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33-34 Snargate Street
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Apart from the way the character of the old town or
Dover was changed by the devastation wrought by bombing and shelling
during the last war, one or the most lamented losses was that of the old
Royal Hippodrome theatre. This popular entertainment spot - the spacious
building extended from Snargate Street through to Northampton Street -
was so badly damaged by enemy action that it had to be demolished after
the war. |
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Victim of war
DOMINANT feature or Northampton Street and Snargate Street for many
years was the Hippodrome theatre which underwent a number or name
changes and, sadly, was destroyed almost by the last shell fired by the
enemy's long range guns during the Second World War.
The late
proprietor, Herbert Armstrong, bravely kept the theatre going right
up until the fateful shell hit the building during a morning rehearsal
in September 18, 1944. The unusual building on the left was occupied by
W. Grognet, who made and repaired all kinds of theatrical, business
and domestic wicker-work baskets and other goods.
The Hippodrome's shell was demolished in 1951. See below Express 19
January 1951.
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Built originally as "The Theatre Royal" in 1790 but at that time opening
in the winter only. As the "Dover Theatre" or "Clarence Saloon" it was
bought by Browning in 1858 who then featured concerts and ballets in the
evenings. The name changed to "Gaiety Theatre" in 1875 and was bought by the
brewers Kingsford and Company that year.
Known as the "Dover Theatre" when it was rebuilt in 1896 but as the
"Dover Tivoli Theatre" when it reopened on 14 June 1897. The manager was
Amand Mascard. The "Princess Alice" which had stood next door was swallowed
by the new edifice, which did incorporate a bar of course, where the
entertainers could be met during the interval. The former bar had been the
"Clarence Tavern" and later, the "Hippodrome Bars" became just as popular.
By 1903, it was the "Theatre Royal," once more, but closed for extensive
alterations in 1906. It next reappeared as the "Royal Hippodrome" reopening
in March 1910. "The Palace and Hippodrome Southern" made its appearance in
the Market Square the same year.
In Snargate Street, the proprietors by 1936 were North Britain Theatres
Limited.
The theatre, including three bars and 35 Snargate Street had been sold on
22 July 1931 when the lease was £160 per annum.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News. Friday 24 June, 1938.
NO TRUTH IN HIPPODROME CLOSURE RUMOURS
There has been a rumour in Dover recently that the Royal Hippodrome
is to close at an early date owing to the proposed Snargate Street
improvement, but this is quite untrue. In answers to enquiries, Mr.
Armstrong, Managing Director of the Hippodrom, says that he has not yet
even been approached as to terminating his lease, which has several
years to run. Naturally, rumours of an early closure are very damaging
to the Hippodrome from a business point of view. Future bookings have
been made, in fact, as far ahead as the Christmas pantomime, which will
be "Cinderella," starting on Boxing Day. Coming closer to the present
moment, next weeks Chapmans' Royal Bengal Circus will be at the
Hippodrome; the following week will see "The Ovaltinies"; and a week
later Dorothy Holbrook's "Hussar Band." A very good booking has been
made for the week beginning July 27th, when Nellie Wallace is to come to
the Hippodrome. These few samples of the attractions to come are one of
the best refutations of the rumour as to closing. The Hippodrome has
improved under Mr. Armstrong's management during the last two years in a
degree not generally realised. There was a time when people went out of
Dover for theatrical shows. To-day conditions are reversed, and visitors
from Folkestone and Deal form part of the regular clientéle
of the Hippodrome.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 13 January 1939.
The last of three pantomimes will be staged next week, when Frank Roy
presents the popular pantomime, "Dick Wittington and his Cat." "Idle
Jack" will be played by the young Yorkshire commedian, Leslie Gunby, and
the "cook" by Al. Almont; "Alice Fitzwarren" by Shirley Winter, and "Fitzwarren"
by Roy Raymond. The principal boy, Margaret Marsh, is an excellent
"Dick Wittington," and Maurice Sanger, the "cat." Matinees will be held
on Wednesday and Saturday, with special prices for children.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 20 November 1942.
POPPY DAY, DOVER'S FINE EFFORT
It was reported that the "Hippodrome" raised the sum of £8 8s. 2d.
for the Poppy Fund of 1942.
