Thanks And Acknowledgements

My thanks go to Kent Libraries and Archives - Folkestone Library and also to the archive of the Folkestone Herald. For articles from the Folkestone Observer, my thanks go to the Kent Messenger Group. Southeastern Gazette articles are from UKPress Online, and Kentish Gazette articles are from the British Newspaper Archive. See links below.

Paul Skelton`s great site for research on pubs in Kent is also linked

Other sites which may be of interest are the Folkestone and District Local History Society, the Kent History Forum, Christine Warren`s fascinating site, Folkestone Then And Now, and Step Short, where I originally found the photo of the bomb-damaged former Langton`s Brewery, links also below.


Welcome

Welcome to Even More Tales From The Tap Room.

Core dates and information on licensees tenure are taken from Martin Easdown and Eamonn Rooney`s two fine books on the pubs of Folkestone, Tales From The Tap Room and More Tales From The Tap Room - unfortunately now out of print. Dates for the tenure of licensees are taken from the very limited editions called Bastions Of The Bar and More Bastions Of The Bar, which were given free to very early purchasers of the books.

Easiest navigation of the site is by clicking on the PAGE of the pub you are looking for and following the links to the different sub-pages. Using the LABELS is, I`m afraid, not at all user-friendly.

Contrast Note

Whilst the above-mentioned books and supplements represent an enormous amount of research over many years, it is almost inevitable that further research will throw up some differences to the published works. Where these have been found, I have noted them. This is not intended to detract in any way from previous research, but merely to indicate that (possible) new information is available.

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Friday 4 October 2013

Bradstone Tavern 1900s



Folkestone Herald 20-1-1900

Folkestone Police Court

On Wednesday the following transfer was granted: Beer licence in Bradstone Road, to Mr. Alfred L. Wheeler from Mr. George B. Packer.

Folkestone Express 2-11-1901

Saturday, October 26th: Before W. Wightwick Esq., and Col. Hamilton.

A temporary transfer of an off beer licence in Bradstone Road was granted to Mr. Percy Earl.

Folkestone Express 7-12-1901

Wednesday, December 4th: Before J. Stainer, G. Peden, and T.J. Vaughan Esqs., and Col. W.K. Westropp.

A special licensing sessions was held, when Mr. Earl was granted transfer of the licence for an off beer licence of the Bradstone Tavern.

Folkestone Daily News 10-2-1908

Monday, February 10th: Before Messrs. Ward, Ames, Wood, Fynmore, and Carpenter.

J.W. Minter was charged with stealing a tin of brawn.

P.S. Lawrence deposed that he saw the prisoner standing in front of the Bradstone Tavern window. Some goods stood on a shelf outside the window, and he saw the prisoner take something and put it under his coat. Witness followed him into Dover Road, and asked him what he had, and discovered the tin of brawn produced, which he charged him with stealing. Prisoner said he took it for a poor woman who was starving. Previously he said he took it because he was starving.

Prisoner said he took it because he was starving.

Percy Earl, of the Bradstone Tavern, deposed that he unpacked some cases and placed them outside on show at 8.15. From a communication he received, he went outside and missed the tin.

The Chairman called attention to the goods being left outside, and said it was a great temptation to starving people.

Prisoner was sentenced to 14 days` hard labour.

Folkestone Daily News 23-12-1908

Inquest

An inquest was held on the body of Thomas Wilson, who expired suddenly at Westenhanger on Tuesday, was held on Wednesday afternoon by the Borough Coroner.

John Wilson, son of the deceased, identified the body as that of his father, aged 70, who lived at Sydney Villa, Denmark Street. He was a retired publican. Deceased was all right when he left home on Tuesday morning, but had lately complained of shortness of breath. He left home alone at 11.30 in the morning to go to the Folkestone races at Westenhanger.

Dr. Thornton Gilbert deposed that he was at Westenhanger on Tuesday afternoon. When he arrived at the station he was called to the down side of the station, where he saw the body of Thomas Wilson lying dead. Witness had known him for many years. He had examined the body of deceased and found the heart was fatty, the stomach contained undigested food, the liver was enlarged, and the kidneys enclosed in fat. In his opinion death was due to degeneration of the heart, which might have been hastened by hurrying.

