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12 Military Road
Dover
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In a will dated 1833 Benjamin Argar of Acrise leaves £5 to his
niece Susanna, the wife of Nathaniel Beachett the landlord of the Royal
Mortor Public House at Dover (National Archives ref PROB11/1847/314).
The above information kindly sent by Bob and Ruth Wilcock predates the
earliest time Barry Smith found the pub.
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Dover Mercury 29/July/1999
Final pre-war Pub outing.
CHEERFUL ANTICIPATION: Those on the Royal Mortar pub outing patiently
pose for a photographer.
SIXTY years ago, this group of Dover townsfolk went on an outing
organised by the Royal Mortar public house, little realising it would be
the last one before the outbreak of the Second World War.
The Royal
Mortar stood at 12 Military Road - the Fremlins Ales signs can be seen
on the windows - and it was run by Isaac Legg in 1939 when this picture was
taken.
It was brought to the Mercury office by brothers Frederick and
Harry Crascall, who were both born in Bowling Green Hill. They lived,
with their mother and father and five brothers and sisters, at 34
Military Road, where the flats now stand.
Although they know this photo
was taken before an outing, they don't know where the outing was to.
On
the left of the picture, in his Royal Navy uniform, is their brother
Ernie who has recently died aged 78. He went off to the West Indies soon
after this photo was taken and he later worked as a miner in the Kent
coalfield.
The man with the cap and cigarette next but one to Ernie is
his father Fred Crascall, who was a builder in the town. His wife is the
woman in the centre of the front row with the white hat. Her
name was Emma, but she was known as Nora.
The eldest child in the
family was Albert, who has died, then came Ernie, then Margaret, Harry,
Frederick, Reg and finally Irene.
But who are all the other people in
this picture. Chances are they lived in the area and it is likely that
the little girl in the front may be the only one still alive today.
The
Crown Inn was at 1 Military Road - at the junction with York Street -
and printers Grigg and Son were next door. Other people who lived in the
section of Military Road up to Union Row were Mrs E J Shingleton, Herbert
Gisby, William Cook, Arthur Hunter and Mrs Allen.
In the next block -
between Union Row and Blucher Street - were 'grocer Mrs King, John
Castle, the Royal Mortar, Mrs E E Birch, Henry Cook, Lloyd Skidmore,
Charles Toogood, Mrs Hammond and John Warren.
In the final section,
leading to the St John Ambulance Hall and the Christ Church National
Schools which then stood there, lived D M McRoberts, Mrs Carr, Arthur
Stanley, Mrs E L Garrett, James Bailey, Joseph Nutter, James
Norris and Harry Pluck, with Mrs Edmond and Mrs Cutler in Yew Tree
Cottages.
On the opposite side of the road, from Effingham Passage, were
Mark Owen, William Peal, Percy Bushell, John Sutton, John Stocks,
Frederick Andrews, Charles Abbott, Frank Hearn, Frederick Crascall,
William Cozzi, Alfred Newing, George Dyer, Michael Byrne, Mrs Skinner,
Edmund Bushell, Alexander Caldwell, Miss Atherden, Edward Iggulden, Mrs
Keeler, boot repairer Edward Goodban, Mrs Gilham, Idris Jones, bakers
Dobson and Sons, James Phipps, Arthur Gregory, Mrs Piddlesden, Frederick
Keates, Cyril Cook and William Paddington's dining rooms.
Are any of
those people in this photo? Are you a son, daughter or grandchild of
someone pictured here? If so, contact the email address at the bottom of
this page. (8 Aug 2007).
Mount Pleasant was the name given to part of the area and it is
interesting that that name has been revived recently by present-day
residents of the area getting together and entering a float in the
carnival as the Mount Pleasant Luvvies.
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From the Dover Telegraph Saturday 1 January,.1848 p.8 col.1
Betsy NASH, singlewoman, attired in male apparel, charged with creating a
disturbance at the "Royal Mortar." No one appearing against the
defendant it was stated she had been to a Masquerade in the Eagle
Gardens and appeared before the bench in her dress as "a nice young
man"; was dismissed with a caution not to again appear in such
unsuitable attire!
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 1 July, 1887. Price 1d.
CHARGE AGAINST A SOLDIER
James Lawrence, a private in the East Kent Regiment, was charged with
stealing from the “Royal Mortar” public house, Military Road, a pint of
brandy and a shirt, value in all 7s. 6d., the property of the landlord.
The evidence having been heard, the case was dismissed.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 2 September, 1881. 1d.
WEST CLIFF BREWERY SALE
The “Royal Morter,” Military Road, containing ten bedrooms, bar, tap
room, kitchen, cellars, was bought by Mr. Flint, Canterbury, for £570.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 November, 1882. Price 1d.
THE PUBLICANS AND THE POLICE
John Fenn, landlord of the “Royal Morter” public-house, Military Road,
was summoned for serving a constable on duty with refreshment.
Mr. W. Knocker, Town Clerk, prosecuted on behalf of the Watch Committee
of the Town Council, and Mr. M. Mowll appeared for the defendant.
Police-sergeant Johnson said: On Thursday night at about ten o'clock, I
was on duty near Military Hill, when I saw Police-constable Bass walking
rather quickly along the road. I followed him, and saw him go into the
“Royal Morter” public-house. I went into the bar shortly after, and saw
Bass with a glass of beer in his hand. As I was entering he (the
constable) left by another door, and shut it after him. I said, “You
need not go in there Bass. I have seen you, so come out.” He then came
out, and I saw that he had his helmet off, an had a glass half full of
beer in his hand. The landlord of the house was present at the time.
There was no one else in the bar. I asked the constable, in the presence
of the landlady, what he was doing there, and he replied that he came in
for a glass of beer. He then drank the beer in the glass. I also told
the landlady that she must not serve a policeman while he was on duty,
and she said that she considered it very hard if she could not give a
glass of beer to a friend. I told Bass that I should report the case to
the Superintendent of Police.
By Mr. M. Mowll: The defendant is in work, and his wife manages the
house. I saw no man with the constable.
Mr. M. Mowll said that although he should plead “Guilty” for the
defendant, he proposed to call a witness to prove the exact
circumstances of the case. He might as well at once tell the Bench that
the defendant was in bed asleep when this offence happened, and knew
nothing of it till the following morning. From the instructions he had
received it appeared that at about half-past ten o'clock in the night in
question, a man named Hewitt inquired of Police-constable Bass where he
could obtain lodgings for the night, and the constable had taken him to
the “Royal Morter” public-house, where the man called for a glass of ale
for the constable. He hopes the Bench would deal very leniently with the
defendant, for the case under that particular clause had not been
instituted for several years, and the landlady was entirely ignorant
that she was breaking the law, and the defendant had been summoned,
making him liable for the offence. The defendant had previous to keeping
that house, kept the “Duke of Wellington Inn” for over five years with
not the slightest complaint against the house. He hopes the Bench would
deal leniently with the case, and inflict merely a small fine without
endorsing the licence; otherwise it would be of a serious consequence to
the defendant and his family. He would call the witness Robert Hewitt.
Mr. Knocker said that he could hardly see the necessity of calling
Hewitt, as the Bench were not trying a constable, but the landlord. He
should be satisfied with a small penalty, for the object of the
prosecution was to caution others and give publicity to the matter.
The Chairman said that serving a constable while on his duty was a
serious offence, and the defence of ignorance set up by the attorney for
the defence they were rather astonished at, but they would take that for
what it was worth, and as there had not been a conviction under the
clause for many years, the Bench would give the defendant the benefit of
the doubt, and especially as it was a little in his favour that his wife
might not have known, and they could only fine him 10s. and costs,
without endorsing his licence.
The money was paid.
In reply to the Bench the Town Clerk said that he should report the case
to the Watch Committee.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 7 September, 1883. 1d.
ANNUAL LICENSING DAY
THE ROYAL MORTAR
The Magistrates' Clerk reported that there was a complaint in the book
against the landlord of the “Royal Mortar Inn,” for, in November last,
supplying a constable with liquor while on duty. He was fined.
The landlord was then called, and the Mayor said: It is a very serious
offence to serve a constable while on duty, and might have resulted in
the dismissal of the constable. You will see on your license that you
are expressly prohibited from serving the police while on duty. The
house we understand has been well conducted since, and the license will
therefore be re-issued, but be cautious in the future.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 18 February, 1938. Price 1½d.
MUSIC AND SINGING LICENCE
The licence of the “Royal Mortar,” Military Road was granted a music and
singing licence.
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This could be the house which Flint bought in 1881 for £470. That year it
had ten bedrooms. My searches revealed little I regret. It was taken over by
Fremlin at some time but in world war two had closed by 1942 although the
Dover Express did mention from the Dover Police Court Licensing Transfers
session of 21 August 1942 that they had approved the transfer of license
from "Royal Mortar, Military Rd., Dover (Closed), from Frederick Blay to
Arthur Edward Fullager;" although it is unknown whether he ever pulled a
pint at this establishment. Post war it
must have been possessed by Dover Corporation and it would have been
demolished on their instructions to make room for Council flats. Many old
soldiers will recall the long climb up the North Military Road to the
barracks. Still possible, but from January 1972 it no longer connected with
Worthington Street.
LICENSEE LIST
BEACHETT Nathaniel 1833+
RAND Thomas 1842-47
ARCHER John 1858-64+
 