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The theatre carried on, 'Windmill' fashion, during world war two but was
forced to close in September 1944 and on the 25th of that month a shell from
France took off the roof and part of one side. Tremendous efforts were made
post war to effect repairs and reopen. "The Hippodrome Bars" dispensing
meanwhile from amongst the rubble. Compulsory purchase was the order of the
day however and the closure there came in August 1950.
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The Royal Hippodrome showing the war damage. By kind
permission of Dover Library. |
Perhaps Fremlin at the finish but for many years an out let of George
Beer and Rigden. Sad to say, in 1990, nothing to compare - if ever that was
possible has materialised.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13
October, 1950.
TRANSFORMING SNARGATE STREET
Demolition work is practically completed of the
property on the seaward side of Snargate Street from the old bethel
Corner as far as the Hippodrome. The contract for he Hippodrome's
removal has been let, and work is expected to begin shortly.
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From the Dover Express, 19 January 1951.
"BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE"
FOR THE LAST TIME.
As workmen were pulling down the main wall of the Hippodrome by means of
the wire hawsers attached to a winch, tons of masonry and brickwork,
which should have fallen inside the remains of the building, collapsed
across Northampton Street early on Monday afternoon.
The first picture, taken only just over an hour before, shows the wall
before its collapse. The wires can be seen coming from the windows and
going over the top of the wall. In the second picture workmen clear away
the rubble, while lorries and cars detour along part of the quayside.
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From the Dover Express, 13 April 1951
Another Hippodrome Memory
Mrs. Vallat, of 118, Framfield Road, Hanwell, W.7., in a Ietter to the
Editor, writes:-
"I see our old friend, the 'Express,' has raised it's price; but, anyway,
it's worth it. There is more news in it than in any London newspaper. I
always look it right through, and know the devastation through bombing
and demolition. One thing I noticed Particularly was the taking down of
the old Clarence Theatre, as it was called when I was young.
"It was on that stage that I first appeared, as one ot the 92nd
Highlander's who relieved Cawnpore in the Indian Mutiny. There were
about 50 little girls dressed in kilts-with guns and all -and we marched
over a high bridge, back-stage, to the tune of 'Blue Bonnets over the
Border' and 'The Campbell's are Coming.' Then we went in to kill the
sepoys-all the bangs made back-stage-and we carried off the dead bodies
(all blacks) and came in again as reinforcements.
"Ah, those were the days. How we all enjoyed two performances nightly.
How sorry I was when it was all over. I think we were paid three or tour
shillings a week. I can't think how I was then. I wonder if anyone I
else remembers those days and the plays-'Uncle Tom's Cabin' and all the
sensational dramas, and the Scotch and Irish comedians.
"I loved the stage, and when they were engaging girls for the pantomime,
I used to go every day to see if there was a vacancy. How disappointed I was, as I wasn't a
dancer then.
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LICENSEE LIST
BROWNING Benjamin 1858-72
WARE George 1877 (Gaiety)
HOLFORD E W 1909-10
POOLE J T or T J 1914-16 end
HOWARD S P 1918
TINDELL H 1923
MCDONALD William 1923-29
RAYMOND H G 1926-33
WINTER Mrs Florence A 1926-28 dec'd
PEACHEY George Wyatt 1928-33
DUNBAR A D 1929
ALLEN R 1930
ARMSTRONG H R 1933 and 1936-45
POWELL H 1934
LOVERIDGE Thomas (Fred) Langdon 1934-Jan/36
MARTIN Wilfred (Sec. Messrs. George beer & Rigden) Jan/1936
ARMSTRONG H R 1936-45
PHILLIPS Hebden 1948
ARMSTRONG Mrs Annie Rosina Aug/1948 
RUFF Ernest Frederick Aug/1948 (Secretary of Messrs. George Beer and
Rigden, the management to be placed in the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Francis)
FRANCIS Horace Aug/1948-50
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From an email received 4 April 2010.
I am unsure if the bits of information I am sending are of any
significance, but having found this website, I am keen to share the few
family stories I have which relate to the pubs mentioned in and around
the Dover area.
My knowledge of the Hippodrome relates to Mr and Mrs Armstrong, both of
whom it appears ran the Hippodrome at some time during the the years
leading up to and after the Second World War. Although my Dover family
were evacuated to Wales during the war and didn't ever return to Dover
to live, my parents used to take my brother and I down to Dover from
Birmingham to visit remaining family members there in the 1950s and 60s.
