The Imperial, 1978 |
| Imperial, Date Unknown. Photo kindly supplied by Martin Easdown |
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| Former Imperial, May 2012 |
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| Imperial 1999. Credit Martin Easdown |
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| Ale delivery at the Imperial c1900. Credit Clive Thompson |
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| Imperial, 2009. Credit Paul Skelton (from http://www.dover-kent.com/Imperial-(Black-Bull-Road)-Folkestone.html) |
Licensees
George Phillips Fowler 1878
1883
Edwin Fowler and Ann Fowler
1883 1883
James Hill 1883 1905
Alice Hill 1905 1905
James Hill 1907 1918
Thomas Clements 1918 1922
Alec Eyles 1922 1929
Robert Punshaw 1929 1930
David Harlow 1930 1933
James Kensett 1933 1941
Elsie Kensett 1941 1945
James Kensett 1945 1954
Frank Sewell 1954 1956
George Bright 1956 1958
Richard Sanger 1958 1963 To
Castle Inn
Dennis Scott 1963 1966
Royston Morlock 1966 1967
Kenneth Locker 1967 1969
Victor Clark 1969 1988
Simon Howard 1988 1989
Timothy Tanner 1989 1992
Barry Musk and Victoria
Musk 1992 1992 From Red Cow. Barry Musk later Martello
Brenda Priestley 1992 1993
Harry Hall and Vincent
McEvitt 1993 1995 Harry Hall also Castle Inn and Jolson`s. Vincent McEvitt To
Jolson`s
Harry Hall, Lewis Dawes and
Chiquita Walker 1995 1998 Harry Hall also Castle Inn and Jolson`s.
Harry Hall, William Hall
and Eileen Burvill 1998 2001 Harry Hall also Castle Inn and Jolson`s. William
Hall also Castle Inn
Harry Hall, William Hall,
Sarah Hall, Jacqueline Moore, Lisa Richardson and Tracy Smith 2001 2004 Also
Castle Inn
Harry Hall, William Hall,
Sarah Hall, Lisa Richardson, Keith Craig and Warren Day 2004 2004 + Also Castle
Inn and Jolson`s
Folkestone Chronicle 31-8-1878
Notice
To the
Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Folkestone, in the Borough of
Folkestone, and to the Superintendent of Police of the said Borough
I, GEORGE
PHILLIPS FOWLER, now residing at No. 146, Dover Road, in the Township of
Folkestone, in the Borough of Folkestone, Builder, hereby give you notice that
it is my intention to apply at an adjournment of the General Annual Licensing
Meeting for the Borough of Folkestone, to be holden at the Town Hall, in the
said Borough, on the 25th day of September next ensuing, for a
license for the sale of spirits, wine, beer, porter, cider, perry, and other
intoxicating liquors, to be consumed in a certain house, and in the premises
thereunto belonging, about to be constructed for the purpose of being used as a
house for the sale of intoxicating liquors, to be consumed on such premises,
situate at Canterbury Road, Foord, in the Borough aforesaid, which I intend to
keep as an Inn, Alehouse, or Victualling house. And I hereby give you further
notice that in the event of my said application being refused it is my
intention to apply at the said meeting for a license for the sale of Beer,
Cider, and Wine, NOT to be drunk or consumed in the said house and premises.
Given under
my hand this Twenty-third day of August, One Thousand Eight Hundred and
Seventy-eight.
G.P. Fowler
Folkestone Express 28-9-1878
Wednesday,
September 25th: Before J. Clark and W.J. Jeffreason Esqs., Alderman
Caister and Captain Crowe.
Adjourned
Licensing Meeting
New House At
Foord
Mr. Mowll
applied on behalf of Mr. George Phillips Fowler, a builder, for a license for a
new house now being erected at Foord. He said he thought the Bench would see
there was a want of accommodation in the neighbourhood, and that the applicant
was entitled to a license at their hands. It was 15 years since a new license
was granted at Foord, and since then there had been 112 houses built in the
immediate neighbourhood. There were 27 now in the course of erection by seven
builders, and 300 more houses were to be erected in the locality. He presented
a petition in favour of the license, signed by all the builders but one, and by
nearly the whole of the inhabitants.
Mr. Fowler,
in reply to Mr. Mowll, said the house as a private house would be worth £35 a
year, and five rooms were proposed to be devoted to the use of the public.
