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Wellington Bridge
Union Street (Snargate over the Sluice)
 
Snargate Street
Dover
The original was present in 1792 but a new house was being constructed in
1845.
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Kentish Gazette, 22 April, 1806.
DIED.
April 16, at Dover, Mr. Argar, of the "Three Kings,"
public-house.
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Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 22 April 1806.
DIED.
April 16, at Dover, Mr. Argar, of the "Three Kings" public-house.
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Kentish Gazette, 23 July 1844.
THE FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT AT DOVER.
INQUEST ON THE BODIES. DOVER, July 17.
This morning, about eleven o’clock, the body of Mr. Henry Rawlings,
woollen-draper, of Basinghall-street London, aged 22, who was drowned on
Monday, was picked up in the bay, and an inquest before the borough
coroner, on the bodies of that unfortunate gentleman and Sophia Bennett,
one of the young ladies (picked up yesterday, as narrated in the Kentish
Gazelle of Tuesday last), who also perished by the upsetting of the boat
on the name occasion, commenced at the "Three Kings," Union-street, at
one o'clock.
Philip Fox, the boatman, who had charge of the boat on the occasion of
the accident, deposed that on Monday afternoon, Henry Rawlings,
accompanied by a lady and two little girls, came to him while he was on
the beach, and hired the boat for a sail. Witness, accompanied by
Newsome, went off in the boat Tiny, with the parties. At first, they had
the full mainsail up, which they afterwards reeled, and the foresail was
hoisted after they got out a little distance. When they had been off
about a quarter of an hour, the boat being on the starboard tack, they
ran her before the wind a few minutes and he was about to jib her, but
while attempting to do so, a sudden puff of wind catching the sail, she
jibbed before he was aware of it. The main sheet being either foul or
fast (he could not say which) at the time, the boat overset and filled
directly. Witness was steering at the time, and Newsome was forward
attending to the sails. When I was about to jib the sail, I told Mr.
Rawlings to shift to the other side of the boat, and while attempting to
do so he staggered from the lurching of the boat, and catching hold of
the tiller in order to save himself from falling, dragged it towards
him, which immediately overset the boat. It is the custom for some
seamen when about to jib a boat in a strong breeze to brail the
mainsail, which is the safest plan. The wind blew a fresh breeze from
the westward at the time of the accident, and witness intended to brail
the mainsail, but the boat jibbed too suddenly for him. He did not think
she would have jibbed so suddenly had not the gentleman caught hold of
the tiller in the manner above described. When the boat upset, she
immediately filled and sank, and they were all thrown into the sea.
Newsome and he (witness) swam for some time, as did also the gentleman,
and the lady floated above water on her back, but the two children went
down. He had not been in the water above a quarter of an hour when the
boat of a fishing smack was lowered, which, after picking up the lady,
picked up him and Newsome also. The gentleman had sunk just previous to
the lady's being picked up. Witness was here shown the two bodies which
have been found, and identified them as those of Mr. Rawlings and one of
the little girls who had accompanied him in the boat. The boat in
question was sixteen or seventeen feet in length, and was not a good
boat for a gale of wind. She carried rather too large a sail for her
size in his opinion. He had been accustomed to boats, but Newsome had
not been bred to the sea. If the sheet had not been fast at the time of
the accident he believed the boat would not have capsized. Both he and
Newsome were sober when managing the boat.
The inquest was adjourned at three o'clock for the evidence of the other
boatman Newsome, who was absent from the neighbourhood.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 23 July 1844.
THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT DOVER.
CONCLUSION OF THE INQUEST.
July 18:— This evening, at eight o'clock, the inquiry respecting the
deaths of Henry Rawlings and Sophia Bennett was resumed, when the
evidence of Thomas Newsome, the other boatman, who was in the Tiny,
along with Fox, at the time the sad catastrophe happened, and that of
James Stockbridge, one of the crew of the fishing-smack Forget-me-not,
who picked up the survivors, was taken. The evidence of Newsome went to
show that Fox, who had the management of the boat, did not tell him
(Newsome) he was going to jib the boat, or to brail the mainsail, or to
let go the sheet; and that the Tiny was a safe boat, and not
over-rigged. Stockbridge’s testimony went to the same effect as to the
character of the boat. He was clear on the point that either the
mainsail ought to have been brailed up or the main-sheet ready to cast
off before the boat was jibbed. The mainsail was not brailed when he saw
the boat under water; and if the accident happened through the sheet
being made fast, he would say the accident resulted from mismanagement.
