From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 9 April, 1864.

DRUNK AND DESTRUCTIVE

Joseph Gambrell, a gunner in the 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery, was charged with breaking two squares of glass at the "Prince Albert" public-house, Biggin Street, and also with destroying a bed and rug at the station-house.

Joseph Wellard, the landlord of the "Prince Albert", said, about nine the previous evening the prisoner came to his house and called for a glass of porter. He served him, and the prisoner (who was then too all appearances sober) stood in front of the bar about half-an-hour smoking his pipe. On going out, he fell against the window and broke two panes of glass - not designedly, he thought, but through intoxication; an on asking him if he were going to pay for the damage he had done, he said he was not. He then put him out of the house, and in doing so the prisoner slipped down on to the road. This seemed to exasperate him very much; for he abused him (complainant) in a "tremendous" manner, and afterwards wilfully broke three panes either with his fist or stick. He was then given into custody of the police. The amount of damage committed was 4s.

Police-constable Johnson proved the damage committed at the police-station. When the prisoner was locked in his cell, there was in it a bed and rug in good condition. About twelve o'clock the witness had occasion to lock another prisoner in the same cell, when he found the bed and rug torn to pieces. That morning the Superintendent asked the prisoner why he did it, and he replied that they had no business to put a drunken man in a place where there was anything destructible. The prisoner was not so drunk when he was brought in as not to know what he was about. He appeared more agitated than drunk. He was in the same state when he awoke that morning and would have destroyed the iron bedstead had he been able. The value of the bed and rug, which were the property of the Corporation, was 5s.

The prisoner had nothing to say in answer to the charge.

The Bench fined him 16s. (including damages and costs) in respect to the first charge, and 16s. (including damages and costs) in respect to the second charge. In default he was committed to 28 days' hard labour.

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

SHOCKING SUICIDE

Yesterday (Friday) morning Mr. Wellard, the landlord of the "Prince Albert Inn," Biggin Street, was found suspended in a loft at the rear of his premises, life being extinct. An inquest was to be held last evening by the borough coroner, W. H. Payr, Esq., but we publish too early to give a report of the proceedings in our present issue.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 18 September, 1868.

DRUNKENNESS.

William Crawford was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and assaulting the police in the execution of their duty on the previous day. The prisoner was brought up handcuffed; but on being placed before the Magistrates the handcuffs were removed.

Police-constable William Corrie: Yesterday, about half-past twelve o'clock, the prisoner was on the pavement in Biggin Street, opposite the "Prince Albert." he was quarrelling with his wife. I told him to go away several times, as a crowd was collecting; but he refused, and on my getting near him, he struck me in the breast. People were just leaving church at the time, and the disturbance was very disgraceful. The prisoner, though drunk, knew what he was about. With the assistance of Sergeant Barton I took him to the police-station.

The prisoner had no questions to ask the policeman, and excused himself on the grounds of having had an interview with his brother, a soldier in the 4th, on the previous night. His brother had just come home from Abyssinia, and as he (prisoner) had not seen him for eight years, "of course" it was natural they should have some drink, and he indulged rather too freely. He was making his way to Folkestone, when his wife, who had also been drinking, became "outlandish," and he was endeavouring to bring her to reason when the policeman interfered.

The Magistrates sent Crawford to prison for seven days, in default of his paying a fine of 5s. and costs.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 23 June, 1871. Price 1d.

ASSAULT

Benjamin Burville, a boatman, was summoned by Mary Ann Clark for unlawfully assaulting her on the 16th inst.

Mary Ann Clark deposed: My husband is a boatman. Between one and two o’clock last Friday I went to the “Prince Albert” public-house for my husband. Defendant and my husband were disputing about a boat, when defendant hit my husband, and a scuffle ensued. In the scuffle I pushed the defendant, and then he struck me.

Prisoner: Did you not scratch my face first?

Witness: No, I only pushed you.

The husband of the plaintiff corroborated his wife’s evidence. He said that it was he himself who scratched the defendant’s face, in his own defence.

Prisoner: You called my mother a sot and all kinds of things.

William Burville, brother of the defendant, deposed: I was in the “Prince Albert” with my brother last Friday, and I saw Clark there. He was aggravating my brother, and he afterwards gave him a slap on the face. Mrs. Clark called my mother a sot, and I am sure she was never a drunkard.

Defendant was fined 2s. 6d. and costs.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 25 April, 1873.

ASSAULT – ISSUE OF A WARRANT

A summons had been issued charging a man named John Stokes with assaulting Mrs. Barnes, the landlady of the “Prince Albert Inn,” Biggin Street, on the 16th April; and as he did not appear, a warrant was issued for his apprehension.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 6 July, 1877. Price 1d.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT

George Thomas Bartholomew was summoned for assaulting William Jarvis, of Folkestone, by knocking him down and striking him in the face, on the 30th June, at the "Prince Albert" public-house, in Biggin Street.