The Bench
decided that it was unnecessary to grant the license at present.
Mr. Mowll
then applied for a license to sell off the premises and this was granted, it
being understood that the Magistrates` Clerk should hold the license until the
house was certified to be completed.
Note:
This pre-dates the information in More Bastions.
Folkestone Chronicle 23-8-1879
The Annual
Licensing Session was held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, the magistrates on
the Bench being Dr. Bateman (in the chair), Capt. Crowe, J. Jeffreason Esq.,
and Alds. Hoad and Caister.
The Imperial
Hotel
An outdoor
license is granted to this house, situated in the Canterbury Road, just above Foord,
and this is the second application for an ale and spirit license.
Mr. Mowll
appeared for the applicant, and Mr. Dennis, of Croydon, opposed on behalf of
the landlords of the Castle, the Red Cow, and the Black Bull.
Mr. Dennis,
on behalf of his clients, represented that there was ample accommodation in the
neighbourhood.
Application
refused.
Folkestone Express 23-8-1879
Wednesday,
August 20th: Before W. Bateman Esq., Aldermen Caister and Hoad,
Captain Crowe, M. Bell, W.J. Jeffreason, and J. Clark Esqs.
Annual
Licensing Session
Application
For New License:
The Imperial
Hotel
Mr. George
Philip Fowler applied again for an ale and spirit license for this house at
Foord.
Mr. Mowll
appeared for the applicant, and said he should be able to show them there was a
necessity in this case. He reminded the Bench that he applied last year for a
full license for this house, which was then refused. He then obtained a license
to sell beer off the premises, and Mr. Fowler had been selling five or six
barrels of beer weekly. The house was in the midst of a large number of
recently erected houses, and he had a memorial signed by nearly the whole of
the inhabitants residing near the house. Mr. Fowler would tell them that during
the past summer nearly every hour of the day visitors who had walked over the
hills had called there for refreshment.
Mr. Fowler
said he had sold in the house 115 barrels of beer altogether since the house
had been opened, and from 10 to 20 persons a day had called and asked to be
supplied with a glass of ale. He put in a memorial signed by the owners and
occupiers in favour of the license being granted. The rateable value of the
house was £20, and since last year quite 40 houses had been completed near this
hotel. Applicant`s son was now erecting 16, and plans were before the
Corporation for more than a hundred others.
Mr. Dennis,
of Croydon, opposed on behalf of the Castle, the Red Cow, and the Black Bull,
all of which he contended were within eye shot. He urged that there was not the
slightest necessity for the granting of a license, and the applicant, by
calling his house the Imperial Hotel, had disappointed persons who thought it
was a public house.
The Bench
retired to consider the application, and on their return the chairman announced
that they had decided to refuse the application.
Southeastern Gazette
23-8-1879
Annual Licensing
Sessions
The annual licensing
sessions were held at the Town Hall on Wednesday. There were several
applications for new licences, but with one exception they were refused.
Mr George Phillip
Fowler applied for a full licence for the Imperial Hotel, situated in the
Canterbury Road. The house already holds an “off” licence. Mr. Mowll appeared
in support of the application, and Mr. Dennis, of Croydon, opposed on behalf of
Mr. Field, the freeholder and licensee of the Castle Inn. The application was
refused.
Kentish Gazette 26-8-1879
The annual licensing sessions were held at the Town Hall on Wednesday. There were several applications for new licences, but with one exception they were refused.
Mr. George Philip Fowler applied for a full licence for the
Imperial Hotel, situated in the Canterbury Road. The house already holds an
“off” licence. Mr. Mowll appeared in support of the application and Mr. Dennis,
of Croydon, opposed on behalf of Mr. Field, the freeholder and licensee of the
Castle Inn. The application was refused.
Folkestone Chronicle 31-7-1880
Notice
To the
Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Folkestone, in the Borough of
Folkestone, and to the Superintendent of Police for the same Borough
I, GEORGE
PHILLIPS FOWLER, Builder and Beerhouse Keeper, now residing at the Imperial
Hotel, Canterbury Road, in the Parish of Folkestone, in the Borough of
Folkestone, do hereby give you notice that it is my intention to apply at the
General Annual Licensing Meeting, to be holden at the Town Hall, in the said
Borough, on the Twenty-fifth day of August next, for a License to hold any
Excise License or Licenses, to sell by retail under the Intoxicating Liquor
Licensing Act, 1828, all intoxicating liquors, to be consumed either on or off
the house and premises thereunto belonging, situate at Canterbury Road, in the
Borough aforesaid, and known by the sign of the Imperial Hotel, of which
premises I am the owner, and I hereby give you further notice that in the event
of my said application being refused, it is my intention to apply at the said
meeting for a license for the sale of beer, cider, and wine to be consumed on
the premises.
