Updates

25th February, 2012: Folkestone Express Reports for 1874 Added.

Links to these can be found to the right of this post.

Again, because of the sheer volume of transcription needed, there will be no midweek post

Updates

18th February, 2012: Folkestone Express Reports for 1873 Added.

Links to these can be found to the right of this post.

Again, because of the sheer volume of transcription needed, there will be no midweek post

Updates

11th February, 2012: Folkestone Express Reports for 1872 Added.

Links to these can be found to the right of this post.

Again, because of the sheer volume of transcription needed, there will be no midweek post

Updates

The sheer volume of transcriptions involved with the reports in the Folkestone Express mean that, regrettably, there will be no midweek posts for the time being.

Next update is scheduled for the weekend

Updates

As Britain celebrates the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens I admit to finding it difficult not to refer to this puzzle as “The Mystery Of Edwin DRUID”.

To explain a little; Anyone who has read either of Easdown and Rooney`s books on the history of Folkestone`s pubs will perhaps have noticed that even they appear to by mystified over the history and lineage of the Cooper`s Arms/London Stores/Druid`s Arms/Isle Of Cyprus, and for whatever reason I have, since the publication of Tales From The Tap Room, felt myself drawn towards this particular house. Not because there was any particular mystery for me, but because there was just SOMETHING.

Until I embarked on the research for Even More Tales From The Tap Room, perhaps with the idea of giving a little more substance to the stories contained in the books, I had never really had any doubts regarding the identity of the house(s) or the dates for the various changes of name. The books were the result of years of extensive research, but, as with many things, looking at a subject through different eyes can produce a picture not previously seen. It can, of course, also muddy previously clear waters.

Talking recently with Eamonn Rooney about the house, it has become clear that he, for many years, has had his doubts that these were one and the same house. There are anomalies in local directories – as mentioned in the book – to start with. There is, maybe, the evidence of architecture to support this theory. I can`t put my finger on it, but you get a “nose” for old pub buildings, and looking at the buildings near to the former Isle Of Cyprus leads us both to believe that a house just a couple of doors down the street may well have had a former incarnation as a pub.

With the “discovery” of a Red Lion in Bayle Street – previously unlisted – could this have been a forerunner of one of the above-listed?

The time-line of licensees in the house(s) with the assumed date of opening are listed below, but as will be seen there are a few anomalies with the names and dates. So far, however, no “proof” has come to light of the existence of two separate houses, just the confusion!

Coopers Arms c1830 – c1855

John Kennett Cooper c1830 c1840
James Punnett c1840 c1846
George Featherbee c1846 1851
John Bridgeland 1851 1852
John Ward 1852 1855 Renamed London Stores

Chronicle report 13-10-1855 William How licensed (see London Stores)

Observer reports 13-7-1861 and 27-7-1861 with Murphy as licensee (see London Stores)

Observer 26-10-1861 Transfer from Brown to Murphy (see London Stores)

London Stores c1855 – 1869

William How 1855 1857
John Dent 1857 1860

Chronicle report 2-10-1858 Dent applies for license
Philip Brown 1860 1861
Henry Patrick Murphy 1861 1863 To North Foreland

Chronicle report 3-11-1860 has Murphy as licensee

Chronicle report 27-7-1861 still calls it Coopers Arms
Richard Oliver 1863 1864
Richard Welch (Or Walsh) 1864 1866
Charles Mills 1866 1866
Henry Augustus Herwigg 1866 1866 Ex Harbour Inn. To Oxford Tavern
John Floyd 1866 1866
Frederick Toghill 1866 1867
James Pollard 1867 1868
William Holland 1868 1869 Renamed Druids Arms

Chronicle advertisement 22-3-1878 to REBUILD London Stores

Chronicle report 24-8-1878 re-licensed after rebuilding (although house not named in report)