COVENEY D 1865-Jan/68
BUTLER James Jan/68-74
(aged 58 in 1871 )
FOREMAN Douglas F 1876
KIRBY John 1878
FENN John 1881-82+
BALL William Gwilliam Mar/1888-95
 
(Late Sergt. Major West kent Regt.)
DOBSON William 1895-Jan/97 
LIBBY F J Jan/1895+
HOMEWOOD William 1899-1903+
   
GRIGGS Herbert E 1907-13+
(age 42 in 1911)
 
GRIGGS Mrs Mary Ann 1919-/Oct/23
HARVEY James William Oct/1923-30 end
 
NICHOLS Joseph 1930-32
CLUNN Alfred S 1933-Oct/34
MARJORAM Albert Victor Oct/1934-37
PRYER Albert Leslie 1937-Oct/38
(PRIOR  )
LEGG Isaac Oct/1938-Dec/39
BLAY Frederick Dec/1939-Aug/42 (Closed)
FULLAGER Arthur Edward 21 Aug 1942 (Closed)
According to the Dover Express Isaac Legg was from 95, Whitter Road,
manor Park, East Ham, E 12, late Licensed Victualler and Frederick Blay, was
from 32 Newcroft Close, Hillingdon, Middlesex, boarding-house keeper.
From Bagshaw Directory 1847
From Melville's Directory 1858
From the Post Office Directory 1862
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1889
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895
From the Kelly's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1901
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1909
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33
From the Post Office Directory 1938
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1938-39
From the Dover Express
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