Mr. Sanders said it was a very bad assault, but the prosecutor was not present.

Charles Handsall, private in the 10th Regt., said: On Saturday evening, about a quarter past ten, I was at the "Prince Albert," in Biggin Street. The prisoner was there with several others. As I was standing in front of the bar, a disturbance arose, and I saw the prisoner strike another man in the eye, causing blood to flow. The other man had not provoked him in any way. The prisoner apologised to the man for striking him when they were outside. The man gave him into custody.

Mr. Supt. Sanders said: On Saturday night the prisoner was brought to the station with Police-constable Bailey, about 20 minutes past ten, and charged with assaulting William Jarvis, who came with him to the station, and signed the charge. He said, in the presence of the prisoner, that he went to the back way of the "Prince Albert" from Priory Street. He was first of all knocked down by a little tinkerman, and on his return to the house the prisoner struck him in the face. The prosecutor was bleeding from a cut over the right eye, his lip was very much swollen inside, evidently from a blow in the teeth. The prisoner admitted striking the man. Prosecutor signed the charge and promised to attend here this morning. He is not in attendance.

The prisoner had been charged on similar offences before.

The Bench thought the prosecutor should be summoned to attend, the Court could not be trifled with. The case was remanded until Friday.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 7 January, 1881. Price 1d.

DEATH BY SUFFOCATION

An inquest was held on Thursday afternoon at the “Prince Albert” public-house, Biggin Street, before the Borough Coroner (W. H. Payne, Esq.), on the body of a woman named Ann Young.

Mr. Burt was foreman of the Jury, and the body having been viewed, the following evidence was adduced:-

George Young, labourer, of 2, Queen’s Court, Biggin Street, said: The deceased, Ann Young, was my wife, her age being 63 years. Her health had not been good, having been under the doctor for the last 20 years, and in the hospital nine months out of the twelve for the last six years. She has been subject to dropsy. It is quite two months since we had a doctor to her. I wished her to have the parish doctor, or go in hospital, but she said she would not but would sooner jump out of the window, and was determined to lie and die where she was. On Tuesday morning I left the house about half-past five, giving her first cup of tea, putting the food she would need during the day in the room, and setting the fire, as she was unable to leave the house but could cross the room and light it when she wanted it. I went to Waldershare to work, and returned at night about half-past seven, and on going upstairs into the bedroom, I found her kneeling beside the bed with her face buried in the clothes, quite dead and cold. I went for a doctor who came shortly after and said she was quite dead, but didn’t tell me the cause of death.

By the Foreman: She suffered through a very weak stomach, and the food left for her was seldom eaten.

Dr. Simpson said: On Tuesday, evening about a quarter to eight, I was called to see the deceased by the last witness, and found her in the bedroom in a half kneeling position before the bed, her face being buried in the bed-clothes, quite dead and cold. There were no marks of violence, so I came to the conclusion that she had fallen through weakness into that position, and was unable to move herself, and so became accidentally suffocated. She smelt strongly of spirits, and there was an empty bottle lying beside the bed which had contained whisky.

By the Foreman: There was nothing suspicious whatever about the body.

The Jury returned a verdict that the deceased accidentally died through being suffocated in the bed-clothes while in a very weak state.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 3 June, 1881. Price 1d.

APPLICATION

 An application was made for an extension of time at the "prince Albert" public-house, Biggin Street, for a dinner.

The Bench would not grant the application, as it was a rule to allow extensions for balls, &c., but not for dinners.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 26 January 1940.

BIGGIN STREET BUS SKID.

There was an alarming accident in Biggin Street on Wednesday, shortly before 1 p.m. when an East Kent bus being driven towards the Post Office got into a skid near the "Prince Albert" Hotel, in pulling out to avoid obstructions. It slid across and mounted the pavement, the off-side scraping along the wall of the "Prince Albert," but the driver Mr. J Hatton, managed to turn it back into the road. Mrs. Watkins, of 29, Noah's Ark Road, who was on the pavement walking towards the Town Hall, had a remarkable escape from serious injury, although unfortunately, her left wrist was fractured.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 2 January 1942.

FIFTEEN BOTTLES OF BEER.

At the Dover Police Court on Saturday before Mr. W. B. Brett and Mrs. Morecroft.

Douglass Clapper (21) and Charles William Yarrington (21) soldiers, were charged with being concerned together in stealing fifteen bottles of beer, valued 13s. 6d., the property of Richard George Porter, from the "Prince Albert" public house, on 26th December.

On application from an officer, defendants were handed over to be dealt with by the Military Authorities.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 29 January 1954.