James Albert Port, a gardener, and a member of the St, John Ambulance Corps, said he was on duty at the racecourse, under the direction of Dr. Gilbert. At 3.35 he passed the deceased, who was staggering on his way to Westenhanger Station. Witness told him to “Buck up” or he would lose the train. In witness`s opinion he had had a glass too much. Witness went forward about half a dozen paces, when he heard a fall, and found deceased had fallen in the road. Witness helped to pick him up. Deceased did not say anything until they got to the steps to go over the bridge, when he asked to rest in order to get his breath. They stopped, and then went on again, but on reaching the platform deceased fell down. Witness tried artificial respiration, and then sent for a doctor.

In reply to the Coroner, witness said it was possible that the state of deceased`s heart may have led him to think that he (deceased) had been drinking.

Sergeant Martin, of the Kent County Constabulary, said shortly after four p.m. on Tuesday he was informed that a man had died on the platform. Witness went to the down platform and found the deceased quite dead. Witness assisted to remove him and put him into a brake van for the purpose of conveying the body to Folkestone. In the meantime deceased`s relatives were communicated with and told that they could remove it, but that if it remained till the morning the matter would have to be reported to the County Coroner. The body was eventually removed to the Folkestone mortuary the same evening. A purse found on the deceased contained £2 17s. 4d.

The Coroner said he could not understand why the option had been given to the relatives to take the body away.

Sergeant Martin said he acted under the instructions of Superintendent Hollands.

The Coroner said Superintendent Hollands had no authority to sanction the removal of any body until such removal had been sanctioned by the Coroner, and he (Mr. Haines) would have to make a note of it.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

Folkestone Express 26-12-1908

Inquest

On Tuesday afternoon Mr. Thomas Willson, of Folkestone, was returning from the races at Westenhanger, when he collapsed and died on the platform at the station. The body was removed to Folkestone the same night, and an inquest was held at the Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. G.W. Haines (Borough Coroner) conducting the inquiry.

John Willson, residing at Sidney Villa, Denmark Street, a labourer, said he identified the body as that of his father, Thomas Willson, who lived at the same address as witness. He was a retired publican, and was about seventy years of age. Deceased had not enjoyed very good health lately, and had complained of shortness of breath. Witness last saw deceased at 11.30 on Tuesday morning. He was then going to the races at Westenhanger. He had attended race meetings on previous occasions. Deceased, who went alone, appeared to be in his usual state of health. Witness did not see any more of deceased until he heard of his death.

Dr. Thornton Gilbert, honorary medical offiver to the Folkestone Racing Club, said on Tuesday, as he got into the train at Westenhanger, he was told a medical man was wanted. He got out of the down side, and saw deceased laying on the floor dead. He had known deceased for a good many years. He had made a post mortem examination The heart was very much enlarged, and in his opinion death was due to fatty degeneration of the heart. Failure of the heart might have been brought on by excessive exercise. The story was that deceased had hurried to the station. There were no marks of a fall or injury.

James Albert Port, of 77, High Street, Cheriton, a jobbing gardener, said he was a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. He was on duty at the racecourse, under the direction of Dr. Gilbert. On Tuesday, about 3.35, he left the racecourse, and was proceeding to the old station, when he passed deceased. Witness was accompanied by Alfred Downs, who was also a member of the Ambulance Brigade. Deceased, who was alone, was staggering, and they told him to “buck up” or he would miss the train. They did not think he was ill. He replied “All right. I shall catch the train”. They went on about half a dozen paces, when they heard something fall, and turning round saw deceased on the ground. They helped him up and assisted him towards the station. When they got to the steps to go on to the bridge, deceased said “Stop a minute, till I get my breath”. On the bridge he stopped again. They went across the road to go down the steps and when they got to the bottom of the steps deceased collapsed. They assisted him to the platform. Subsequently witness felt deceased`s hands and they were clammy and his breathing ceased. Witness then sent for a doctor. Deceased`s speech was clear.

Sergt. Martin, K.C.C., said shortly after four o`clock on Tuesday afternoon he was on duty, accompanied by Supt. Hollands, outside Westenhanger Station, when they were informed that a man had died on the down platform. Witness proceeded there and saw the body of deceased, who was quite dead. They were told that Dr. Gilbert had seen him and had pronounced life extinct, and they also ascertained that deceased was a resident of Folkestone. Witness, with assistance, took deceased to a brake van, and in the meantime his relatives were communicated with, Superintendent Hollands stating that if they chose to remove the body that night and take it home he should not raise any objection. If it remained there until the morning it would be reported to the County Coroner. The body was removed to Folkestone Mortuary on Tuesday night. Deceased had in his possession a purse containing £2 17s. 4d.

