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16 Commercial Quay
The Old Commercial Quay is shown above on the left of the picture next to the
"Mariner's Arms". Beyond the
three-storey house are seen premises, in the course of demolition,
which were formerly another licensed house, the London Packet. After
three private houses came the large but forbidding-looking Pentside
Baptist Church, later used by the Mission to Seamen. The properties
shown above were demolished in 1930 for improvement of the quays. |
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IT'S amazing what some people find when taking down
old wallpaper, tidying Cupboards, renewing the glass in a picture frame
or clearing out the attic This picture of the Old Commercial Quay,
facing Wellington Dock, and dating back to the 1860's is just one example of such a find. The picture is embossed with the name of the
former Bench Street photographer J. G. Whorwell but is evidently a copy
of the original because he simply wasn't in business as early as the
1860's.
Sharp's Commercial Quay public house, on the right of the
picture helps to date the picture as being from about 1861. Richard
Sharp was an innkeeper at Commercial Quay in that year. Sandwiched
between two and three-storey properties on the left is the single-storey
workshop of a ropemaker and dealer in marine stores by the name of
Dennis. The three-storey Dutch-style building towards the centre of the
picture, similar in appearance to Dover's
public library, was evidently very old. |
This outlet of Leney faced the dock side and possessed a 61 year lease
from Dover Harbour Board which had commenced in April 1867. £400 was spent
on improvements in 1893 but nevertheless the licence changed hands eighteen
times in twenty years up to 1906 so the closure that year would not have
surprised anyone.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer,
31 May, 1867.
John Smith Norris, the landlord of the "Commercial Quay" public
house, charged with infringing his license, was dismissed on paying the
costs.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 14 November, 1873.
LICENSING BUSINESS
George William Pettit applied for permission to sell at the Old
Commercial Quay, but as it was elicited that the outgoing tenant was
dead, and the administration of his affairs had not yet taken place the
application was ordered to stand over.
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DOVER EXPRESS first week OCTOBER 1906 reported the following:- Canterbury
Sessions decided to close, under the Compensation Act, six Dover pubs
including the "William and Albert", "Three
Compasses", "Duke of York", The "Wellesley",
The "Old Commercial Quay" and the "Half Moon".
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 16 February, 1906. Price 1d.
OBJECTION TO OLD COMMERCIAL QUAY
In this case the tenant, James Gilbert, was unable to attend, and a
certificate from Dr. Howden stated that he was recovering from
pneumonia, was put in. Mr. Knocker appeared on behalf of the owners,
Messrs. Leney and Co. the grounds of the notice were that the license
were unnecessary, and that the house had been ill-conducted.
Inspector Fox stated that the license had been transferred to James
Gilbert on the 6th October 1905. there had been seven tenants in the
last 10½ years, and about 18 changes in the last 20 years. There were
five other licensed premises within the immediate vicinity, the furthest
being 76 yards away. There had been convictions against the premises in
1879, 1881, 1885, and 1895.
The Chairman said that in regard to previous convictions, it would be
better not to press them unless the premises were being conducted in an
improper way at the present time.
Mr. Knocker said there had been no conviction within the last six years.
The Chairman said that ground of objection would be withdrawn from the
notice.
Mr. Knocker said that under those circumstances he did not propose to
address the Magistrates, or to make any objection to the notice.
THE MAGISTRATES DECISION
After a short consultation in private, the Magistrates turned to the
Bench. The Chairman said The following houses will be referred to the
Kent Compensation Committee of the Quarter Sessions in due form: The
William and Albert, The Three Compasses, the Wellesley Inn, the
Old Commercial Quay, the Duke of York, and the Half Moon. The
licenses for these houses will run until the time when the compensation
is paid, and then the licences will cease. With respect to the
Devonshire Arms and the Lord Roberts, and the Nottingham Castle,
they will be withdrawn from the list.- These licences will be renewed in
the ordinary way.
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Compensation was agreed in October that year and Leney received £850 and
the tenant £70. It continued as a private dwelling.
LICENSEE LIST
JACKSON W 1832
BARTON John S 1847 (Commercial Quay Inn)
TAYLOR William 1852 (Commercial Quay Inn)
TAYLOR Matilda1854 (Commercial Quay Inn)
SHARP to Mar/1861
MARKS Mr W Mar/1861+
NORRIS John Smith 1867-70
PETTET George William 1874
DYASON Mr dec'd Jan/1874
DYASON Mrs J Jan/1874 end
INSKIP William 1875
JOHNSON John 1875
KITTELL John William 1877
LONAN Charles 1877
McIVER Kennett 1878 end
McKAY Daniel 1878 end
MURGATROYD Edward 1879
MACKAY John 1881-82
COLE George 1883-85 end
FAGGETTER Lewis 1885-96
MASLEN Henry P 1896-July/1900
COLBREAY George Horace July/1900+
DOLBEAR James 1900
COCHRANE William 1900 end (Commercial Quay Inn)
CARLEY Henry 1902 end
JONES 1902-5 end
JONES W 1902-05 end
GILBERT John 1905-06 end
From Bagshaw Directory 1847
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From the Post Office Directory 1891
From the Kelly's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1901
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Dover Express
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