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18 Biggin Street
76 Biggin Street
Dover
Queen's Head date unknown. |
Above photo circa 1965. |
Above shows Queen's Head, date unknown.
Above photo kindly supplied by Jeanette Harper, c/o Jackie Bowles of
the Louise Armstrong showing Queen's Head on right just to the left of the
Salem Baptist Church, pre 1897. |
Above photo date unknown. |
Above photo circa 1969. |
Above photo, 1970. Kindly sent by Kathleen Hollingsbee. |
An effigy of the queen's head, presumably Victoria, adorned the front of
the building together with the date 1873. That was the house which had been
built following the road widening that year. The original had been well
forward of that. Its neighbour from 27 August 1840 had been the Salem
Baptist Church and that possessed a forecourt or front garden. The pub was
said to protrude beyond that line. We know that it was active in 1791 under
the direction of Elizabeth Purflow or Susannah Smith.
I think I have now traced it back even further to 1730, obviously not the
same pub referring to Queen Victoria, but definitely with the same name.
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From the Kentish Post or Canterbury News-Letter, May
16-20, 1730. Kindly sent from Alec Hasenson.
Sale at Dover of Bardoes Rum ….. ‘Enquire of Mr. James Willis at the
"White Lion" in Dover or Mr. Edward Worthington at the
"Queen's Head" in
Dover.'
Bardoes was the name know known as Barbados.
Paul Skelton.
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Even better news, I believe the pub can now be traced back to as
early as 1580. The following reference taken from the Dover Chronicle of
April 24, 1841, and referring to manuscript written by William Borough,
Controller of the Navy, circa 1580, on the state of Dover harbour and
suggesting means for remedying its deficiencies. The start of the
article gives mention to Thomas Dawkes as licensee. Thomas Dawkes,
yeoman, was certainly around in 1558 when it is suggested he built the "Fleur
de Lis," later to be named the "Flying
Horse Tavern" in King Street near to Flying Horse Lane.
(William) Borough frequently visited the town (of Dover) and
occasionally lodged at the Quieen's Head, (kept by Thomas Dawkes)
..........................
From various dates and inferences, this would be between about 1576 to
1580.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 1 May 1810.
A Qualm of Conscience
Mr Richard HARVEY the present landlord of the “Queen's Head” public house
at Dover, formerly drove one of the coaches between that place and
Canterbury during that time he lost out of the same a pair of shoes and
had forgotten the transaction until yesterday morning, when he received
by the post the following letter with a 7 shilling piece under the seal.
"To Mr Richard HARVEY:
Being in company with a man who expressed much sorrow and contrition
having taken a pair of shoes of yours out of the coach you drove from
Dover to Canterbury, while standing in the street, he wishes to make you
satisfaction for the injury he did you at that time.
He has directed me
to send you 7 shilling piece, the price the shoes cost you, then hoping
you will forgive the injury done.
The shoes was taken in the year 1797
or 1798 – the money is under the seal."
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From the Kent Herald, 10 January 1828. Death.bmp"
DEATH.
Jan 1, at Dover, Mr. John Morley, formerly landlord of the "Queen's Head.
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It was the property of Walker's Phoenix Brewery when sold for £700 in
1859.
Three years later it was damaged by fire, details from the Dover Express
shown below.
Redevelopment of the site caused the closure of the second house in
September 1971 but it stood empty until October 1975 before it was taken
down and Boots the chemist erected.
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Dover Telegraph 2 April 1842.
Dover Quarter Sessions: Yesterday these Sessions commenced before
W.H. Bodkin Esq., M.P., the Recorder; Edward Poole Esq., the Mayor;
and a full bench of Magistrates.
James Watson, carpenter, aged 50, was charged with stealing, at
Dover, two saws, the property of Thomas Farley Pettman. Prisoner was
also charged with stealing two saws, the property of Thomas Chaney.
T. Pettman stated that he was working at the new houses on Camden
Crescent, and left his tools in the attic when he left work in the
evening. On the following morning he found his saws gone. He
afterwards found that Henry Bailey, who lodged with him in the same
house, had on the previous evening bought one of his saws of a man
at the "Queen's Head" for 1s. 6d. Henry Bailey stated that he bought
the saw for 1s. 6d.
Mr. Pearson, police constable, of Folkestone, stated that Mr. T.
Chaney and another person came to Folkestone, and from information
he went to the "Three Herrings" (sic) (Note:
"Three Mackerel") public house, where he found a
basket of tools, from which Chaney identified two saws as his
property. The prisoner soon afterwards came in, when he took him
into custody and brought him to Dover.
Guilty – Six months imprisonment and hard labour.
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From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General
Advertiser, Saturday 24 September, 1842. Price 5d.
ACCIDENT
Yesterday morning, about 7 o'clock, a timber-tug passing down Biggin-street,
caught the wheel of a donkey cart, standing outside the "Queen's Head,"
public house. The concussion was so great as to force the donkey, head
foremost, through the tap-room window, to the no small astonishment of
an unfortunate wight (human being) who had selected the window seat as his "sleeping
den," all the beds at this hotel being occupied.