Well-known Licensee Retires

"Prince Albert" Changes Hands.

After 24 years as licensee of the "Prince Albert" public house, in Biggin Street, Mr. Richard George Porter has retired. Dover magistrates on Monday agreed to the temporary transfer of the house to Mr. William Herbert Scotcher.

Mr. Porter - who is well-known in the town especially for his work in helping the former ex-Servicemen's Club - will continue to live in the area.

Mr. Scotcher and his wife will not be unknown in Dover. Mrs. Scotcher - before she married she was Miss Kathleen Tandy - lived for a number of years in Dover, and when she was about nine resided in the house next door to the "Prince Albert." Mr. Scotcher's mother was also a Dover woman. For the past 18 years Mr. Scotcher has been carrying on business as a fishmonger in Clapham.

From the Dover Express, 1st April 1999. By Peter Preston.

Police use spy cameras to trap thieving barman.

A DOVER barman caught stealing from the pub where he worked has been jailed for nine months.

Canterbury Crown Court ordered the sentence should run consecutively to a 15-month term Anthony Green is already serving for stealing money from a building society account belonging to Harry Cross, the man he was once employed to look after.

Green, 33, appeared in court on Tuesday and admitted stealing £100 from Roy Gilham at the Prince Albert, Dover, in June last year.

Andrew Collins, prosecuting, said that soon after Green, of Weavers Way, began working at the Prince Albert money began to go missing. A surveillance camera was installed in a cupboard where the till tray was put at night and Green was filmed taking money.

When questioned he said he sometime took subs in lieu of wages and said he had taken £10 for a taxi.

Mr Gilham said he would not have loaned Green, who earned £74 a week, the £100.

Peter Alcock, for Green, said he regretted the way he treated Mr Cross and admitted the theft.

Green had financial difficulties and there was a system in the pub where employees could get money from the till in lieu of wages and it was a temptation.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 10 February, 2011. 60p

REVISITING OUR NEGLECTED SITES

Pub stages interactive exhibition

Report by Kathy Bailes

A PHOTOGRAPHIC tour of forgotten sites in Dover is to be displayed in a town centre pub.

The "Prince Albert" has commissioned Urban Decay, a trio of local photographers dedicated to discovering the history of forgotten places, to host an exhibition of photographs of hidden parts of Dover and the surrounding district.

Spokesman Grog Mckenzie said; "All these pictures will leave you wondering where they could be located. Many are walked past each day and lay in silent memory to a courageous era in Dover's history.

"Some have fallen so far into neglect that not even being on the Buildings at Risk Register can save them. They are gradually being reclaimed by mother nature, end may soon be lost forever.

"This photographic tour will highlight just a small part of what is hidden beneath your feel, and make you open your eyes to the lost parts of your town."

During the showing of Abandoned Dover, from April 9 to April 16, people will be able to view the photos both inside and outside the pub.

Much of the work on show will also be in themed frames, some made from abandoned materials, others put in shapes by laser work at Sandwich Technology School.

At the end of the week there will be a live graffiti demonstration at which a local artist will produce an 8ft by 4ft picture of Dover castle.

The event is free.

Above shows Urban Decay's stunning shot of the Admiralty Pier walkway, which used to be the entrance to Western Docks station.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 14 April, 2011. 60p

PHOTOS REVEAL THE FORGOTTEN SIDE OF DOVER

Report by Yamurai Zendera

A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition of forgotten sites in Dover has begun at the "Prince Albert."

The Biggin Street pub is displaying the work of three Kent based photographers known collectively as Urban Decay.

All this year, pals Greg Mckenzie, Tony Pullen and Daniel Yeates have been taking pictures of old sites across the town.

When publican Steve Davies saw their work, he asked if they would like to use the "Prince Albert" as a gallery.

Abandoned Dover features 37 pictures on display inside and outside the pub. Some have been framed using driftwood and materials from charity shops and rubbish skips.

Former St Edmund's pupil Greg said the aim is to show an alternative view of Dover other than the port and castle.

He said: "There's lots of history hidden away. I'm not really interested in taking countryside views, I'm more interested in capturing things that are about to be pulled down or been left to rot.

The picture of the Admiralty Pier walkway has aroused most interest, Greg added.

"People think it's all shut yet it's still open if you want to fish down there," he said.

Greg is keen for people to contribute their own photographs to the exhibition.

He said: "The pub is an open gallery. People should come down and use it as their canvas."

Steve said he would like themed exhibitions to continue after this one ends on Saturday.

He said: "Abandoned Dover is brilliant but I would like to see more artists who are interested in putting some shows together. It would be nice to have them running through the summer. It can be on anything."

Above shows the roof of the old Army Recruiting Offices in Townwall Street.