The Coroner asked the sergeant whether it was part of his instructions when a body was found to give the relatives the option of removing it out of the Coroner`s jurisdiction before the next morning, and after the morning if the body had not been taken away, to communicate with the Coroner?

Sergt. Martin said those were not his instructions.

The Coroner: As a matter of fact, it is not for you to say whether the body shall be removed out of the Coroner`s jurisdiction. It is for the Coroner.

The Coroner asked whether the County Coroner was communicated with before the removal of the body to Folkestone.

The sergeant said he should not think he was.

The Coroner said he should have to make some further inquiries about the matter. It seemed to him that the body was out of the jurisdiction of the borough of Folkestone, and yet Folkestone was put to the expense of holding an inquiry. Supt. Hollands gave the relatives the option of removing the body out of the County Coroner`s jurisdiction, but if it was left till the morning then he should communicate with the County Coroner. Immediately the body was dead it was under the County Coroner`s jurisdiction.

The Coroner produced a telegram sent by Superintendent Hollands to the relatives, and after reading it, he said it bore out what the sergeant had said. The telegram said that the body could be removed that (Tuesday) night by the relatives, but if deferred until the morning he must communicate with the Coroner.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes”.

Folkestone Herald 26-12-1908

Inquest

An inquest was held at the Town Hall, Folkestone, on Wednesday afternoon regarding the death of Thos. Willson, a retired Folkestone publican, who expired suddenly on Westenhanger Station on Tuesday afternoon.

John Willson, of Sidney Villa, Denmark Street, a labourer, identified the body as that of his father, Thomas Willson, of the same address. The deceased was a retired publican, and was 70 years of age. Deceased had complained recently of shortness of breath He got about well. About 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday deceased said he was going to the races at Westenhanger. He was accustomed to go occasionally to the races, and he went alone. Apparently he was in his usual state of health.

Dr. J.W. Thornton Gilbert, Hon. Medical Officer to the Folkestone Racing Club, deposed that on Tuesday last a railway official at Westenhanger Station told him that he was wanted. He alighted from the train, and on the platform he saw the body of Thomas Willson, He was dead. Witness had known the deceased for many years. That (Wednesday) morning he made a post mortem examination. He attributed death to syncope due to fatty degeneration of the heart, which might have been brought on by any excessive exercise. There were no marks of injury or violence.

James Albert Port, of 77, High Street, Cheriton, a jobbing gardener, stated that he was a member of the St. John`s Ambulance Brigade. He was on duty at the racecourse, under the direction of Dr. Gilbert. About 3.35 p.m. he left the racecourse, and on his way to the old station, in company with Pte. A. Downs, of the same Brigade, he saw deceased, who was staggering. They told him to “buck up”, or he would miss the train. Witness thought that the deceased had had a glass too much. He replied “All right, I shall catch the train”. Witness went forward half a dozen paces, and then he heard a fall. On turning round he saw the deceased on the ground. They helped him up and assisted him to the station. When they got to the steps to go to the bridge, deceased said “Stop a minute till I get my breath”. They did so. On the bridge the same thing happened. Deceased then asked witness to get his ticket clipped. At the bottom of the steps the deceased collapsed. Noticing that his hands were clammy, and as he did not breathe, witness started artificial respiration, which he maintained till the doctor arrived. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, he thought perhaps the man was not altogether the worse for drink.

P. Sergt. Martin, K.C.C., stationed at Westenhanger, proved receiving information of the death. He went on to the down platform and learned that Dr, Gilbert had pronounced life extinct. He also ascertained that deceased was a resident of Folkestone, so wit assistance the body was placed in a brake van. The relations were informed that if they chose to move the body to Folkestone he would raise no objection, but if they allowed to remain till the morning the matter would be reported to the County Coroner. The body was removed to the Folkestone Mortuary the same night. In a purse found on the body was £2 17s. 4d.

The Coroner: You are a sergeant, and have had some experience. Do you give people, in such cases, the option of taking the body away before the morning if they like?

Witness: That is hardly a fair question.

The Coroner: That is for me to decide.

Witness: Well, I was acting under instructions.

In reply to further questions, witness said it was not the usual thing to do.

The Coroner said that he would have to make some further enquiries with regard to the removal of the body. It seemed that the deceased had died outside the borough, and yet they were holding an inquest which it was the duty of the County Coroner to hold.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes”.
 
 
 

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