Given under
my hand this Twentieth Day of July, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty.
G.P. FOWLER
Folkestone Chronicle 28-8-1880
Wednesday
last was the Annual Licensing Day for the Borough of Folkestone, the
magistrates on the Bench being The Mayor, Ald. Hoad, Capt. Crowe, and Ald.
Caister.
Mr. Mowll
applied on behalf of Mr. Fowler of the Imperial Hotel, Canterbury Road, for a
license, and Mr. Dennis, of Croydon, opposed on behalf of the two houses in the
locality. A petition in favour of the application was produced by Mr. Fowler,
signed by a large number of inhabitants, and concerning which The Mayor
remarked that it was easy to get up this class of petitions. Mr. Mowll, in the
course of an energetic speech, urged the necessity of the license, and in a
glowing picture represented visitors coming down from the surrounding hills in
a fainting condition, and beseeching for refreshment at the applicant`s door,
when to their disappointment they could procure none. If the Bench were, he
urged, in favour of Local Option, the principle of which Parliament had
acknowledged, they would grant the license, for nearly all the inhabitants in
the locality had signed in it`s favour. Mr. Dennis strongly opposed. He
represented the large number of public houses in Folkestone, and as an
objection he would state that applicant sold beer at 3½ d. a quart, thus cheapening
a liquor that demoralized the neighbourhood. He styled the application a most
“impudent” one, considering that it had twice before been refused.
The
application was refused.
Folkestone Express 28-8-1880
Wednesday,
August 25th: Before The Mayor, Captain Crowe, and Aldermen Caister
and Hoad.
Annual
Licensing Day
Application
for New License:
The Imperial
Mr. Mowll
made a third application on behalf of Mr. G.P. Fowler for a full license for
this house, at Foord. He urged that the license was much required. There were
only two or three small licensed houses in the neighbourhood, where, since
1874, 274 new dwellings had been erected, accommodating an estimated population
of 2,700. Since last licensing day 80 new houses had been built. If the Bench
were going to put their hands down and say they would grant no more licenses,
then he would not persist in his application, but if they continued the policy
of granting licenses when it was shown there was a necessity for them, he felt
sure his application would be granted. If they adopted the principle of “local
option” , they would, he ventured to say, grant the license, because he held in
his hand a memorial signed by almost all the neighbours. Mr. Mowll also drew a
vivid picture of the disappointment and annoyance caused to many visitors who,
after toiling up the hills in the rear of this house, returned to find they
could not have a glass of ale on the premises. He put in a numerously signed
memorial.
Mr. Fowler
was called, and said it was the third time he had made his application to the
Bench. The streets in the neighbourhood were Bridge Street, Garden Street,
Garden Terrace, Pavilion Street, Wilton Terrace, Imperial Terrace, and Marshall
Street, and from all these people came to his house for beer. He sold eight or
nine barrels of beer weekly, and the house was rated to the poor at £32, and by
the income tax assessors at £80
Mr. Dennis
opposed on behalf of Mr. Field, of the Castle, Mr. Minter for other publicans
in the neighbourhood.
The Mayor
announced that the Magistrates had unanimously decided to refuse the
application.
Southeastern Gazette
28-8-1880
Annual Licensing Day
The Folkestone
annual licensing session was held on Wednesday, but presented no particular
feature of interest. The applications of Mr. Fowler for a licence for the
Imperial Hotel, Canterbury Road, and Mr. Tyas, for the Bradstone Tavern, were
unanimously refused.
Kentish Gazette 31-8-1880
The annual licensing session was held on Wednesday, but presented no particular feature of interest. The applications of Mr. Fowler for a licence for the Imperial Hotel, Canterbury Road, and Mr. Tyas for the Bradstone Tavern were unanimously refused.
Folkestone Chronicle 27-8-1881
Annual
Licensing Day
The Annual
Licensing Day was on Wednesday last, the Magistrates on the Bench being The
Mayor, A.M. Watkin, F. Boykett, and J. Clarke Esqs., and Ald. Caister.