The jury, after deliberating about an hour, returned (about 11 o’clock)
the following verdict:— “The deceased, Henry Rawlins and Sophia Bennett,
were drowned in the waters of the sea by the upsetting of a boat, caused
by the mismanagement of Philip Fox and Thomas Newsome, navigating the
same.”
The coroner here said he had doubts as to whether this verdict did not
amount to manslaughter, and would adjourn the inquest till to-morrow
(this day), in order to allow him to prepare captions for the signatures
of the jury. He would at the same time consider the verdict; and in the
event of his deeming it sufficient to warrant him in committing the
boatmen for trial, he should bind over the witnesses to appear at the
assizes.
An adjournment was accordingly made till four o’clock this afternoon,
when the witnesses were in attendance for that purpose. The caption
being read, several of the jury refused to sign it, saying they did not
intend to return a verdict of manslaughter. The coroner replied, that he
could not know the intentions of the jury. He was bound to receive the
verdict as given in writing, which he had not now the power to alter. He
alone was answerable for the construction he had put on the verdict, but
although he had no doubt on the subject, he had no objection to submit
the verdict, or caption, for the opinion of counsel, which, after some
considerable discussion, was agreed to, and the inquest was adjourned
till Tuesday next at two o’clock.
The remains of Mr. Rawlings were interred on Friday morning in the
General Baptist burial ground in Dover; and those of Miss Bennett were
conveyed to London on Thursday,
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From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General
Advertiser, Saturday 8 March, 1845. Price 5d.
CORONERS INQUEST
A Coroner's inquest was held at the "Three Kings," on Tuesday, before
G. T. Thomson, Esq., Coroner for the Borough, upon the body of a
newly-born male infant, which was picked up, on Sunday, floating out of
the Harbour.
The jury being sworn, proceeded to the Royal Humane Society's
Receiving-house, to view the body, and on their return, the following
evidence was adduced:-
Kennett Hall, watch-maker, deposed - On Sunday afternoon about
half-past 4 o'clock, while walking on the North Pier, my attention was
called by my children to what they called a dead monkey floating out of
the Harbour. On looking at the object, I thought it to be a child, and
hailed a boat which was coming towards the Harbour, and the crew picked
up the body. When I first saw the body, it was floating out of the
Harbour near the end of the North Pier. The body was quite naked.
Richard Dowell, a lad about 12 years of age, son of Mr. Dowell,
bricklayer, deposed - On Sunday afternoon, on the North Pier, I saw
something in the water, which I thought to be a dead monkey floating in
the Harbour. I went down the ladder, near the red lights, and turned it
over with my foot, when I found it to be the body of a child, and I told
some gentlemen on the Pier.
Edward George Rutley, surgeon, deposed - On Sunday evening, I was
called to see the body of a child lying at the Humane Society's
Receiving House, but being dark, I did not examine it closely till the
following morning, when I made a post mortem examination, and from
appearance, it was evidently the body of a newly born infant, which must
have bee in the water some weeks. The funis was divided close to the
abdomen, which circumstance alone, supposing the child to have breathed,
must have very shortly terminated its existence; and from that
circumstance, no medical man could have been present at the birth. The
child was of full growth; but, from the decomposed state of the body and
other causes, I cannot give any satisfactory opinion whether the child
was born alive. The lungs, which were of a dark colour, shewing little
or no appearance of blood, did float, but that might have been caused
from being so long in the water. The blood having escaped through the
umbilical cord, I could not decide from the state of that fluid.
A boatman named Kemp was next called; and, in reply to a question
from the coroner, he explained that the body might have been washed into
the harbour on the rising of the tide.
