PRIMROSE Pubs of Dover

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1857

Primrose Hall Inn

Latest 2005

30 Coombe Valley Road (30 Union Road )

Bottom

Above photo circa 1980 by Barry Smith.

Photo above and below May 1995

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 17 January, 1936.

At the Dover Licensing Transfer Sessions, held on Friday last, plans for alterations to the "Primrose Hall," Union Road were approved.

From the Dover Express 2 August 1998.

Trio of local pubs have new owners.

THREE pubs in Deal and Dover have new bosses after brewery giants Whitbread sold 253 pubs nationally to Avebury Taverns in a deal worth £42.5 million.

The Three Horseshoes in Deal and The Golden Lion and The Primrose in Dover are part of the sell-off by the leased pub division of Whitbread, Whitbread Pub Partnerships. Giving Avebury Taverns their first foothold in the Kentish pub scene.

Managing director of Pub Partnerships Stewart Miller said the sale was part of a continuing review of their estate. This included shedding the businesses which were not part of the long-term strategy.

Avebury's commercial director Ian Frost; said all tenancy agreements would remain, and the inns would continue trading as tra ditional community pubs.

The company was launched last year with backing from the Japanese securities company Diawa.

From article in Dover Express 4 September 1998

Landlord and sons hurt by drug gang

LANDLORD: Robert Mills and his son Nigel, injured in the savage attack by bootlegging thugs.

BOOTLEGGING MENACE FLARES UP IN BRUTAL PUB ATTACK

MP dreads thugs will stop at nothing to protect evil trade

A PUB landlord spent two days in hospital after he was savagely beaten by a gang he claims are bootlegging and drug selling gangsters.

Robert Mills, 49, had a badly gashed head, needing 12 stitches, and two broken ribs following the savage attack at the Primrose pub, in Coombe Valley Road.

Trouble flared when he confronted the gang of four, thought to be from Liverpool, over drug-pushing allegations. He warned them not to try it again but they went berserk and one smashed him over the head with a pool cue.

He said: "I tried to retaliate and hit him back but before I knew it all four men beat me over the head with their cues."

Outraged

As Mr Mills lay on the ground being kicked, his sons Robert, 28, and Nigel, 22, and Nigel's 17-year-old girlfriend, Sarah Bostock, tried to rescue him but they were also attacked and injured.

One of the men used a metal stool to smash up the bar before the gang broke down a door to escape.

Mr Mills was taken to Kent and Canterbury Hospital. His sons also suffered cut heads.

Young Robert, who was at his dad's pub celebrating his engagement to Joanna, had a broken nose and black eye.

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser is outraged at the incident which he believes shows bootleggers are moving into drug dealing.

He said: "Reports of violence and intimidation against pub landlords and their families by bootlegging gangs are very worrying. This incident reinforces my concern that bootleggers are selling drugs and will stop at nothing to protect their evil trade."

Terror

Mr Prosser, who welcomes co-operation between police, customs and the government to arrest the criminals, said: "Dover wants shot of these people."

There was more terror next day when landlady Janet Mills got a phone call from one of the gang, threatening to return and burn down the pub if they went to the police.

Mr Mills said: "I've seen these four men around Dover but they're not local and I couldn't name them. I know they're bootleggers but I think they're moving away from that and on to bigger things.

He continued: "They're here to take over the drugs trade because they think they're gangsters."

Nigel claims he was in the pub toilet last Saturday when one of the men tried selling him speed.

"He had some pills in his hands but I told him I didn't want them."

A police spokesman said: "It's very easy to make assumptions about who is committing crimes.

"But our job is to investigate them thoroughly. We will keep the people of Dover updated through the media but we can't jump to conclusions."

From the Dover Mercury, 16 August, 2001.

Stabbing at pub

By SIMON FINLAY

Two in hospital after 'disturbances'

TWO people are recovering in hospital following alleged attacks at separate addresses in Dover on Monday night. Police were called to an incident following a disturbance at the Primrose pub in Coombe Valley Road.

It is understood that a 20 year-old man suffered multiple stab wounds during the incident and was rushed by ambulance to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

A man was arrested and taken by detectives to Dover police station shortly afterwards where he was held overnight.

The alleged victim is understood to have been stabbed three times in the abdomen and suffered a cut to his neck. It is not known if any charges are to be brought against the man in custody.

A police spokesman said: "man is in custody following an incident at the Primrose public house on Monday night. I can confirm another male is in hospital with wounds."

In another incident at an address in London Road, Dover, a man was taken to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital with injuries to his head.

The alleged attack happened following what appears to have been an argument at a flat and it is thought the injured man may have been struck across the head with a heavy object.

Neighbours reported that they had earlier heard people coming and going from the address and that there had been raised voices.

A police spokesman said: "We are looking into both matters and it is a bit early in the investigation to draw conclusions."

ONE FOR THE ROAD: New behind the bar at The Primrose pub, Dover; ex-driving instructor Dawn Ripley and her husband Chris .Ref: pd 459390

Above picture and this article by Dover Mercury 14 August 2003.

Instructor is driven by new pub venture.

PULLING pints and helping people through their driving tests are challenges Dawn Ripley meets with the same measure of calm. Earlier this year she joined her husband Chris behind the bar of The Primrose Inn, Coombe Valley Road, Dover, but for 11 years before that she was teaching learners to drive.

She said: "I found the driving school was sending me the nervous ladies and the older learners - I think it's because I'm' a good listener and I brought up children before I learnt to drive myself.

"I taught the four oldest to drive and only one son failed to pass first time - it was only a little thing - his position on the road."

Dawn herself passed first time and the youngest two of her six children have a way to go before they claim L-plates James and Lauren are twins of seven.

