From the Dover Express December 1838

On Saturday last, a young girl of about twelve years of age, daughter of Mr. Austen at the "Masons Arms," Charlton, having taken a match for the purpose of lighting a fire a drop of sulphur fell on the front of her dress, which instantly burst into flame. Mrs. Austen endeavoured to smother it with an apron unsuccessfully and the poor child was obliged to be taken to the pump before the fire could be subdued. She was severely burnt in the body and has suffered much from fright but is recovering.

Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.

More reading of Dover at www.DoverHistory.co.uk

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 5 March, 1869.

DEATH BY A FALL OF CHALK

An inquest was held at the "Masons' Arms Inn," High Street, Charlton, by the borough coroner, W. H. Payn, Esq., yesterday afternoon, on the body of Richard Friend, a labourer in the employ of Mr. Phipps, of River, who came by his death through the falling of a chalk bank at Pineham. Mr. Thomas Holloway was chosen foreman of the jury. Mr. G. Gould attended to watch on behalf of Mr. Phipps.

Thomas Prebble, a labourer who lived at Whitfield , said: I have known the deceased for almost six years. He resided at Crow Hill, Guston. On Tuesday morning, February 23rd, at about eleven o'clock, I was at work with deceased at a chalk pit at Pineham. The deceased was picking and I was carrying it away in a cart and horse. Seeing the chalk looked very loose above where the deceased was picking I told him to be careful; but he said he thought it was all right. I had filled my cart and had taken it away and was returning with the empty cart, when my mate called out to me that the chalk had fallen on the deceased. I made as much haste I could to the spot, and then saw the deceased half buried under some chalk which had fallen. He was still alive and told me he was picking when the chalk fell upon him. I with the assistance of my mate extricated the deceased and put him in the cart. We afterwards took him to his home at Crow Hill and he was removed afterwards to Dover Hospital. My mate was assisting the deceased picking the chalk and filling the cart.

By the Jury: When we had extricated him he complained to injuries to his side. A doctor attended the same night, from Walmer.

George Marsh, the mate the last witness, said: I am a labourer living at Pineham. I was at work with the deceased on Tuesday week at a chalk pit at Pineham, at about eleven o'clock in the morning. He was engaged in picking the chalk underneath  the bank, and I was filling the cart, when I heard the deceased cry out, and on turning round saw him underneath some chalk which had fallen. With the assistance of the last witness, who shortly afterwards came to the pit, I shovelled the chalk away. After taking him from under the chalk we took him to his home at Crow Hill. I was the only person near when the chalk fell. We were both working under the bank. I had heard the last witness caution the deceased.

By the Jury: The height of the chalk was about twenty feet. We could not get to the top without going round when the chalk fell; some of it came against my feet. The deceased was knocked down backwards.

Mr. Jonas Travers Herbert, surgeon to the Dover Hospital, said: On Thursday the 25th of February, the deceased was brought to the hospital with injuries which he had sustained by the falling of some chalk at Pineham. His back was very black, and very much bruised. he complained of great pain in his head and body. I did all that I could for his recovery. he died yesterday morning at about half-past two. I should say that his death was from fracture of the spine.

The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," but at the same time expressed as their opinion, that a crow-bar to be used at the top of the bank, would be a much safer way of breaking the chalk than with the pickaxe used at the bottom.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 19 March, 1859.

TOO DRUNK

James Smith, labourer, of New Street, was charged with being drunk and creating a disturbance at the "Mason' Arms," Charlton. It appeared from the statement of the landlord of the public-house, Mr. W. Harman, that the defendant made his way into the tap-room, where "a nice, comfortable, little party" were assembled, about ten o'clock on Saturday night, and conducted himself with great violence, drinking other people's beer, and behaving in such a way as to drive several of the other guests from the room. The landlord had to eject him from the house; and he then kicked at the door and was very abusive, pulling off his clothes and wanting to fight. In this way he continued about ten minutes, by which time a mob had collected, and on police-sergeant Geddes coming up the landlord gave him into custody.

Geddes confirmed the latter portion of the landlord's statement.

Smith's only defence was that he knew nothing about the charge - he was too drunk.

In default of paying a fine of 10s., defendant was sent to prison for seven days.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 2 January, 1874. Price 1d.

SUDDEN DEATH

The Borough Coroner (W. H. Payn, Esq.) held an inquest, on Monday afternoon, at the "Mason's Arms" on the body of Edward Wyborn, a drayman in the employ of Messrs. Leney and Co.

Police-constable Stonar, of the Kent County Constabulary, said that on Saturday last he was on the Deal road talking to a man when he saw a wagon without a driver trot past. He stopped it and went back and had proceeded about 100 yards when he saw deceased lying in the water tunnel at the side of the road. He was not quite dead but was groaning. He got assistance and took him to the Hospital, where the doctor pronounced him dead.

Harriett Wyborn, the mother of the deceased, said her son was troubled with heart disease.

John William Cash, an innkeeper residing at Walmer, said he saw deceased stop outside his house. He was perfectly sober.

Dr. Granison, the house surgeon at the Dover Hospital, said deceased was brought there on Saturday night at about eight. He examined the body, and found no marks of violence. He should attribute death to heart disease.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 August, 1877. Price 1d.

PUBLIC HOUSE LICENSES

To the editor of the "Dover Express."

Sir, Monday next is fixed as a Special Sessions for the transfer of licenses. There are 17 applications, among which are the following:-

The "Masons' Arms" has been empty a short time, but Mr. Poulter, the brewer, wishes to re-open this house in his name......

Six brewers' houses empty! Will any of the six gentlemen who are applying for these licenses live on the premises to conduct the houses themselves? and, if not, should the magistrate grant the transfers?

Yours &c.,

COMMON SENSE.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 20 May, 1960.

Death of Former Licensee.

For many years landlord of the Masons Arms, in High Street and Naval Pensioner, Mr. Edward John Oliver, of 238, Folkestone Road, died on Sunday, aged 83.

At the funeral on Wednesday at Charlton Cemetery the Rev. W. Brown Moffet officiated.

The mourners present were:- Miss H. Oliver (daughter), Mr. H. Oliver (brother), Miss, Baker, Mr. and Mrs. B. May. Mrs. L. Oliver (widow) and Mrs. Woodbridge were unable to attend due to indisposition.

Also present were:- Mr. Booth, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Pritchard, Mr. and Mrs. T. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. A. Pritchard, Mr. Toussaint-Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Anslow, Mr. N. Taylor (rep. Dover Wanderers Sports Club).

Among the many floral tributes were those from:- The Worshipful Master and Brethren of the Peace and Harmony Lodge No. 199; Dover Wabderers and Rovers' Sports Club.

The arrangements were by H. J. Sawyer (Dover) Ltd.