Jolly Sailor (1), Dover Hill 1780 - 1820

Licensees

Thomas Baker 1780 1787 

John Tims 1787 1819   

William Major 1819 Renamed Valiant Sailor

Kentish Chronicle 20-8-1819 

As Mr. Clement, of Dover, baker, was going up Folkestone hill, with his two sisters, on Monday evening, they were attacked by a man employed on the preventive service, who, when about six paces distant, cried out “Stop, you b----r”, levelled a blunderbuss, drew the trigger, and it snapped; he then cocked it, presented it as before, drew the trigger, and it flashed in the pan. He then drew out his powder horn and attempted to prime the blunderbuss, when Mr. C. Stepped up and seized the powder horn, and asked if his intentions were to murder or rob, to which the fellow replied he had been insulted some little time before and would be damned if he would not kill someone, he cared not who.

Mr. C., perceiving the danger he was placed in asked him what would do to dissuade him of his purpose, to which he replied sixpence of a pot of beer would soften the matter.

Mr. C. then gave him sixpence and went with him to the public house at Folkestone Hill, where liquor was refused him. Mr. C. was informed there that he had presented the blunderbuss at the landlord, and also to the man at the toll-gate. Shortly after, two of his companions arrived in order to secure him and convey him to the East Wear watch-house.

From the frequent occurrences of this nature, we suppose the matter will rest without further proceedings against the villain.

Kentish Chronicle 31-8-1819 

Advertisement extract:

Valuable brewery, free public houses and other estates to be sold by auction by Messrs. White (without reserve). Pursuant to certain orders of the Vice Chancellor of Great Britain, and before the major part of the Commissioners named and authorised in and by a Commission of Bankrupt awarded and issued against Matthew William Sankey, of the city of Canterbury, brewer, dealer and chapman, at the Guildhall of the said city of Canterbury, on Wednesday, the 22^nd day of September, at eleven o`clock in the forenoon (subject to such conditions of sale as shall be then and there produced).

Also the following leasehold estates:

Lot 32: A messuage called the Jolly Sailor, with the stable, lodge, yard, garden and appurtenances, situate at the top of Folkestone Hill, in Folkestone aforesaid, and now in the occupation of William Major.

Note: Does not appear in More Bastions.

N.B. This is held by lease under the Right Honourable the Earl of Radnor, for the residue of a term of 61 years from Michaelmas, 1786, at 2s. 6d. per annum.

The last lots will be sold subject to the rents and covenants reserved by and contained in the existing lease under which they are respectively holden.

And all the above lots will be sold subject to the tenants in possession claiming their fixtures by the power of removing them, or being allowed for them by a valuation in the usual way, and to quit rents (if any). 

There will be no auction duty payable.

For further particulars apply to Messrs. Plummer and Son, or Mr. J.J. Pierce, solicitors, Canterbury; or to Messrs. Wiltshire, Bolton and Cole, solicitors, Winchester House, Old Broad Street, London, at whose respective offices printed particulars may shortly be obtained.

Dover Telegraph 31-10-1840 

On Monday last an inquest was held before T.T. DeLasaux Esq., Coroner for East Kent, at the Shakespeare`s Head beerhouse. On the body of George Joiner, who is supposed to have fallen over the cliff, near the sea wall, on Saturday evening, while in a state of intoxication.

No evidence could be adduced that anyone had seen the deceased since he left the Jolly Sailor public house at the top of Folkestone hill on Saturday night, when, it is supposed, that instead of going home to Capel, he intended to come along the cliff, en route to Dover, and that getting too near the edge, being in an inebriated state, fell over. It is evident that he had not been robbed, because his tobacco box, containing 3s., (the result of his labours for the last fortnight, after his beer &c., had been paid for at the “Tommy shop”, as it is termed,) was found under him when picked up.

The deceased, however, was not discovered till Monday morning, when William Page, taking a stroll along the cliff, saw him lying amongst some bushes, which had prevented him rolling to the bottom. Page could not get near the body, but he called to some men working on the railroad below, who picked him up and conveyed him to the place where the inquest was held.

The Coroner, in remarking his surprise that the deceased had no more than 3s. for his fortnight`s earnings, was informed that the contractors on the railroads have erected “Tommy shops” along the line, and that although the men were not compelled to spend their money at these places, the contractors soon dismissed them from their service when they ascertained they did not. This led to a considerable degree of drunkenness, and ot was no uncommon thing for the men to spend the whole of their fortnight`s earnings to within two or three shillings. And some men even found themselves as much as 7s. or 8s. in debt at the termination of their fortnight`s labours.

The Coroner said such contractors were highly censurable.

Verdict: “Accidental Death”.

Note: Jolly Sailor had been renamed Valiant Sailor 20 years previously!

Kentish Mercury 31-10-1840 

On Monday last an inquest was held before T.T. DeLasaux Esq., Coroner for East Kent, at the Shakespeare`s Head beerhouse. On the body of George Joiner, who is supposed to have come by his death on Saturday evening last, by falling down the cliff near the sea wall between Dover and Folkestone while in a state of intoxication.