A spirit and
full license was granted to Mr. Fowler, of the Imperial Hotel, Foord Road, on
the application of Mr. Mowll.
Folkestone Express 27-8-1881
Wednesday,
August 24th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Caister, W. Bateman, A.m.
Watkin, J. Boykett and J. Clark Esqs.
Annual
Licensing Day
Mr. Mowll, on
behalf of Mr. Fowler, of the Imperial Hotel, Canterbury Road, Foord, renewed
his application for a license for his house. The application was unopposed, and
Mr. Mowll stated that if “local option” prevailed there was no doubt the
inhabitants in the locality would concur in a license being granted.
Mr. Fowler
said he had held an off license for two years, and added that there were ten
houses commenced last week, and William Elgar, residing in close proximity to
the house was called on to prove that it would be a public convenience if the
license were granted.
Frederick
Cosgrave, living three doors from Mr. Fowler`s house, also said that the
business had been very respectably conducted.
The Bench
decided to grant the license.
Southeastern Gazette
27-8-1881
Annual Licensing Meeting
On Wednesday the annual licensing meeting for the borough of
Folkestone was held at the Town Hall. The Mayor presided, and there were also
present: Alderman Caister, Dr. Bateman, and F. Boykett, A. M. Watkin, and J.
Clark, Esqs.
Mr. Mowll applied for a licence for the Imperial Hotel in
the Canterbury Road. There was no opposition. Mr. Fowler had had an off licence
for two years, and he now applied for a full licence. The applicant stated that
he was a builder and carried on business at Foord. The premises in question
were rated at over £30 a year. The licence was much wanted in the
neighbourhood. It was granted.
Kentish Gazette 30-8-1881
On Wednesday, before the Mayor (J.B. Tolputt Esq.) and J. Clark, T. Caister, A.M. Watkin, F. Boykett and W. Bateman Esqs.
Mr. Worsfold Mowll appeared for Mr. Fowler, of Foord, who applied for a full licence for the Imperial. He believed that if there was local option the licence would not be refused. The application was unopposed, and he had two neighbours who attended to support the application. Mr. Fowler said the property was over the value of £30 a year. The licence was granted.
Folkestone Express 25-8-1883
Local News
On Wednesday
afternoon, Mr. John Banks sold by auction, at the Rose Hotel, the Imperial
Hotel, situate in Canterbury Road, with a house and shop, let at £22 per annum,
adjoining. The property realised £2,020.
Folkestone Express 7-1-1888
Advertisement
Imperial Inn,
Broadmead, Folkestone, TO LET. For particulars apply to Hythe Brewery.
Folkestone Chronicle 6-8-1892
Local News
At the Police
Court on Tuesday, the following case came before the Bench – Aldermen Sherwood,
Pledge, and Dunk:
Stephen
Barton was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Canterbury Road on Monday
night.
P.C. Bailey
said the prisoner was drunk in Black Bull Road the previous night, and was using
obscene language. He advised him to go home, but he refused. Subsequently he
struck witness on the ear and knocked him down. He also bit him. He had to
obtain assistance to get him to the police station.
Philip
Prebble, another constable, corroborated the above evidence, adding that they
had to procure a truck in order to convety the prisoner to the station.
Defendant
stated that when he went into the Imperial public house the previous evening he
saw Bailey and Reed and another policeman sitting there.
P.C. Bailey
denied this.
Whilst there
he said something to Bailey, and he replied “You had better get out of it”.
Bailey followed him outside, and commenced to push him about. Then he threw
defendant over and so ill-treated him that everybody cried shame on him. When
they got defendant to the station they shot him out of the truck on to the
pavement, and then commenced to “knock him about”. One of the other constables
protested against such treatment, and at this the constables attacked him.
There was a d--- of a row in the station. P.C. Prebble knelt across defendant`s
neck and struck him, and Nash followed him into the cell and struck him. They
made a sort of ball of him.
Defendant
then asked for a remand in order that he might call John Cole, Albert Hearnden,
James Barton, and the landlord of the Imperial as witnesses in his favour.
The Bench
said they felt disposed to give defendant the opportunity of calling his
witnesses. He would, therefore, be remanded until Thursday.
Stephen
Barton appeared on remand on Thursday morning to answer a charge of being drunk
and disorderly in Black Bull Road on Monday night.