One of my great uncles lived in the basement at 9 Cambridge Terrace
(most recently offices for the Dover Harbour Board). His friend used to
be a cobbler and could be seen in the window (looking down over the
railings) mending shoes...we used to be fascinated watching him with a
mouthful of tacks which he spat out accurately as he nailed down the
soles of the shoes he was repairing. The rear of the property stands
behind the gates alongside the car park leading to De Bradlei
Wharf.....but I digress!
Mrs Armstrong, who by then was widowed, was their landlady at 9
Cambridge Terrace in the 1950s and although to me as a youngster in
those days she was a person who was spoken about but never seen, in
later years, as a result of circumstances, my husband and I got to meet
this once, very grand, old lady. By the early 1970s she was living in a
room (possibly rooms) in one of the old Hotels in Folkestone with all
her possessions in a few battered old trunks. One day we were taken to
visit her. She was a wonderful old lady, probably in her 90s, full of
tales of a very exciting, rich and varied life. I only wish I had
listened more attentively. It seems that her husband had worked for BP
Oil in it's early days and as a result he travelled quite extensively.
It seems that she too, on occasions, travelled with him and she proudly
told us of her exploits to the Middle East. She was apparently the first
white woman to travel to Persia in 1921. She relayed tales of living in
a tented camp, where she was escorted everywhere. There were just a few
yards of asphalted track-ways around the camp and she was not allowed to
go anywhere at all after dark. Somewhere or other, in I think it was in
an early Sunday Times magazine, there is a photograph of Mrs Armstrong
with T E Lawrence - Lawrence of Arabia - when she was out in Persia. She
told of the occasions when she met him. Amongst her possessions in her
few old battered trunks were the most incredible collections of things
she had bought back from her travels - given that they may have been
living in the Hippodrome when it was bombed, it was amazing that they
survived. The one thing that stands out in my memory was a pair of the
most delicate tall slender vessels in a fine blue glass. She said they
had come from the Wailing Wall and were called Tear Vases. It was
apparently into these that the Wailing Women of Babylon collected their
tears.
We heard that when she died a couple of years afterwards in her mid to
late 90s. Her possessions were taken to London to be auctioned at one of
the big Auction Houses. When these vases, which were expected to get a
high price because they were a pair, were being unwrapped for display,
one of them was dropped and smashed beyond recognition! Thank goodness I
didn't drop them when I was allowed to hold and study them!
The link with her continued with through a rather strange connection
we had as a family to the older 'Gay' community in Dover in the 1960s
and 70s.... my great uncle - a lovely kind gentle man, lived with his
gentleman companion (the cobbler) in Cambridge Terrace. My grandmother
received a letter from him in the mid 1960s asking her to go down to
Dover to help his friend nurse him, as he was dying of cancer. She
naturally ran to her brother's side and attended to him in his final
weeks. After that 'the Boys' as she always called his group of close
friends, rallied round in gratitude and she almost became one of their
own. As she was widowed and living alone she got taken on holidays with
them and spent weeks on end staying in Dover and visiting their friends
and haunts (the "White Horse" at the
bottom of Castle Hill being their local as they lived in Victoria Park).
Mrs. Armstrong was often spoken of and seemed to be part and parcel of
this group (several of whom had interests in antiques and objects of
interest!) When my husband and I got married we too were welcomed down
to stay with them in Victoria Park, on a couple of occasions taking my
nan with us. It was during one of these visits that we finally met Mrs.
Armstrong. You can read what you like into all of this, but a nicer,
kinder group of people you couldn't have wished to meet... my husband
and I were alarmed to say the least to discover the living arrangements
(young, naive couple that we were!) and my nan, bless her, to her dying
day did not know that they were all 'Nancy Boys' as she'd have called
them!
So, how or why she and her husband would have come from such an exotic
life to returning to Dover to run the Hippodrome, seems to be quite a
change of circumstances and fortune. As far as I know, they had no
children, but I believe their were a couple of nieces who may well have
benefited from the sale of her wonderful treasures in the 1970s.
Margaret Francis.
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From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1948-49
From the Dover Express
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