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From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General
Advertiser, Saturday 5 February, 1853. Price 5d.
BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS
MONDAY - Before the Mayor, W. Cocke, W. F. Elsted, J. Coleman, and H.
Elve, Esqrs.
Ann Griggs, widow, described as a prostitute, was placed at the bar
on a charge of felony.
Thomas Bean, labourer, residing in Lady well Lane, deposed - I was
with the prisoner on Saturday evening, at the "Queen's Head." We engaged
a bed there. On Sunday morning, I found, on dressing, that all my money
was gone, and charged Griggs with the theft. She denied taking the
money. I told her if she didn't give it up, I should send for a
policeman. She still persisted in he denial, and at this moment police
constable Terry passed, whom I called, and into whose custody I gave the
prisoner. I cannot say exactly how much was stolen from me, by within a
6d. of 7s. either way. There was one half crown among the money.
Policeman Terry deposed to apprehending Griggs at about seven o'clock,
on Sunday morning. On going to the station, she said she had only a
shilling and a few coppers in her pocket. Prosecutor said there was a
half-crown among the money. Mary Ann Coram, daughter of Superintendent
Coram said she searched the prisoner at the police station, and in one
pocket found 1s. 3¼d., and 3s. 3d. in silver, (tied in the corner of a
handkerchief,) and a half crown in another pocket. Prisoner said, "the
money you found in the first pocket is mine, the other is not." No
defence was made, and the prisoner was committed for trial.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 28
May, 1859.
BEGGING IN A STATE OF DRUNKENNESS
Eliza Rand, a slatternly and ill-clad woman, was brought up, charged
with begging in Castle Street on the preceding day, in a state of
drunkenness.
The policeman who had taken her into custody said he saw her ask
several persons for a halfpenny. The prisoner was a well-known vagrant,
and had been lodging at the "Queen's Head" public house.
The superintendent said that complaints had reached him on the
previous day with respect to the insolent behaviour of the prisoner.
From what was then stated it appeared that she had begged off some
gentlemen at the "Shakespeare Hotel,"
to whom her language was most disgraceful. Her conversation at the
station-house was also very obscene.
The Magistrates sent her to prison for fourteen days, with hard
labour.
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From the Dover Express. September 1862.
On Sunday a fire originated in a carpenter shop at the back of The
Queens Head public house in Biggin Street which for a short time caused
considerable alarm. The proprietor of the Queens Head, Mr Whitney is a
carpenter by trade and had a small shop at the rear of his house
adjoining the Salem Chapel and in close proximity to the timber yard of
Mr Finnis.
The origin of the fire is unknown but it was discovered between seven
and eight o'clock in the morning. A few members of the Salem Chapel
congregation were engaged at the time in early devotional exercise in
the school room attached to the Chapel, which overlooks the scene of the
fire, and to this circumstance may be attributed to the speedy
suppression of the conflagration. On the calamity becoming known the
service was suspended and all those engaged in it that were capable of
giving assistance did their best to extinguish the flames. Meanwhile the
alarm was raised and the volunteer fire brigade with their apparatus was
promptly in attendance under the direction of Mr. Superintendent Coram.
The water mains were charged at the time, as there was therefore a
copious supply of water at a pressure that speedily put flight of all
apprehensions of further damage. Some of the Chapel windows were broken
some gas pipes melted and a staircase leading to the schoolroom was
considerably scorched so that if aid had not been rendered in the most
prompt and effectual manner the consequence to the edifice and the
surrounding property would have been most disastrous. In addition to a
large store of timber there were nearly fifty barrels of tar on the
premises of Mr. Finnis. The carpenter's shop was entirely destroyed
together with a number of valuable tools it contained. The police report
that a man was brought before the magistrates on suspicion of setting
the place on fire, but the Bench considered the evidence produced too
vague to justify his detention and he was therefore set at liberty
again. Mr. R. H. Jones the owner of some adjoining property has
addressed the following letter to the members of the volunteer fire
brigade.
To the volunteer fire brigade Dover.
Gentleman, Your services at the fire on Sunday morning last have placed
me under great obligation to you for which I beg to thank you most
sincerely. I regret my absence prevents me from personally thanking you.
Although your services are voluntary I hope you will permit me to send
you a “check” for £5 as on the other side which can be placed to the
credit of your treasurer towards the necessary expenses attendant on
your service or otherwise disposed of as you may think fit. Again
thanking you for your ascertains believe me.
Your obliged and faithful servant R. H. Jones. September 1862.
Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 10
August, 1866.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY
John Andrews was charged with being drunk, and assaulting a German
musician in the "Queen's Head," Biggin Street. It appears that the
prisoner is a low and desperate character.
Police-constable John Adams said that while on duty his attention was
called to the "Queen's Head." On his approach he found the prisoner very
drunk. He had been striking a German, who was simply passing from his
bedroom out of doors, when the prisoner asked him to | |