DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Dover, November, 2021.

Page Updated:- Sunday, 14 November, 2021.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1857

Prince Alfred

Latest 1970

(Name to)

55 East Cliff

Dover

Prince Alfred

Above photograph circa 1960, kindly supplied by Terry Wheeler of the Ramsgate Historical Society. Showing the "Prince Alfred" and the "Albion."

Prince Alfred

Above photo by Paul Skelton (18 Sept 2010) showing the former "Prince Alfred." The now "First and Last" and former "Albion" can just be seen two doors away on the left.

Prince Alfred Prince Alfred wrought iron

The tell-tail wrought iron bracket and lamps can still be seen on the side of the building.

East Cliff map circa 1890

The above map shows the position of the "Prince Alfred" in yellow. Red is the "Albion" and green is the "Sir Sidney Smith" circa 1890.

 

Owned by Whitbread at the finish but previously utilised by George Beer and Rigden and Gardner's Ash Brewery. A new licence in 1857 suggests several different possibilities.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 8 June, 1866.

THREATENING A WIFE

John Young, the landlord of the "Prince Alfred" public house at East Cliff was brought up on a warrant, charged with assaulting his wife.

Mrs. Young said that her husband had been in the habit of ill-treating and threatening her. On Tuesday he threatened to set the house on fire, and at the same time he knocked a fish about her head. Her husband was in the habit of indulging freely in drink, and from his treatment of her and his threats she went in bodily fear.

Elizabeth Matthews, niece of the complainant, corroborated her aunt's testimony as to the defendant's ill-treatment of her. She had heard him threaten her aunt's life, and had seen him take her by the throat and attempt to choke her.

The defendant had no substantial defence to offer, and the Bench bound him over to keep the peace for three months - himself in £20 and two sureties in £10 each, advising him to give up his drinking habits.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 28 February, 1868.

INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE.

George Clerk, landlord of the "Prince Alfred," was charged with infringing his license by having his house open for the sale of drink on Sunday morning last.

Fined 10s. and costs.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 6 May, 1870.

A SUSPICIOUS PARTY

George Davis, 30, George Askton, and Ellen Francis, 17, who were stated to have taken up their abode in a cave beyond East Cliff, were charged with stealing from the "Prince Alfred," East Cliff, one bottle of whisky, value 4s. 6d. the property of John Young.

Kate Mumford, the niece of John Young, living at the "Prince Alfred," East Cliff: Yesterday morning, about twenty minutes past six, the prisoner came in and asked me to boil his coffee kettle for him. I told him I had no fire, and he asked me for half a pint of beer. He then left the house and came back again in about five minutes and said he had got somebody to boil his kettle a few doors off, up the street. He had another half pint of beer, for which I had to leave the bar and go into a cave under the cliff. He came a third time and asked me to give him some sugar for his coffee, and a few hours afterwards we missed the bottle of whisky now produced. The value of it is 4s. 6d.

Thomas Mumford, a mariner: I live at the "Prince Alfred," at East Cliff. Yesterday morning, when I got up, my wife told me about a suspicious man having been in the house, and I went for a walk along the cliff and saw the two male prisoners. Ashton asked me for a light, which I gave him, and Davis said he and his companion had drunk a bottle of whisky that morning and were drunk. He also showed me the bottle produced, which I recognised as being ours by the label. I went back to the "Prince Alfred" and enquired whether they had missed anything, and they told me they had missed a bottle of whisky. The name of Harrison and Co., London, was on the bottle, and I believe there is not another publican in Dover who deals with them beside Mr. Young. I gave information to the police and saw them take possession of the bottle.

By Mr. Latham: It was the prisoner Davis who offered me the bottle - the same man who had been in the house. The woman was in the cave, and the prisoner said he was going to take what was left in the bottle to her.

Police-sergeant Barton: Yesterday afternoon, about five o'clock, in consequence of information I received I went to East Cliff, accompanied by Police-constable Baker. When I got to the jetty I saw the prisoner Davis in company with the last witness, who said to me. "This is the man," pointing to Davis. I then told him he was charged with stealing a bottle of whisky, and he said he knew nothing about it. I noticed he had something bulky in his coat pocket, and on searching him I found it contained a bottle of whisky now produced. I afterwards went under the cliff, and in a cave I found the female prisoner and Ashton lying both fast asleep. I also saw a coat and kettle there. I woke them up. The prisoner Ashton was very drunk, and the female prisoner was also the worse for liquor. I told them they were charged with stealing a bottle of whisky, and they both said they never stole it, but that Davis did, and they helped to drink it.

Police-constable George Baker corroborated the evidence.