The Coroner, in addressing the jury, observed, that from the evidence
of Mr. Rutley, it was impossible to say whether the clild had been born
alive; and if so, from its decomposed state, they could not identify it,
even if there was any suspicion attached to any one as being the mother.
The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict, "That the
body was found floating on the water."
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From the Kentish Gazette, 18 November 1845.
The purchase of the "York Hotel," the "Three Kings," and the "Liberty"
public-houses, for the improvement and enlargement of the harbour, was
agreed upon.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 16 December 1845.
DEATH.
Epps:— Dec. 11, at Dover, Mrs. Epps, wife of Mr. Epps, of the "Three
Kings" public house, aged 46.
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Dover Chronicles 7 March 1846.
Dover Petty Sessions. Monday.
This being the transfer day for ale house licences, the following
transfers took place.
The "Three Kings," public house, having been pulled down for the
harbour improvements, a new licence was granted to a newly built
house, nearly opposite to the "Union Hotel." The sign to be as
heretofore, and the same landlord.
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From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday, 7 March, 1846. Price 5d.
DOVER POLICE REPORT
The following public-house licences were transferred this day:- The
“Three Kings,” Leonard Epps, to a new house in Union Street, the old one
having been pulled down for the new harbour improvements.
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The address was sometimes Wellington Bridge and the thoroughfare as
above. Epps moved from the old to the new in 1846 and the licence from the
old pub was transferred to the "Good Intent,"
Queen Street. Its neighbour was the
"Royal Arms" and its lease was for eighty
years. It changed hands in 1859 after Thomas Walker sold off the Phoenix brewery
to Leney's.
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From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General
Advertiser, Saturday 6 July, 1850. Price 5d.
CORONER'S INQUEST
On Saturday evening at eight o'clock, an inquest was held at the
"Three Kings," Union Street, before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner for
the Borough, on the body of Richard Wilden, aged 51 years, porter in the
employ of Messrs. Killick and Back, drapers, Market Place, whose body
was picked up in the harbour near the Wellington Bridge, about half-past
6 six o'clock that morning. The Jury (having appointed Mr. W. T. C.
Atkins as their foreman) were then sworn, and proceeded to view the
body, after which the following witnesses were examined:-
Robert Reynolds, a commissioned officer in the customs deposed - Last
night, between half-past 11 and ten minutes past 12 o'clock, while on
duty in the quays, I saw a man, whom, having seen the body of the
subject of this enquiry, I believe to have been the same, three or four
times. The first time I saw him, he was sitting under the clock house,
and had two women with him, who, I thought, from their appearance, were
respectable parties. The next time he was on the new quay, apparently on
his way towards Wellington Bridge, in company of the same women. The
last time, he was on Wellington Bridge; the shortest woman was ten by
his side, and the other a short distance behind. He called out to the
one behind, saying, "Come along; make haste." I saw no more of him
during the night, the whole of which I continued on duty. I heard no
noise of any person falling into the water.
William Hocking, a stoker on board H.M.P. Onyx, deposed - This
morning, between half-past 6 and 7 o'clock, as I and Richard Gill,
another stoker, were going along the quay leading from the clock-house
to the Wellington bridge, I noticed in the other harbour, near the new
steps, an object in the water, which I took to be a dog, but on looking
more closely I saw it was a man. There was then about 4 or 5 feet of
water over the mud. I procured a boat, and with Gill, went to the body,
which I floated alongside the boat to the steps. Some men, who were
there then gathered on the steps, took it and conveyed it to the shed
opposite the bridge. The body was dressed in a sleeve waistcoat, a pair
of dark moleskin trousers, half-boots, one blue stocking and one white
one. The clothes were not disarranged, further than his waistcoat was
unbuttoned, which might have resulted from my taking hold of it to raise
the body. There was no hat or cap on the body. It lay about twelve feet
from the edge of the quay.
