WHITE HORSE Pubs of Eythorne

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1740-

White Horse

Latest 2000+

(Eythorne)

All above photographs by Paul Skelton 27 Oct 2007.

Earliest reference found so far is in the Wingham Division Ale Licence list, which shows the "White Horse," Eythorne, to be re-licensed for the sum of 8 shillings in 1740 indicating that the pub was present before 1740.

The pub was sold along with another 11 public houses in neighbouring villages in 1826 for the sum of £670 but it is not known from who or to whom.

Unfortunately now closed for a few years, this pub used to have a skittle alley in the back garden.

The brickwork, has over time, been scored with the initials of the locals and regulars.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 8 August, 1879. Price 1d.

A DANGEROUS DOG

Mr. Edward Bromley, of Eythorne, was summoned for not keeping a dog, of which he was the owner, under proper control.

Mr. Mowll, solicitor of Dover, appeared for the defendant.

It appeared that on the morning of the 31st July, the complainant (Henry Amos, a baker, also living at Eythorne), was at the "White Horse" public-house transacting business, having left his horse and cart outside, a dog, of which he was the owner, being underneath the cart. Soon after he heard his dog cry out, and on going to the door he saw defendant's dog holding his dog's hind leg in its mouth. With assistance he parted the animal, and his dog's leg was found to be broken.

Several witnesses were called, who gave evidence calculated to show that defendant's dog was a very savage animal, and the Bench informed Mr. Bromley that he must keep it so as not to be a nuisance, and directed him to pay the costs of the case, amounting to 21s.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 15 January 1954.

MET AT THE "WHITE HORSE"

What better meeting place for the West Street Hunt, under their Master, Mr. A. J. Stevens, on his white horse, than the "White Horse" Inn, at Eythorne? A large field of riders, on Tuesday, enjoyed a good day's sport.

From an email received 5 December, 2011.

Dear Sirs,

Regarding the "White Horse Inn" at Eythorne I have some information to add regarding my family occupation of the pub in the 1950s.

My father William Frederick Lloyd moved together with his wife Lillian Lloyd and myself Alan Lloyd from the "Prince of Denmark" in Junction Road Islington London in 1950 approx., to the "White Horse" and was the licensee until approx 1957. He then took the licence of "The Holly Tree" pub in Hither Green, London, until he died in approx 1961. My mother survived until her death on the Isle of Wight approx 8 years ago.

My father and mother are in the picture of the hunt featured in your website. He is in amongst the hounds with a dark suit and my mother is wearing a light raincoat next to the convertible Austin Cambridge.

I remember him offering Mr Stevens the traditional stirrup cup on that day.

I was age 17 and worked for the firm of accountants Clemetson Stanford of Dover and was a friend of Stan Wells the well known reporter and later editor of the Dover Express. We sometimes toured other villages challenging the customers to a darts match. (no problems with drinking and driving then.)

Many of our customers were workers, invalids or recovering injured from Timanstone Colliery. Although well paid the miners were always in danger of injury or lung damage. Many families originated in the North and brought their love of whippets, pigeons and dominoes with them. A favourite joke was to play blind dominoes. This involved playing the dominoes face down without seeing the spots and usually started when a stranger was in the bar and ended with a free drink. (The secret was signalling with the feet under the table while keeping straight faces.) Traditional food from the bar involved cheese and pickle, pickled eggs and pigs trotters, (the trotters made an awful mess.)

I left Eythorne for my National Service mainly spent as a radar operator on the Isle of Wight where we sometimes launched fighter planes from mainland airports to intercept possible bomber threats from Russia. The cold war was well entrenched at that time.

Since then I have spent 55 years here on the island and have owned hotels, worked as an estate agent and finally managing director of a travel company featuring remote and exotic destinations ('Regent Holidays' now based in Bristol).

Currently I live on the seafront at Sandown but spend half my time in Southern Spain.

Best regards,

Alan Lloyd.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 26 April, 1963.

Seventy Years Young.

Meet a sprightly 70-year-old who spends his working day humping hundredweight sacks of coal around because he reckons it keeps him young.

Pictured taking his daily "pinta" at the "White Horse," Eythorne, the other day is Mr. Albert Friend, the Shepherdswell coal merchant, who has been delivering coal in the district for almost 45 years.

Known affectionately as "Tar," Albert founded his business after the first world war, with a horse and cart.

During his years "Tar" has also dabbled in other enterprises.

Between the wars he ran a scavenging business and built an incinerator at Tye Wood, just outside Elvington, which locals still call "Friendies Tip."

"The Council stopped it being used in 1936 because they thought it was out of date or something, but I think my old furnace could still solve a lot of our refuse problems," he says.

And how's this as a proud boast! "Tar" says he still gets up at 5.30 every morning and - Sundays as well - can still keep up with his sons when it comes to humping sacks.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 7 June, 1963.

Licensee Leaving.

After four years and two months, in what he calls, "one of the nicest little villages in the whole of Kent," 50 year old Mr. Reg Biggs, popular licensee of the "White Horse" public house, isleaving.

With his wife and 12-year-old daughter, Gillian, he moved to Eythorne from London, where he was employed as a maintenance engineer in a factory which produced scientific instruments.

The Brewery have named Mr. John Hibbitt, formerly of Hastings, as Mr. Biggs successor, but his appointment is subject to the Justices Approval. If all goes well he will take over at the end o the month.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 22 January, 1971.

NEW LICENSEE AT HORSE

Mine hosts at the "White Horse," Eythorne, Mrs. Patricia Chandler, son Roger and landlord Mr. Valentine Chandler.

Though wellknown in Aylesham and Sandwich - and born and bred in Littlestone - Mr. Valentine Chandler had never been to Eythorne before he took over as landlord at the "White Horse." All the more odd because his brother works at Tilmanstone Colliery, less than a mile down the road.

It was a long while since Eythorne had a gardening society for the soil does not encourage exhibition growers.

But if anyone can coax blooms out of the garden at the "White Horse" it will be Val who has taken the sweet-pea cup at Aylesham for the last three years and also the Astor cup at Sandwich three times in a row.

A man who likes getting on with things, even he was surprised when he was offered a pub only a fortnight after lodging his credentials with the brewers. He is at present a site agent with a commercial company working on the A2 improvements.

It will be a truly family venture. One of the keenest on a pub idea is Val's 21-year-ols son Roger.

LICENSEE LIST

HUDSON Henry 1740+