All three prisoners desired that the case might be dealt with by the Magistrates; but all pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Coram said the prisoners had been in the town about a week, and had lived for the most part of the time in the cave. Their conduct at the station was very bad, and they tore up all their clothes, and had to be supplied with more.

Police-sergeant Barton said the female prisoner had told him that she had been up before at the Westminster police-court for stealing a £5 note, for which she got three months; and that she was also brought up for disorderly conduct in the gaol. Ashton had been sent to gaol before for two years.

The Magistrates sent Davis to gaol for two months, with hard labour, and Ashton and Francis for one month, with hard labour.

 

 

The first licensee was John Young who passed the premises over to his nephew Thomas Bartlett Mumford in 1873. Incidentally, I am informed by Wendy Bunn (email 16 September 2010) who is related to the above that she is also related to a Thomas Bartlett of the "Liverpool Arms." At present I am unsure of the connection between the similarity of names.

Thomas Bartlett Mumford was charged and committed fro Murder at the 11th January Assizes in 1879 and received the death penalty for his crimes.

 

From the Illustrated Police News, 25 January 1879.

THE DOUBLE MURDER AT DOVER.

At Maidstone, Thomas Bartlett Mumford, mariner, thirty-two, was put on his trial, before Lord Justice Cotton, for the murder of his wife and child at Dover on the 5th of November.

The prisoner and his wife retired to rest on that night, and an hour or two later the woman was heard screaming. Prisoner was met on the stairs saying “I have done it!” On the bedroom being entered the woman was found on the floor in a pool of blood, having three wounds on her body and the same number on her arms.

The accused admitted his guilt, and stated his wife had aggravated him and taunted him with not being the father of the child which she was about to have.

No evidence was given for the defence.

Mr. Kingsford then addressed the jury for the Crown, after which Mr. Ribton followed on behalf of the prisoner.

Lord Justice Cotton having summed up, the jury found the prisoner guilty, but unanimously recommended him to mercy on account of the extraordinary provocation he received.

Sentence of death was then passed on the prisoner, who said be asked for no mercy.

 

When five a.m. opening was permitted here in 1898, it meant that twenty houses were then doing so. Another eighteen were opening at three thirty a.m. That concession with regard to this one was withdrawn the following year.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 2 February, 1900.

DISORDER AT EAST CLIFF

Henry Klinch and Elizabeth Klinch were charged with being disorderly and fighting at East Cliff.

Police Constable Hughes said on Saturday evening he was on duty at East Cliff near Athol Terrace. He heard a noise near the “Prince Alfred” public house. Witness ran down and found the male prisoner and another man fighting in the middle of the street. He separated them and found they were both drunk. The woman was there drunk also, and screaming. From enquiries witness found they had quarrelled in the public house. He asked for the male prisoner's name, and the woman told him not to tell. The male prisoner made use of bad language. They refused to give their address, and as they were very disorderly and using obscene language, witness took them to the Police Station.

The Magistrates fined defendants each 10/- or 7 days' hard labour.

 

Hull Daily Mail 05 October 1910.

A THIEF TRAPPED.

Hearing the jingling of coin, Rose North, a servant at the "Prince Alfred Inn," Dover, yesterday went into the bar and found a man leaning over the counter with his hand in the till. The man bolted and the girl gave chase.

He hid in a large tool-chest on the Cliff-road Works, and the girl sat on the lid until a constable arrived. Later the man was sentenced to three weeks' hard labour.

 

Whilst George Savage held the tenure in July 1970, the name was changed to "First and Last". However, this was not the same "First and Last" that can be found today. Apparently, that one was the "Albion," and changed some time after this one closed. Reasons for the same name, to date unknown.

 

Although a past outlet of Gardner which joined the Whitbread group the pub was sold as a private residence in 1976.

 

From the Dover Express and east Kent News, Friday 9 December, 1938.

At the Dover Licensing Sessions on Friday the Magistrates approved plans for alterations of the "Prince Alfred," East Cliff, were approved.

 

Prince Alfred advert
From an email received 10 November 2021.

Hello,

Between 1952 and 1967 I lived at 54 East Cliff next door to the then "Prince Alfred" which was a Tomson & Wootton/Gardner pub, the first landlord I recall was Len Tull, before Gerry & Millie French took over (they became family friends), then George & Nina Savage took the pub and changed the name to the "First & Last," I still used to visit the pub often as I knew George & Nina's two sons.

I also recall Pop (John) Burwill from Athol Terrace (a previous landlord) as he lived there with his daughter and her husband and I was friendly with their youngest son.

The other side of the "Prince Alfred" was a small shop, then next to that was the "Albion" which was run by George Hill, and where I occasionally helped with the 'bottling up'. My recollection of the pub sign was a picture of the white cliffs (possibly the origin of the name Albion), but it later changed to the ships badge. As I understand it when the old "Prince Alfred" (then the "First & Last") closed the "Albion" changed its name to the "First & Last."

