From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 25 June, 1872. 1d.

VAGRANCY

A man giving the name of James Watts was brought up for being drunk and sleeping in the coach-house of the "Swan Inn."

P.C. Pettet said: I was on duty this morning about half-past two in Queen Street, in company with Sergeant Spicer. On going by the "Swan Inn" we noticed that the door of the coach-house was open, and we went in to see if anyone was about the premises. We found the prisoner lying asleep on some ruffled straw. After some trouble we succeeded in waking him, and he then told us in reply to our questions that he did not know how he came there. He was drunk, but after a bit he was able to walk to the station-house.

The Supt. said the landlord of the "Swan Inn" did not wish to prosecute.

Prisoner, in reply to Magistrates, said he was a native of Wiltshire, and was tramping round in search of work as a labourer. He had worked in a lead manufactory, but could not stand it. He had worked five days at Sandwich the previous week.

The Magistrates ordered him to be seen out of the town forthwith.

From the East Kent Mercury, 21st October, 1981

POSTING HOUSE

The "Swan Hotel" in Queen Street, Deal was built in 1694 - five years before Deal received its Charter - and was called the "Five Bells." It gave its title to the thoroughfare we know as Queen Street, for it was then called Five Bells Lane.

Within 50 years the hostelry had changed its name to the "Swan" and the first known record of a licensee is a Mr Brockman, who transferred the license to Harry Pockett in 1840.

The "Swan" was famous as a posting house and had stabling for almost 40 horses. At the last great agricultural show held on Victoria Park, over 100 horses were tethered at the "Swan." In 1881 it was virtually destroyed by fire and some valuable horses belonging to the Chipperfield's circus were badly burned.

Among those who stayed at the "Swan is Charles Dickens, who is said to have written some chapters of David Copperfield whilst lodging there.

From the East Kent Mercury, January 7, 1988.

Tony Arnold takes a look back in time.

Street with a busy past.

Queen Street is one of Deal’s busiest streets with traffic lights at both ends, and so it has always been. Centuries ago when the thoroughfare was known as Five Bells Lane, there was a toll gate roughly where the railway bridge stands.

The flow of traffic in Queen Street became so great in the 1930s "as to involve real danger to pedestrians". So in the New Year of 1933 Down Town Council began widening work.

The office of the East Kent Mercury was not disturbed but all property on that side of the road from the EKM office to the High Street was demolished.

When the East Kent Mercury moved into Queen Street it took over a residential property as offices. Its front garden was paved – and so the property did not have to close down.

But among those which were demolished was the office of S. Olds, who, before the coming of the railway, operated horse drawn coaches, and then – moving with the times – introduced taxis to Deal. The business moved into West Street.

Queen Street was once Deal’s premier residential street, dominated by Admiralty House, official home of the Port Admiral. This disappeared to become an Odeon cinema, and on the site today stands a snooker club and a wine bar.

One building which has not changed is the office of Williamson and Barnes, the solicitors, which was used for sittings of local and county courts. It was built as a bank.

Another property which has not changed very much is Neville House, once the residence of Mr G. H. Denne, the builder, and for many years the offices of Deal Town Council and Dover District Council. What will happen to it now remains to be seen.

The oldest building in Queen Street was the Swan Hotel, now, of course, rebuilt and modernised. The Swan was built in 1694 – five years before Deal received its Charter – and was named The Five Bells, giving its name to road which is now Queen Street.

The Swan was the posting house for Deal and had stabling for almost 40 horses. It is a local legend that Charles Dickens stayed at The Swan, and while there penned some of the most moving chapters of David Copperfield.

Article kindly sent to me from Patricia Streater.

From the Deal, Walmer and Sandwich Mercury, 20 April, 1872.

Adverticement

7 acres of Lucern, Mill Road, to be sold by auction at the "Swan Inn."

(Lucern, incidentally, is a flowering plant of the pea family, cultivated as an important forage crop, and otherwise known as Alfalfa, it resembles clover with clusters of small purple flowers. Paul Skelton.)