From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 14 May, 1880. Price 1d.

ACCIDENT

On Thursday morning, about 11 o’clock, a Swiss in the employ of Mr. Oldfield, of the “Royal Hotel,” named Fritz Seagermass, fell a distance of 15 feet, while in the act of cleaning the windows, receiving a severe scalp wound. Mr. Powell and another porter of the “Lord Warden Hotel”, who were passing at the time, rendered their assistance until the arrival of Dr. Marshall, and a stretcher having been sent from the Dover Sailor’s Home by the Rev. B. Pearce, he was conveyed to the Dover Hospital, where he now lies in a dangerous condition.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 21 May, 1880. Price 1d.

FATALITY AT THE PIER

An inquest was held on the body of Christian Frederick Segessemann, porter, who came by his death through falling out of a window. The Jury sat at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, before the Borough Coroner (W. H. Payne, Esq.) Mr. John Roe Adams was chosen foreman, and the following evidence taken:-

William Oldfield, landlord of the “Royal Hotel,” said the deceased, Christian Frederick Segessemann, had been with his as porter about 14 days. He was engaged from the German Waiter Society, Clipstone Street, London, with first-class characters. His age was 36 years, and a native of Bern, Switzerland. On Thursday the porter was ordered to clean the windows of the house. About a quarter-past eleven the deceased was brought into the front door insensible, having been picked up on the pavement outside. Witness immediately went for a doctor, and Mr. Marshall, who was near the house, came in at once. The doctor inspected him and directed him to be taken to the Hospital on a stretcher, which was sent for. Witness followed and went to the Hospital several times to see the deceased who was each time unconscious.

Sophie Oldfield, wife of the previous witness, gave similar evidence, and said it was the deceased’s duty to clean the windows that day, and she saw him about three minutes before he was brought in the front door. He was quite sober.

Thomas Rickards, porter at the “Lord Warden Hotel,” said last Thursday between ten and a quarter-past eleven he was passing the “Royal Hotel” with a friend, when the deceased fell down on the pavement close to his feet. It was so sudden that witness didn’t even notice from which window he fell. They picked him up and carried him into the “Royal Hotel” insensible. He left the deceased there in charge of Mr. Oldfield, to go on with his duties. The deceased fell on his left side.
John Marshall, physician and surgeon, residing at 13, Liverpool Street, Dover, said on Thursday morning last about 20 minutes past eleven he was in the lower end of Strond Street when he was informed that a man had fallen from a window at the “Royal Hotel.” Witness went there immediately and found the deceased lying on his back within the entrance of the hotel, and upon examining him he found that he was quite unconscious, and at once advised his removal to the Dover Hospital. Some one offered to obtain a stretcher from the Sailors’ Home and arrived shortly with it. Witness had the deceased very carefully placed on it, and covered with a blanket and conveyed to the Hospital by four men who volunteered their assistance. Witness followed and arrived shortly after the deceased’s admission, and found he was still unconscious . The doctor gave instructions as to his treatment and had him put to bed, and then left him under the care of Mr. Wood, the House Surgeon. Witness visited the deceased frequently since, but there was no improvement in his symptoms till the time of his death, which occurred on Wednesday morning about half-past one. The deceased was never conscious from the time of the accident until he died. His right hand was slightly injured and his head was much swollen. Wednesday afternoon a post-mortem examination was made in the presence of witness by Mr. Wood, and it was found that the skull was fractured, but that the bone was not driven in or depressed, and they also found a large quantity of blood between the skull and scalp, also a large clot of blood within the skull pressing upon the brain. The result of the examination proved that his death was the natural consequence of the injuries caused by the fall.
Mr. Oldfield, recalled by the Jury, said it was on the first floor, and no windows were cleaned; it was supposed he fell in getting out. There was a flower ledge, in width about 20 inches, and a fence one foot high just outside the window.
The jury returned a verdict that the deceased came by his death by accidentally falling from a window at the “Royal Hotel.”

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 25 August, 1950.

REMOVING UNSAFE BUILDINGS

Work has been proceeding this week on the demolition of unsafe war-damaged properties in the Pier district. The photograph shows demolition in progress at the Royal Hotel flats in Clarence Place, and the left, and the first premises in Council House Street.