Mrs. Mary Collard, wife of Henry Collard, shoemaker, deposed - I live
in the Almshouses. I have seen the body, it is that of Richard Wilden,
who was a porter in the employ of Messrs. Killick and Back,
linen-drapers. His age was 51. He always had his meals at my house, but
occupied lodgings in Adrian Street. I last saw him alive at about
half-past 11 o'clock last night; he was then at my house, and appeared
very much depressed in mind. I asked him what was the matter, and he
replied that he should have his discharge on Saturday night, and he
could not bear going to the Union. I remonstrated with him, but it did
not seem to raise his spirits. When I left my house to go to his
lodgings, I accompanied him, and saw him go in, and bade him good night.
His manner has been very different for about five weeks past, and he has
several times stated to me that he should be discharged. Deceased was a
very steady man.
Elizabeth Forth, residing in Adrian Street, deposed - The deceased
lodged at my house. About half-past 8 o'clock last night, he came there
and stopped about 2 minutes. I observed that he looked very strange, and
on this account went to Mrs. Collard's, and told her that I wished her
to speak to him. He did not return to my house till until half-past 11,
when Mrs. Collard came home with him. Again observing that he looked
very strange, I remarked it to him. He then went out to get some beer,
taking a small mug with him. After being absent a few minutes, he
returned, and said the house (meaning the "Odd
Fellow's Arms") was shut up, and that he should go to the
Wellington. After this he did not return. He has never said to me that
he would destroy himself. his trouble seemed to arise from a fear that
he would be discharged, and have to go to the Union.
Mr. Back, one of the deceased's employers, who was present, said that
deceased had been unwell for some time past, and had been under the
advice of the medical gentlemen at the dispensary. Since the deceased
indisposition, he (Mr. Back) had employed another porter, in order to
lighten the deceased's duties, which were rather heavy. He had no idea
of discharging Wilden, but, on the contrary, had promised to keep the
other porter as well as him, until he might obtain as easier situation.
Police-constable Bayley, who searched the body of deceased, found £7
11s. 3½d. in the pockets.
The Coroner summed up, in the course of which he minutely detailed
the evidence. He thought that after hearing the evidence of Collard and
Forth, the Jury would put the evidence of Reynolds out of the question,
looking at the unsatisfactory manner in which he gave it, and the time
at which he states he saw deceased, compared with the time deceased left
his house. He (the Coroner) thought it most probably that Reynolds must
have been mistaken in the party.
Verdict - Found drowned.
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Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Saturday 16 July 1859.
To let by tender.
The following public houses situate in and near Dover, Eastry, and
Folkestone, viz:-
1. The "Bull Inn," Eastry.
2. The "Halfway House" and land, on the Dover and Canterbury Road.
3. The "Chequers," at Folkestone.
4. The "Chequers" and land, at West Hougham.
5. The "Red Lion," at Charlton.
6. The "Fox," in St James's Street.
7. The "Ordnance Arms," in Queen Street.
8. The "Cause is Altered," in Queen Street.
9. The "True Briton," on Commercial Quay.
10. The "Three Kings," in Union Street.
11. The "Fleur-de-Lis," in Council House Street.
12. The "Cinque Port Arms," in Clarence Place.
13. The "Red Lion" in St James's Street.
14. The "Dolphin," in Dolphin Lane.
The above houses are to be let as free houses, in consequence of the
proprietors of the Dolphin Lane Brewery discontinuing that business.
The holdings of the present Tenants expire under notice to quit, as follows,
viz:- No. 2, on the 6th January next, No. 3, on the 6th July, 1860, No. 10,
at Lady Day next, No. 13, on the 23rd October next, No. 14, on the 6th April
next, and reminder on the 11th October next.
Tenders must be sent into the offices of Mr. Edward Knocker, Castle Hill,
Dover, on or before the 20th day of July next, marked on the cover "Tender."
Particular and Terms of hiring, with the forms of Tender, to be obtained on
application to Mr. knocker, or Mr. Thomas Robinson, Estate Agent, Bench
Street, Dover.
Tenders may be given for the whole together or separately. The Tenders will
be accepted subject to the houses being sold on or before the 20th day of
September next, and the proprietors do not bind themselves to accept the
lowest or any tender.
N.B. The proprietors are open to treat for letting the Brewery, Malthouse,
and Premises, in Dolphin Lane.
Edward Knocker. Castle Hill, Dover, June, 1859.