It did not appear that any person had seen the deceased since he left the Jolly Sailor public house near the turnpike-gate at the top of Folkestone hill and, as he was very much given to drink, it is supposed that he was intoxicated at the time. He was not, however, discovered till Monday morning, when William Page, a labourer, happening to take a stroll along the edge of the cliff, discovered the body lying in the bushes about halfway down the cliff. Several men working on the railroad close at hand then conveyed the body to the house where the inquest was held.

It was pretty evident that the deceased had not been dealt with unfairly for the sake of the money he had about him, as his tobacco box, containing some tobacco and 3s. was found under his body when he was picked up.

The Coroner said that three shillings was a very small sum for a man to take home from the pay table, and enquired how often the men were paid. Someone present said once a fortnight, but it was no uncommon thing for the men to receive no more than two or three shillings when the day of reckoning came, because the contractors had several “Tommy shops” on the line for the men to go to for their provisions and beer. This led the men to spend the whole of their money in drink. That they did not want for food, because the contractors discharged those in their employ who did not spend the whole, or nearly the whole, of their money at these “Tommy shops”.

The Coroner considered that the contractors were highly censurable for such conduct, as it tended in a very great degree to the increase of crime.

Verdict: “Accidental Death”. 

Folkestone Herald 16-5-1931

Felix

Of course we have been reminded if we needed reminding – of the “sailor” described as “valiant” standing isolated alone on the edge of the cliff on the Folkestone-Dover Road, and standing all these years four square to all the winds that blow, and hundreds of feet above the level of the sea. Of course, I am referring to the famous inn “The Valiant Sailor”, owned by Mr. A.C. Aird as it was also by his father, the late Mr. W. Aird. Of course this particular “Sailor” is on the main road to Dover – six miles distant. Outside the establishment was at one time a toll house or turnpike gate. So rapid is the flight of time that the present generation can hardly realise that every horse and vehicle, besides droves of sheep and cattle, were compelled to pay toll before they could pass through the aforesaid gate or similar gates on the main roads. A carrier van, and an occasional horsed bus – that was all the communication that existed in those days, which many of us can recall. And so it comes about that our “Valiant Sailor” on Dover Hill has witnessed a revolution. He has seen the old gate abolished, a ten minute motor bus created between the two towns, whilst hundreds of motor vehicles pass by every day of the year. Here is progress if you like. I may be perhaps pardoned for mentioning it, that I made the first journey ever made from Folkestone to Dover on a motor vehicle named “The Pioneer”. It was driven by Mr. Ernest Salter, motor engineer, and son of the late Alderman W. Salter, J.P., of Folkestone. Those of us who braved that journey, especially up Dover Hill, were proud of ourselves on that day. I often gaze on a photo which depicts the old “Pioneer” on its way to Dover. I could write a story – an exciting one, too – of an experience I had on this self-same “Pioneer” as it did a sprint down the famous Whitfield Hill. Space, however, just now forbids.

I am informed by the present proprietor, Mr. Alfred C. Aird (whom I have already mentioned) that the old inn alluded to was originally designated the “Jolly Sailor”. Why its name was altered I cannot tell, and my friend, Mr. Aird, cannot throw any light on the subject. Certainly there is something very jolly associated with that word “Jolly”. But from what I can gather from a volume that I have before me, there were certain people in other days that did not approve of it. Thus I read; “The use of the word “Jolly” on the signboards of various inns formerly so common in our now “Merrie England” is now gradually dying away. Whatever be the opinion on the subject of national good humour it seems people no longer desire to be advertised as jolly”. Why object, for instance, to the “Jolly Britisher”, the “Jolly Farmer”, or the “Jolly Sailor”? What a funny world this is. It would seem then that in the Merrie England of those other days they had their killjoys with their sour faces and their canker of envy, malice, and uncharitableness ever gnawing at their hands. However, when we pause to think, the word “Valiant” is a very fine one.

Folkestone Herald 6-6-1931

Felix

With reference to a recent note appearing in this weekly contribution, and having reference to the approaching visit of H.M.S. Valiant, I mentioned the fact that the old Valiant Sailor had stood solitary these many years on the edge of the cliff on the Folkestone-Dover road. I also stated that the famous wayside hostelry was once known as The Jolly Sailor, but that its name, for some reason, was altered to the Valiant Sailor. Why, no-one appears to know. Mr. A.C. Aird, the present proprietor, since my paragraph appeared, has had an opportunity of looking up the deeds of the property with the result that he kindly informs me that the designation of the house was altered from “Jolly” to “Valiant” in 1826. Mr. Aird also states that he is unable to explain the change in the name. As he truly remarks he has always found the sailor to be both “Jolly” and “Valiant”, and so either one fits in as well as the other. However this may be, our old friend declares that the same spirit prevails in the ranks of the 20^th century sailors as it did in that of their forefathers when ships of war depended entirely on sail rather than coal and oil, and when navigation, too, depended alone on the compass and flag signals.

Note: Date for name change is at variance with More Bastions.