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32 Townwall Street
Photo kindly sent by Patricia Bailey 1 February 2009. Showing her
grandmother and mother circa 1910-20. |
This shared the corner with Wall Passage, (once Lamb's Lane), and did so
prior to 1867. It had previously been the "Effingham Arms" and it follows
the change was sometime after 1862.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent
News, Friday, 2 April, 1869
Thomas Connor, a soldier of the 94th Regiment, charged with
disorderly conduct and using threatening language at the "Sussex Arms"
on the proceeding night, was dismissed with a caution.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent
News, Friday, 20 August, 1869
PUBLIC HOUSE SESSIONS
Mr. George Marley, in the employ of Messrs. Leney & Co., brewers of
Dover, made an application to sell at the "Sussex Arms," Townwall
Street; it appeared that the late landlord Mr. Sims, had made his
departure, and his whereabouts could not be ascertained. The application
was asserted to.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10
December, 1937. Price 1½d.
ALTERATIONS
Messrs. Fremlin, Ltd., applied for approval to alterations to the "Sussex
Arms," Townwall Street.
The Chief Constable said that the alterations made considerable
improvements to the amenities of the house and the living accommodation was
also improved.
The application was granted.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 29 September 1939.
Henry Valentine was fined 10s. in respect of a light showing
from the Masonic Hall on 3rd September, at 11 p.m. - P.C. Butler proved
the case.
Francis Richardson, of the "Sussex Arms," 32, Townwall Street, was
fined 10s. for a similar offence at 9.20 p.m. on 3rd September.
P.C. Robinson said that a strong light showed in the passage way at
the rear of the premises when people went to the convenience. When told
about this defendant said that the light should not have been on and
turned it off.
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A Fremlin outlet, it was an early casualty of world war two. Heavily
damaged on 11 September 1940, when twenty six bombs and shells landed in the
vicinity, its complete destruction was attributed to another bomb on 28
February 1941.
From a book titled "Dover Front" by Riginald Foster, printed 1941:- 9th
Sept. 1940:- "... Driving into Dover we found that considerable damage had
been done in the town; a seamen's hostel, a garage, a cafe, public houses
and other buildings were destroyed or damaged. It was in one of these small
public houses that Mr. Richardson and his wife Grace, daughter Joan and
mother, aged 69 were trapped and killed....."
The dates don't quite line up here for the damage, but two days
difference is close enough for me.
Further research has found the following mention taken from an article in
the Dover Express of 5 August 1949, titled "The Story of Hellfire Corner."
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 5 August, 1949
THREE GENERATIONS KILLED
Three generations of one family perished in the ruins of the “Sussex
Arms” in Townwall Street. They were Mrs. Annie P. Richardson, ages 69;
her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Grace M. L Richardson, aged 42, and her
granddaughter Joan Mary Richardson, aged 17. The licensee, Mr. F.
Richardson, only survived at the Inn, was one of those rescued by Stoker
Lowe, who tunnelled under 15ft of debris regardless of a heavy chimney
breast likely to fall at any moment.
It was amid the ruins of houses in the adjoining Townwall passage that
Stoker Lowe made his other gallant rescue bringing to safety Mrs. L.
Terry. Earlier, in the same house, a 5-month-old baby had been rescued,
its life having been saved by its mother, Mrs. Lena E. Amos, aged 20,
who, though fatally injured by the falling debris, managed to protect
her baby daughter Jean. Also killed I the same house was Doris I. Terry,
aged 15.
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A compulsory purchase order for the former site of the pub was made in
1954 and confirmed in May 1955. A converted value payment of £4,750 was paid
by Dover Corporation for the ground in 1957.
LICENSEE LIST
BINGHAM Henry G 1860's-74+
HARRIS Frederick Wilmott to Jan/1867
LARKIN George Jan/1867+
SIMS Robert 1868-Aug/69
MARLEY George Aug/1869+
BINGHAM George to Jan/1880
HOLMWOOD J T Jan/1880+
(Folkestone licensed victualler)
SAMPSON Henry 1882
BALL Benjamin 1884-85 end
STURGESS Robert 1885-88 ?
KOHLHAMMER John 1891
STURGESS Robert 1899
ADAMS Frederick 1901-09 end
 
MARSH William Henry 1909-Sept/1916 dec'd
(Extra history)
WEBB 1916-19 end
MARSH Mrs E 1919-22
RICHARDSON Francis 1922-40 end
  
From the Post Office Directory 1874
From the Post Office Directory 1882
From the Post Office Directory 1891
From the Kelly's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1901
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1938-39
From the Dover Express
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