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South Eastern Gazette, 13 November, 1860.
Death by Drowning.
An inquest was hold on Saturday week, before W. H. Payn, Esq., the
borough coroner, at the "Three Kings" public-house, Union-street, on
the body of John Day, a stonemason, aged 24 years, which had been
picked up on the same morning on shore opposite the Esplanade. Day
had been at work on the previous day upon the Western Heights, and
returned home in the evening at his usual time; but was observed by
his wife to be exceedingly irritable without any known cause, except
that he was subject to epileptic fits, and was frequently so when
unwell. Suddenly he jumped up to go, as he stated, to his father's,
and his wife went after him there, but he had not arrived, and was
not again seen till found on the shoes next morning by some
fishermen.
The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned."
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From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 26
November, 1864.
INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE
William Iverson, landlord of the "Three Kings Inn," Union Street, was
charged with infringing his license, and charged 10s. and costs.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 1 August 1865.
Coroner’s Inquest.
Yesterday afternoon the Borough Coroner, W. H. Payn, Esq., held
an inquest at the "Three Kings Inn," Union-street, upon the body of
James Clargis, a private in the Royal Engineers, who met his death
by falling in the harbour early on Sunday morning. It appeared that
the deceased was seen early on Sunday morning by a police-constable
in Snargate-street. The policeman observed that the deceased was
drunk, but he was quiet, and the officer did not therefore interfere
with him. Shortly afterwards he heard cries of "Help" proceeding
from Northampton Street and on running down an opening to the spot
whence the cries proceeded, he found the deceased struggling in the
water. The constable did what he could to render assistance and as
soon as the body was recovered it was taken to the Sailors’ Home,
but life was then found to have been for some time extinct. The jury
returned a verdict of "Accidentally drowned."
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From the Kentish Gazette, 29 August 1865.
Sudden Death.
An inquest was held on Saturday last, at the "Three Kings Inn,"
Union Street, by the Borough Coroner, W. H. Payn, Esq., on the body
of a mariner, named Howard, described as a London pilot, who died
suddenly on the previous Thursday, while discharging his duty on
hoard an Italian vessel called the Clotilde, in which he had
shipped. The vessel was in the channel when the casualty occurred,
and her captain at once made for Dover, where the body of the
deceased was landed. Mr. Tomlin was chosen foreman of the jury, who
then proceeded to the dead-house, to view the body. On their return
the following evidence was adduced:-
James Johnson:- I am a police-constable of this borough.
Yesterday afternoon I received information that a dead body would be
brought on shore from a vessel in the bay. I directed its removal to
the dead-house. I afterwards searched the body, and found on it half
a sovereign and 4s. 6d. in silver, besides a knife, pencil, and
pocket-comb. The papers of deceased were taken by the captain to the
consul. I noticed no marks of violence on the body.
Mariano Cafiero said:- I am master of the Neapolitan brigantine
Clotilde. I knew the deceased, D. Howard, who shipped on board my
vessel in London about four weeks ago, as a pilot, for Sunderland.
We proceeded to that port, and sailed thence for Naples seven days
since, the deceased remaining on board. At Sunderland the deceased
asked for money to enable him to procure medicine, as he complained
of being ill. I gave him a sovereign. On Thursday last the vessel
was off Orfordness, and the deceased took his meals with me, the
mate, and my father, as usual. After he had taken his tea he sat
down on the sofa, and I noticed that he laboured for breath, and he
ultimately went on deck, saying he could not stay below. He next sat
down on a sofa on the deck, and in a few minutes he fell on to the
deck and died. We proceeded up the channel with the vessel, and on
arriving off here I gave information to the Consul and brought the
body on shore.
Dr. Sutton said he was a surgeon residing and practising in
Dover. He had examined the body of the deceased and believed he had
died from heart disease.
Verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 12 December 1865.
Man Drowned in the Harbour.
Between nine and ten last Thursday night a sailor named Robert
Smith accidentally fell into the harbour near the Palmerston Bridge.
Some delay ensued in the recovery of the body; but on its being got
out of the water, it was taken to the " | |