The
Magistrates present were Aldermen Pledge and Dunk, and Mr. W.H. Poole.
Mr. Ward
appeared to defend the defendant, and there was also present Dr. Percy Dodd to
prove that there were about 21 contusions on the body of the defendant, but his
evidence was not required.
In the first
place Bailey repeated the evidence given above, and in response to the
questions of Mr. Ward, he said the people who were standing around cried shame
on the defendant at the way in which he was treating him (the witness). He was
prepared to swear he was not in the Imperial Hotel when the defendant called
for a drink.
P.C. Prebble
said he was going home from the Exhibition when he saw the defendant and Bailey
struggling on the ground. The defendant struck him in the ribs.
Mr. James
Hills, landlord of the Imperial Hotel, said shortly before 11 o`clock Barton,
with others came into the bar. He saw that the defendant was the worse for
drink, so he refused to serve him. Subsequently, witness saw the disturbance
outside his house, and held the constables` helmets, capes, and sticks.
Albert
Grinstead, of 63, Walton Road, deposed that he saw Barton standing outside the
Imperial Hotel. He was cursing and swearing about Mr. Hills. Bailey tried to
persuade him to go home, but Barton responded by knocking him down.
Mr. Edward
Finn said he saw the defendant strike Bailey a violent blow and knock him down.
Mr. Ward, on
behalf of the defendant, said he was attacked by the police, and very severely
treated. In support of this contention he called Herbert Hearnden, who alleged
that Bailey was inside the Imperial Hotel, and because Barton remarked that the
landlord served the police, and not himself, Bailey followed him out of the
house, and subsequently attacked him. Barton was perfectly sober.
Mr. Cole, a
mason, said he saw three policemen lying on Barton in the road. He did not
think the latter was drunk.
Miss Jane
Grant deposed that shortly before the scrimmage she served Barton with supper
in Rogers`s refreshment rooms. He was then quite sober. When she heard of the
disturbance, she ran to see about it, and she saw P.C. Gosby knocking
defendant`s head on the ground. The people around were crying “shame” on the
police. When they got defendant to the police station they shot him out of the
truck.
Mr. James
barton and Mr. C.E. Thornton also deposed that the defendant was quite sober
when outside the Imperial Hotel.
The Bench found
the defendant Guilty of the offence, and as there were four previous
convictions against him, they imposed a fine of £1 and £1 3s. 6d. costs. The
money was paid by the defendant`s father.
Folkestone Express 6-8-1892
Tuesday,
August 2nd: Before Aldermen Pledge and Dunk.
Stephen
Barton was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Black Bull Road on
Monday.
P.C. Bailey
said he was in Black Bull Road and saw the prisoner about eleven o`clock, drunk
and using very filthy language. He advised him to go home, which he refused to
do, but struck him on the ear and lnocked him down and also hit him. He was
taken to the station on a truck.
Defendant
made allegations against the police and desired to have the case remanded in
order that he might call witnesses.
P.C. Philip
Prebble said he saw Bailey struggling with the prisoner in Black Bull Road,
opposite the Imperial. Prisoner was drunk and using obscene language. He got a
truck, and with the assistance of P.C. Read and P.C. William Prebble they took
prisoner to the station.
Prisoner said
the three constables were in the Imperial, and when they came out Bailey
commenced to push him about. They threw him over, cut his head, and kicked him.
When they got to the station they pitched him out on to the stone pavement, and
when they got him inside they kicked him and one of them sat on his neck and
nearly strangled him. P.C. Nash, “a little short chap”, went into the cell and
hit him. He added that the people cried “Shame” of the policemen for the way in
which he was treated. He said he desired to call Joseph Cole, Albert Hearnded,
his brother and his wife. He could also make the landlord of the Imperial prove
the constables were in the house.
The
Magistrates remanded the prisoner till Thursday in order that he might call
witnesses.
On Thursday
the defendant was brought up on remand, and several other witnesses were
called. The landlord of the Imperial Hotel said he refused to draw defendant
any liquor, as he was drunk. P.C. Bailey was not in the house. In the result,
the defendant, who had four convictions against him, was fined £1 and £1 3s.
6d. costs, Mr. Ward, who appeared for the defendant, was told that he coult
report any complaint against the police to the Watch Committee.
Sandgate
Visitors` List 6-8-1892
Local News
A charge of drunkenness was preferred against Stephen
Barton.