She said: "The oldest success I have had was a woman of 65, who, poor love, was left by her husband and lived out in the country she'd never sat behind a steering wheel in her life before."

Dover born and bred, Dawn went to Castlemount School, before heading to Avo's factory in the town where she did soldering.

Then she saw an advert for driving instructors and decided to apply.

"I like people and working with people, and you can be flexible, but you really do have to have a lot of knowledge," she said.

"Now it's a lot harder to learn to drive because conditions on the road are harder.

"Some learners are quicker at the theoretical side and others pick up the practical skills quicker." Once Dawn has helped steer The Primrose on the road to stability she'll return to the world of beginners' nerves, ground gears and sudden stalls.

It's easier than running a pub, she says.

All pictures below by Paul Skelton 10 August 2007

The sign was said to immortalise a soldier who was active in the Afghan war.

An "Old Primrose Hall" also had its place in the road but it was part of the road haulage industry. In 1874 the address was given as just "Bottom", obviously referring to Buckland Bottom. In 1899 according to the Kelly's Directory, the landlord John Court the pub was referred to "Primrose Hall, Public House and carrier". The licensed property, known as "Primrose Hall", occupied the corner with Primrose Road. The number would be different before 1901 but the site is the same. Present in 1857 and a new licence in 1864 suggests rebuilding or a fuller licence.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 23 July, 1864.

APPLICATION FOR ADVICE

John Chatwyn, 73, a pauper in the Dover Union, applied to the Bench for advice. He said he had left the Workhouse on Saturday for three days leave. On the previous morning he went to the "Primrose Hall," Buckland, to see his daughter, who was servant there. He indulged a little too freely and got the worse for liquor, and the landlord then beat him most cruelly.

Applicant, who still appeared a little worse for his indulgence, entered into a long and rambling statement of his grievances, during which he described the landlord's conduct as "anything but gentlemanly," but the Magistrates failed to see what charge he could sustain against the landlord, and therefore advised him to go back to the Union and endeavour to forget his indignities.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 10 December, 1864.

RIGDEN v. BROCKMAN

The defendant in this case is the landlord of the "Primrose Hall," Buckland and the complainant a labourer. It appeared that on the previous Monday complainant was in Abbey Lane, Buckland, having been engaged in removing some refuse from a yard close by. He went with a horse and cart to fetch some chalk, and while loading his cart defendant came along and after making him shoot the chalk out of the cart, struck him, with a shovel and a whip. - Defendant did not deny the charge, but pleaded that he had been aggravated by the complainants conduct towards him. - The Magistrates fined defendant 5s. and the costs 17s. 6d., which he paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 16 March, 1866.

FRY v. BROCKMAN

The debt was one of £3 10s. for fitting up the bar of a public-house and performing other builder's work at the "Primrose Hall," Buckland Bottom, of which the defendant was Mr. Brockman, the landlord.

The defendant objected to £1 10s. 6d. of the account, the charge for distempering the ceilings of the house. The house was built by Messrs. Fry and Pepper for defendant's occupation, at the direction of the brewer, Mr. A. Kingsford, to whom it belonged. The defendant had to fit up the bar himself, but the distempering of the ceilings was part of the building contract and should have been included in the original work. It was found, however, that when he (defendant) wanted to get into the house the ceilings were not distempered, and on his wife speaking to the landlord about it, Mr. Kingsford directed her to tell Messrs. Fry and Pepper (plaintiff at that time having a partner) to come and do it.

The plaintiff, in reply to his Honour, said that all the work included in the contract was finished before the order to distemper the ceilings was given. The building account had been settled long since by Mr. Kingsford, and the defendant was justly liable for all that he was charged. The distempering of the ceilings was not part of the contract.

The defendant then said he had a bill against the plaintiff, which he produced.

The bill was handed to the plaintiff, who admitted owing the defendant something in the shape of a set-off, but disputed the correctness of some of the items.

Ultimately the further hearing of the case was adjourned till the next sitting, to give the defendant an opportunity of pleading his set-off in the regular way.

An attempt was made in 1886 to open another outlet at number twenty three.

The necessary permission was not given and I impress upon the reader that the number of that house will also have changed over the years.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 March, 1906. Price 1d.

ALTERATIONS TO PUBLIC HOUSES

At the Police Court this morning, Mr. A. K. Mowll asked permission of the Bench to make alterations to the structure of several public houses.

At the "Primrose Hall," it was proposed to build a bar parlour, and to enlarge the club room at a cost of £300. the Chief Constable had seen the plans and had no objections.

The Magistrates approved of the various plans showing the alterations.

James Robinson Cairns, landlord 1941-44 was the longest serving Mayor of Dover in the 20th century. (See info.)

Closed for several months from June 1980 while alterations were effected and also in 1983 for the same purpose. The end product that time incorporated video and associated gimmicks which were said to cater for one section of the community whilst promoting discontent to the other camp when only one bar was available. No middle ground materialised and the pub opened under the sign "Strides". It depicted running athletes. Somewhat short-lived because by 1985 the name was once more "Primrose", the sign now displaying that popular flower.

A house of Fremlin.

Closed in 2005 and demolished for rebuilding of flats in March 2007.

The only part of the premises still left, so Chris Grimes tells me, is the doorstep that used to be used for entrance into the jug and bottle entrance as shown below. The step is right on the corner of Coombe Valley Road / Primrose Road.

Primrose step

One last remnant has again been found by Chris Grimes, see below. It's the boarding that used to welcome players to the skittle alley. Most of the paint has been removed, but the outline of the welcome can just be seen.

Primrose skittle sign

The original position can just be seen from the top two pictures shown on the demolished site dated 10 August 2010. It would be nice to show the alley as it was, if anyone should have a photo.