Regards,

Michael Woodland.

 

LICENSEE LIST

YOUNG John 1858-68 end Melville's 1858

CLARK G 1868

YOUNG John 1870-Mar/73 (age 63 in 1871Census)

MUMFORD Thomas Bartlett Mar/1873-Sept/74 Dover ExpressPost Office Directory 1874

PACKHAM George Sept/1874-82+ (age 62 in 1881Census) Dover ExpressPost Office Directory 1882 (Lodging-house keeper from Athol Terrace)

Last pub licensee had LONGLEY John Newman 1891-July/1901 dec'd (age 57 in 1891Census) Pikes 1895Post Office Directory 1903Dover Express

LONGLEY Percival (son of above) July/1901+ (age 29 in 1901Census) Dover Express

Last pub licensee had BOURNER William John Mar/1902-03 Dover ExpressPost Office Directory 1903Kelly's 1903 (Late assistant at the "Rose Inn.")

BOURNER Mrs Christina D 1903-07 Next pub licensee had

BROWN John James 1906-10 end Dover ExpressPikes 1909

Last pub licensee had COLES William Henry 1910-Aug/14 Next pub licensee had (age 38 in 1911Census) Post Office Directory 1913Dover Express

DAVIES William Aug/1914-15 end Dover Express (Native of Wales, recently returned from New York as a carpenter.)

DOWSEY Horace W 1915-Apr/22 Post Office Directory 1922Dover Express

BUTCHER William Henry Apr/1922-24+ Dover ExpressPikes 1924 (Late manager of cycle works, Cheriton)

CASTLE or CASWELL Edward 1928-Feb/29 Next pub licensee had Dover Express

JOHNSON Frank 1929-33 end (Late of Preston, Kent. farmer) Post Office Directory 1930Pikes 1932-33

GRAHAM Truman George 1933-Apr/36 Next pub licensee had Dover Express

BURVILLE John Thomas Apr/1936-Aug/41 end (Dover ExpressPikes 1938-39 BURWILL)Post Office Directory 1938 (Further information)

CLINCH Mr (Secretary to brewers) Aug/1941+ Dover Express

SMITH 1945 end

SMITH Mrs Jane Margaret 1945-47 end

COLEMAN Thomas 1947-53 Pikes 48-49Kelly's Directory 1950Kelly's Directory 1953

PORTER A J Aug/1953 end Dover Express

CULLEY Jack Aug/1953-56+ Kelly's Directory 1956Dover Express

TULL Leonard Godfrey 1961

FRENCH Gerry S & Millie 1964+

1970 Name changed to "First and Last"

SAVAGE Major George H & Nina 1970-76 end Library archives 1974 Gardner & Co

 

The Dover Express recorded that W David/Davies had been employed at New York as a carpenter.

According to the Dover Express, 1936, John Thomas Burwill was from 6, Athol Terrace and a motor boat proprietor.

William Davies was a native of Wales who had just returned from New York.

 

From an email received 1 December 2009.

My great-great granddad was John Thomas Burwill (Born 1890 in Dover) who was listed as the landlord of the Prince Alfred Pub between 1939-1941.

He was as you have stated, a motor boat proprietor owning around 7 boats including piloting for the cross channel swims which he did around the time he was landlord of the pub.

His wife Rose Burwill (nee Whiting) was landlady and John's father was John James Burvill(e) (born 1864 Dover) but later in censuses written as Burwill which is how the name was spelt on my side until it died out with my great-Nan in 1998.

Many thanks,

Terry Cleaver.

 

Melville's 1858From Melville's Directory 1858

Post Office Directory 1874From the Post Office Directory 1874

Post Office Directory 1882From the Post Office Directory 1882

Pikes 1895From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895

Post Office Directory 1903From the Post Office Directory 1901

Post Office Directory 1903From the Post Office Directory 1903

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Pikes 1909From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1909

Post Office Directory 1913From the Post Office Directory 1913

Post Office Directory 1922From the Post Office Directory 1922

Pikes 1924From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924

Post Office Directory 1930From the Post Office Directory 1930

Pikes 1932-33From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33

Post Office Directory 1938From the Post Office Directory 1938

Pikes 1938-39From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1938-39

Pikes 48-49From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1948-49

Kelly's Directory 1950From the Kelly's Directory 1950

Kelly's Directory 1953From the Kelly's Directory 1953

Kelly's Directory 1956From the Kelly's Directory 1956

Library archives 1974Library archives 1974

Dover ExpressFrom the Dover Express

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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