louis Bleriot was feted on his pioneer flight across the Channel before heading off for more praise in London.

Ironically it was flight and the early days of air travel that began to change the fortunes of this splendid hotel. The rich began to fly between London and Paris, instead of catching Dover steamers.

The hoteliers, who at one stage also owned the now-demolished Burlington Hotel in Dover, must have realised the writing was on the wall. They stepped up their advertising to attract the Dover and East Kent gentry to dinners, balls and social events at the hotel. It became a popular centre for higher ranking off-duty army officers of the Dover garrison and those stationed at Canterbury.

Leading Dover citizens, including mayors, held their civic dinners in the hotel, served by Dover waiters and waitresses. Occasionally I have met some who worked there immediately before the Second World War and they have told me of the hotel's glory days.

During the war the hotel was taken over by the Royal Navy and was named HMS Wasp. It became the headquarters, with plotting rooms, of the navy's coastal force of motor torpedo boats and other fast craft. (A planning application is being made to erect a plaque on the building recalling its HMS Wasp wartime days.)

At the war's end the building was in a poor shape but was acquired by Southern Region of British Rail and renamed Southern House, accommodating a legion of accountants and other clerical workers.

Then part of the run-down building became the headquarters of the Dover Collection of Customs with port workers scurrying in to report to officials in the Long Room. Accommodation for the Customs was not comfortable and they moved out to Burlington House in Townwall Street before moving to their present headquarters off St John's Road.

There were doubts about the future of the once-posh hotel as it became the property of Stena Lines but when that company vacated Dover it reverted to Dover Harbour Board which refurbished it for freight agents.

DHB spent nearly £1 million repairing and repainting the property so that today it stands as a proud landmark.

What of the future of this protected 'Iisted building? Could it one day become a hotel again, serving the growing number of cruise passengers who wish to stay in Dover before catching their ship or at the end of their cruise?