Druids Arms 1869 – 1877

Observer advertisement 23-11-1867 pre-dates name change

Express report 11-9-1869 Spirit license to Monckton

Clarence Monckton 1869 1870
Thomas Cobb 1870 1871

Express report 7-1-1871 Transfer Cobb to Parks AFTER IT HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR SOME TIME
Thomas Henry Parks 1871 1877 From New Inn. Later Alexandra Tavern. Renamed Isle Of Cyprus

Chronicle report 6-9-1879 with Richard Lyne as licensee (see Isle Of Cyprus)

Chronicle report 23-4-1881 still with Lyne here

Isle Of Cyprus 1877 – 1913

Richard Lyne 1877 1881
Matilda Lyne 1881 1888

Chronicle report 24-12-1881 I assume is the above transfer
Edwin Price 1888 1892
Lucien Mepham 1892 1895
George Preece 1895 1896
Alfred Smith 1896 1897
Alfred Averre 1897 1897
Charles Grist 1897 1900
Frank Clayson 1900 1902
William Halford 1902 1906
William Taylor 1906 1913

Updates

4th February, 2012: Folkestone Express Reports for 1871 Added.

Links to these appear on the right of this post.

Oxford Tavern, Beach Street 1869 - 1871

Licensee

Henry Augustus Herwigg 1869 - 1871 Ex Harbour Inn. To Shakespeare Hotel Both the Folkestone Observer and Folkestone Express list Harwigg`s application as being Queen`s Head. Folkestone Express 26-8-1871 Saturday, August 19th: Before J. Clarke, J. Gambrill and J. Tolputt Esqs. Daniel Hall, of the Oxford Arms, was charged with leaving a cart on the highway on the 14th inst., and convicted in 2s. 6d. fine and costs. Thomas Bailey, of the North Foreland Inn was also summoned for the same offence on the same day, and fined 2. 6d. and costs   Note: According to information in More Bastions this house was renamed back to Queen`s Head at Hall`s arrival

Updates

1st February, 2012: Folkestone Express Reports for 1870 Added. Edit of Unknown premises posts for 1870 to Tradesman`s Arms.

New posts listed to the right of this post.

Tradesman`s Arms, Harbour Area, Mentioned 1870

Licensees

No details available

Folkestone Observer 25-8-1870

Annual Licensing Meeting

Wednesday, August 24^th: Before The Mayor, Capt. Kennicott R.N., R. Boarer, J. Tolputt, A.M. Leith and C.H. Dashwood Esqs.

Mr. A. Dickenson, of the brewery, Tontine Street, made an application to a house at the bottom of High Street. The house had formerly had a beer license, but the previous occupier having left without giving notice, the certificate had expired, and he now applied for a new one. Mr. Dickenson stated that he intended making extensive alterations in the house, plans of which he produced. There being an informality in the notice, the Bench did not accede to the application.

Folkestone Chronicle 27-8-1870

Wednesday August 24^th: Before the Mayor, Captain Kennicott R.N., J. Tolputt, A.M. Leith and C.E. Dashwood Esqs.

This was the annual licensing day.

Application for a beer license.

Mr. A. Dickenson, Tontine Street, applied for a license for a house in Beach Street. The house had formerly a beer license. The previous occupier, however, left without giving notice, and the certificate having expired, he now asked for a new one. Mr. Dickenson produced plans to show the alterations he intended to make in the house. In consequence of an informality in the notice, the license was not granted.

Folkestone Express 27-8-1870

Wednesday, August 24^th: Before The Mayor, Capt. Kennicott, J. Tolputt, A.M. Leith and C.H. Dashwood Esqs.

Annual Licensing Meeting

The Tradesmen`s Arms: Mr. Minter applied on behalf of Messrs. Dickenson for a license to this house, which faces the bottom of High Street. It had been shut up for some time. It was Messrs. Dickenson`s intention to erect a new house if the Bench granted the application, which would be a great ornament to that part of town (The plans were here produced).

Mr. C. Dickenson here produced the notice which he had prepared. On submitting it to the Magistrates` Clerk he declared it to be informal, as it did not contain the occupation of the applicant.

The application was withdrawn.