Shakespeare Hotel 1900s

Folkestone Chronicle 5-5-1900

Monday, April 30^th: Before Messrs. Banks, Pursey, Wightwick, and Fitness, and Colonel Hamilton.

Charles Sparrow, of the Shakespeare Hotel, was granted power to extend his licensed premises by adding a billiard room.

Folkestone Express 5-5-1900

Saturday, April 28^th: Before J. Pledge, J. Stainer, and T.J. Vaughan Esqs., and Lieut. Col. Westropp.

Mr. Sparrow, landlord of the Shakespeare Hotel, was granted, after a long discussion, permission to build a shed in his yard adjoining his licensed premises.

Folkestone Herald 5-5-1900

Folkestone Police Court

On Monday Mr. Charles Sparrow submitted plans for alteration to the Shakespeare. Approved.

Folkestone Express 25-7-1903

Saturday, July 18^th: Before E.T. Ward Esq., Lieut. Col Westropp, Alderman Vaughan, and J. Stainer Esq.

Joseph Griggs was summoned for causing an obstruction by means of an out-porter`s truck.

P.C. Butter stated that on the 16^th inst. he was in Guildhall Street, when he saw an out porter`s truck standing outside the Shakespeare Hotel, and partly obstructing the crossing. Witness kept observation for 20 minutes, and on defendant coming out took his name and address.

Defendant admitted that the barrow was standing in the street for ten minutes.

Fined 2s. 6d., costs being remitted.

Folkestone Express 29-8-1903

Saturday, August 22^nd: Before Alderman Banks, W. Wightwick, and G.I. Swoffer Esqs.

Thomas Sullivan was charged with being drunk and disorderly.

P.C. Simpson deposed that the previous evening about 8 p.m. he was on duty outside the Town Hall when he saw prisoner, who was drunk, acting in a disorderly manner and flashing a bundle of song papers into people`s faces. He went into the Shakespeare Hotel, but was immediately ejected. Prisoner the commenced to use obscene language and witness arrested him. Several complaints had been received by the police respecting prisoner`s conduct.

P.S. Dunster corroborated as to the prisoner`s condition when brought to the police station.

The Bench imposed a fine of 5s. and 5s. 6d. costs, or seven days` hard labour.

Folkestone Express 2-12-1905

Friday, November 24^th: Before W.C. Carpenter Esq., and Major Leggatt.

John Brien was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Guildhall Street the previous night. Prisoner pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Stevens said about 10.45 he was on duty in Guildhall Street, where he saw the prisoner outside the Shakespeare Hotel, fighting with a man named Waller. As he went towards them, Waller ran away, but he caught Brien, who had his shirt off. With the assistance of P.C. Bourn he brought the prisoner, who was drunk, to the police station.

Prisoner said he had a discussion with Waller and they had a dispute. Waller struck him, so he retaliated.

The Chief Constable said there were 10 or 12 convictions against the prisoner, but not for drunkenness, during the last five years.

Fined 5s. and 4s. 6d. costs, or seven days` hard labour in default.

Folkestone Express 9-11-1907

Friday, November 2^nd: Before The Mayor, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, and E.T. Ward Esq.

William John McElroy, a young man, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Guildhall Street. He pleaded Guilty.

It appeared that shortly after ten his condition was such that he was asked to leave the Shakespeare Hotel. He refused to do so and P.C. Stiles had to be called to eject him. Shortly after he again went into the house, and the constable had again to see him out. When in the street he became very disorderly, and caused a large crowd to assemble. He was therefore taken into custody.

McElroy informed the Magistrates the reason that he went into the house the second time was to obtain some onions which he had left behind him.

There were two or three previous convictions against him, and he was fined 5s. and 4s. 6d. costs, a week being allowed for payment.

Folkestone Daily News 9-4-1908

Thursday, April 9^th: Before Messrs. Spurgen and Wood.

Annie Ottaway was charged with being drunk and incapable last night. She pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Sales said he saw the defendant at 8.45 last night sitting in the doorway of the Shakespeare Hotel. On picking her up he found she was in a very bad state of intoxication, and had evidently sat down. She had not been inside the hotel.

She was fined 5s. and 4s. 6d. costs, or seven days`.

Folkestone Herald 16-1-1909

Felix

A Folkestone gentleman home from Singapore has asked me the question as to the identity of the cannons which are to be seen outside the Shakespeare and Globe Hotels. There they stand, buried muzzle downwards. How long have they been there? Who placed them there? To what battery did they belong? My attention has often been called to these old cannon, but after all, there are many who pass them by practically unnoticed.

Folkestone Herald 6-2-1909

Felix

Those Guns

Under this heading, a week or so back, I made an enquiry in regard to those guns which stand muzzle downwards outside the Shakespeare and Globe Hotels. I asked “Where did they come from? Who placed them there?” Those queries did not escape the eagle eye of our esteemed frien, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, of Sandgate, who writes me on the subject as follows:- “Dear Felix, As to the guns, we want an artillerist`s opinion of them, then evidence of old inhabitants as to when they remember them being placed there (if within recollection). I should say that they have been placed where they are since the Crimean War. I have newspaper scraps dated 1881, 1899, and 1905 enquiring about them. What are the dates of the Gun Brewery and Gun Tavern? Of course, they would be named after the gun was put there. The matter should be elucidated. As I said, first we want an expert to say whether they are Waterloo or Crimean guns. If the latter, surely there would be a record in the Corporation books as to when they were given. After all, they may have been discarded from the old battery.” Now it is rather strange. On Sunday morning, during a short stroll over the hills, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Tite, the respected father in the partner of Tite and Roff. This gentleman mentioned that he had read my note about the guns, and added “I am now seventy eight, but they have stood in their places as long as I can remember”. Mr. Tite`s relative, the late Alderman Ham Tite, I believe at one time owned the Gun Brewery, and that was many years ago. Perhaps some of my old Folkestone friends can throw a little light on these old pieces of ordnance.