DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Walmer, September, 2021.

Page Updated:- Monday, 27 September, 2021.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1857-

Wellesley Arms

Latest 30 Dec 1911

44 (3) Dover Road / Walmer Castle Road

Lower Walmer

Deal

Wellesley House, Walmer

Above picture shows Wellesley House, shown January 2000.

 

This isn't the same building, but has the connection of being called Wellesley House. The local paper dated 12 January 1929 stated:- Wellesley House, Castle Road, Walmer (which is just off the Dover Road); is now open as an up-to-date nursing home.

I have also found reference to the Duke of Wellington, Lord Warden to the Cinque Ports, Sir Arthur Wellesley, who prior to 1808 had lived at the top of Walmer Castle Road in the house which today bears his name - Wellesley House.

 

The pub was obviously named after Arthur Wellesley who was the Duke of Wellington and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

In 1857 the licensee Richard Rogers was fined £2 for keeping his house open during improper hours.

In 1863 a mariner, William Moss assaulted a soldier, John Ward at the pub and was fined 10s. and 17s costs or 14 days hard labour. he paid the fine.

When John Ferris took over the pub in 1867 and he was noted as being one of the "Nobel 600" who had taken part in the Charge of the Light brigade on 25 October 1854.

In 1911 a Magistrates' report stated the pub was mainly used by Royal Marines, the landlord had a wife and six children and the pub had been recommended for closure five times since 1901. It was at the time the only pub owned by the George Beer Brewery and they had spent £385 on it. The report recommended the tap room should be "matchboarded" but it finally closed on 30 December 1911.

It later became W. H. Wyborn's Garage and Cycle shop.

 

The book titled "The Old Pubs of deal and Walmer" states that in the 1861 census there were three pubs together, those being "Bricklayers Arms," the "Cambridge Arms" and the "Wellesley Arms."

Just had confirmation that "Wellesley House is left of centre with the gabled roof and red cars in front.

"The house stands at the top of Walmer Castle Road, near to the Dover Road, some distance from Walmer Castle, which is at the bottom of the hill by the sea."

 

From the Kentish Chronicle 10, December 1859.

County and Cinque Ports Magistrates' Office, Dec. 5.—(Before T. S. Clarke, Esq., R. Davey, Esq., Geo. Hughes, Esq., George Hammond, Esq., and E. C. H. Wilkie, Esq.)

John Hayes, a private in the first Battalion of the 2nd regiment, was charged with entering the premises of Gregory Jowett, the "Wellesley Arms," at Walmer, on Sunday evening, and stealing therefrom cash to the amount of from £4 to £5.

Gregory Jowett, on being sworn, said:— I am landlord of the "Wellesley Arms." Last night about a quarter past eight o'clock I saw the prisoner, John Hayes, coming down the stairs of my house. I asked him where he had been, and he replied "up to the sitting room, to see if any of his comrades were there." About twenty minutes afterwards I went up-stairs, and found the bed room door (which is close to that of the sitting room) had been forced open and the lock bent. On entering the room I found the chest of drawers bad been ransacked. The drawers were all previously locked. Every lock was broken. I found seven keys; three of them were in the locks, but they did not fit, neither did any of them belong to me. These are the same keys now produced. I am in the habit of keeping my coppers in a bag marked "R. Rogers," in the drawer which contained at the time it was stolen about fifteen shillings in copper monies and which I missed on looking into the draws. The bag now produced is the one I lost. I also missed £3 15s. viz., one sovereign, and the rest in small silver money, which was in a basin. I saw the basin lying on the table empty when I entered the room, which first aroused my suspicion that I had been robbed. I saw the money safe about a quarter before five on the same afternoon, having opened the drawer for that purpose. I here had been but one person up-stairs since five o’clock, and I went up and came down with him. The prisoner came to my house twice yesterday, about seven o’clock dressed as a soldier, and on the second occasion dressed as an officer’s servant, in which latter dress he was when I saw him come down stairs. On discovering my loss I immediately gave information thereof at the barracks.

Patrick McCaulley then deposed as follows:- I am colour-sergeant in the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment at Walmer Barracks. The prisoner is a private in the same battalion. From the description I received of him from the sergeant of the guard, and of a robbery having been committed at the "Wellesley Arms," I went to the prisoner's bed, and under his pillow I found an officer’s servant’s coat, and in the pocket the paper bag now produced, which is marked "R. Rogers" also 15s. 6d., 3s. 5d. in copper money, which I also produce, together with £1 12s. 7d. in small silver money, which was loose in the pocket, and an empty purse. I then aroused the prisoner from his sleep, and asked him how he became possessed of so much money, but he made no answer. I then took him into custody. He came into the barracks just after half-past eight, and answered his name at the roll call.

Sergeant Frederick Edwards:- I was sergeant of the guard at the South Barracks, on Sunday the 4th instant. The prisoner came in about three minutes after the great gates were closed. He came in by the wicket, and was dressed as an officer's servant.

Prisoner declined to make any defence, and was committed to Sandwich Gaol for trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions.

 

From an email received 20 January, 2013.

I have just visited your website showing Wellesley House in Walmer.

I was born there in 1947 and can confirm it was a private nursing home at that time.

My mother told me that it had once been a home belonging to the Duke of Wellington.

The address shown on my birth certificate is: Wellesley House, Castle Road, Walmer, Deal, U.D.

'Bye for now

Lynne Fiddick (nee BAILEY)

 

Further research and information tells me that the above is actually not the public house, but the pub was directly opposite the Royal Marines gate and opposite the "Cambridge Arms," and is now (2009) being used as Maurice & Mark Green Carpet & Vinyl Specialists.

Site of Wellesley Arms

Above image from Google maps June 2009 showing the site of the former "Wellesley Arms."

 

LICENSEE LIST

ROGERS Richard 1857+ (grocer and cheesemonger) Melville's 1858

JOWETT Gregory 1859+

HATCHER Mary Ann 1861+ (age 57 in 1861Census)

FREVIER/FERRIS/FEVIER John 1867-71+ (widower age 80 in 1871Census)

KNIGHT William K 1874+ Post Office Directory 1874

WEST George 1878+

HOOK Henry 1881+ (age 45 in 1881Census)

GREEN Charles 1882+ Post Office Directory 1882

NORRIS James Henry 1891-1903+ (age 34 in 1891Census) Kelly's 1899Kelly's 1903

Closed 30 December 1911.

https://pubwiki.co.uk/WellesleyArms.shtml

 

James Henry Norris was the nephew of William Cullen Norris of the "Life Boat" in Walmer.

 

Melville's 1858From Melville's Directory 1858

Post Office Directory 1874From the Post Office Directory 1874

Post Office Directory 1882From the Post Office Directory 1882

Kelly's 1899From the Kelly's Directory 1899

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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