P.C. Bailey said he was in Black Bull Road on the
previous night (Monday), and saw the prisoner about eleven o`clock, drunk, and
using very disgusting language. He advised him to go home, which he refused to
do, but struck him on the ear and knocked him down, and also bit him. He was
taken to the station on a truck.
This evidence was corroborated by P.C. Prebble.
Defendant made allegations against the police, and
desired to have the case remanded, in order that he might call witnesses. He
said the three constables were in the Imperial, and when they came out Bailey
commenced to push him about. They threw him over, cut his head, and kicked him.
When they got to the station they pitched him out on to the stone pavement, and
when they got him inside they kicked him, and one of them knelt on his neck and
nearly strangled him. P.C. Nash, “a little short chap”, went into the cell and
hit him. He added that the people cried “Shame” of the policemen for the way in
which he was treated. He desired to call Joseph Cole, Albert Hearnden, his
brother, and his wife. He could also make the landlord of the Imperial prove
the constable were in the house.
The Magistrates remanded the prisoner till Thursday, in
order that he might call witnesses.
Folkestone Visitors` List 11-10-1893
Police Court
Notes
Half a dozen
Magistrates assembled on Saturday at the police court – occasionally the police
have to send out for them – when the only case for hearing was a charge of
drunkenness and use of obscene language by a young lady of the soap-sud
persuasion, who gave the name of Annie O`Leary, and said she was engaged at the
Sanitary laundry.
The case was
clearly proved by P.C. Rogers, and Superintendent Taylor stated that she had
been convicted three times at Hythe for drunkenness, and at the Assizes for
maliciously breaking windows at Cheriton.
The Mayor
improved the occasion, and pointed out her probable fate if she went on in the
same way for another twenty years – she gave her age as 23 – and she was
ordered to pay a fine of 2s. 6d. and 9s. 6d. costs, or 7 days. The
Superintendent objected to any time being allowed, and she was taken below,
but, we believe, the money was afterwards paid for her by Mr. Wray, the police
court missionary.
Folkestone Chronicle 14-10-1893
Saturday,
October 7th: Before The Mayor and Messrs. Sherwood, Pledge, Spurgen,
Holden and Dunk.
Annie
O`Leary, laundry employee, of Cheriton, a young woman whose name is not
unfamiliar in Police Court annals, has again found herself in trouble, having
to appear before the Bench on a charge of being drunk and disorderly in Black
Bull Road on the 30th September.
The defendant
was found at half past 10 on the night in question in front of the Imperial by
P.C. Rogers. She was drunk and was swearing, causing a crowd to collect. He
asked her to go away quietly, but she refused, and in anything but polite terms
told him to mind his own business. He took her into custody, but she was
subsequently released on a summons.
In answer to
the Bench, the defendant said she admitted being drunk, but denied making use
of any obscene language. She came into Folkestone with two other women for the
purpose of doing some shopping, and it appears that besides becoming the worse
for drink she also lost her parcel.
The record
which Superintendent Taylor had to present was anything but a creditable one
for such a young person. “It is the first time she has been here” he said, “but
she has been convicted four times during the present year – three times for
being drunk and disorderly at Cheriton, and once at the Assizes for maliciously
breaking a square of glass at Cheriton”
The Mayor
having improved the occasion by giving the girl a little friendly counsel, a
fine of 2s. 6d. with 9s. costs was imposed, or in default seven days`
imprisonment, the fine being paid through the agency of Mr. Wray, Police Court
Missionary.
Folkestone Visitors`
List 4-11-1896
Kaleidoscope
The old tale. Looking for a leak in the gas pipe with a
lighted match. A strong smell of gas attracted the attention of the landlord of
the Imperial Hotel, Black Bull Road, on Thursday afternoon. Since no escape
could be discovered in any of the upper rooms or in the bar, Mr. Hill, the
landlord proceeded to the cellar. There was a strong smell of gas, and in order
to go to the meter, Mr. Hill lighted a match, with the result that he was
thrown from one side of the cellar to the other. Mr. Hill was severely shaken,
and had been slightly burned.
A large mirror was thrown off from the mantelpiece, some
cases of birds, etc. were shattered, and the building slightly damaged. It is
supposed that the steamroller, which had been at work in Park Street, fractured
one of the mains, and hence the gas found its way into the cellar.
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