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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Saturday, 24 August 2013

Lifeboat 1900s



Folkestone Chronicle 30-8-1902

Wednesday, August 2th: Before Messrs. W. Wightwick, W.G. Herbert, G.J. Swoffer, Alderman Salter, and Lieut. Col. Hamilton.

Detective Sergeant Burniston only boarded the Folkestone Lifeboat once, and on that occasion ran her ashore on the rocks of the Folkestone Police Court. This is how it happened.

On Wednesday morning Alice Ann Setterfield, the landlady of the Lifeboat public house, North Street, was summoned for permitting her house to remain open during prohibited hours, viz., between the hours of 11 and 12 on Sunday morning, the 15th inst.

Detective Sergeant Burniston, in proving the case, said that about 11.15 on Sunday morning, the 17th, in company with P.C. Sharpe, he saw the door of the Lifeboat wide open, and a woman in the act of leaving the premises with something under her apron. He stopped her and found the “something” to be a bottle of stout. She also had 3d. in her hand. He then went inside the house and found several men drinking. He took their names and addresses and told the landlady that he should report the occurrence.

Mrs. Setterfied said in defence that four out of the six men were lodgers, and the other two, who had been working on the harbour, had been staying at the house all night.

Fined £5 and 9s. costs. This being the first offence, the licence was not endorsed.

Folkestone Express 30-8-1902

Wednesday, August 2th: Before Messrs. W. Wightwick, W.G. Herbert, G.J. Swoffer, Alderman Salter, and Lieut. Col. Hamilton.

Alice Ann Setterfield was summoned for opening her house during prohibited hours.
 
Detective Sergt. Burniston said about 11.15 a.m. on Sunday, 17th inst., in company with P.C. Sharp, he was walking by the beerhouse known as the Lifeboat Inn. The bar door was open and a woman was in the act of leaving. Witness stopped her and found she had a bottle of stout in one hand and threepence in the other. Witness went inside and saw a man leaning against the counter with a pint of beer by his side. Defendant was in the act of giving him ninepence. There were also two half pint glasses standing on the counter. Witness then went into a room at the back of the bar and found four men. There were five pint and two half pint glasses. Another man came in, but when he saw the witness he made a bolt, but was stopped. Witness told defendant she would be reported.

The defence was that some of the men were lodgers and the others had stayed at the house that night.

A fine of £5 and 9s. costs was imposed, but the licence was not endorsed.

Folkestone Herald 30-8-1902

Wednesday, August 27th: Before Mr. W.G. Wightwick, Aldermen Salter and Herbert, Councillor Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, and Mr. G.I. Swoffer.

Alice Ann Setterfield was summoned for opening her house, the Lifeboat Inn, North Street, during prohibited hours.

Detective Sergt. Burniston stated that at 11.15 a.m. on Sunday, the 17th inst., he was on duty in company with P.C. Sharpe, and they saw the Lifeboat door open. A woman was in the act of leaving. Witness noticed that she had something under her apron, and found a bottle of stout there and 3d. in her hand. Witness went inside the bar and saw a man there. Defendant was behind the bar and giving the man some money. When she saw witness she withdrew her hand. Witness said he would report her. She replied “I am very sorry”. In a room behind the bar there were other men, and there were glasses and bottles about. Another man came in, and when he saw witness he was about to leave, but was stopped. The door was wide open, and witness thought it was fastened open.

Defendant stated that four of the men there were lodgers, and the others slept there that night after coming home late.

Fined £5 and 9s. costs.
   
Folkestone Chronicle 6-9-1902

Saturday, August 30th: Before Alderman Banks and other Magistrates.

Susannah Tumber, Joseph Sutton, John Williams, and Robert McKay were summoned for being on licensed premises during prohibited hours.

This case was a sequel to a prosecution last week when the landlady of the Lifeboat was fined £5 for allowing her house to remain open during prohibited hours on Sunday, the 17th of August.

All the defendants pleaded Guilty, and Detective Sergt. Burniston repeated the evidence by him when the landlady was convicted.

 Each of the defendants was fined 10s. and 9s. costs, or 14 days`. All the fines were paid.

Folkestone Express 6-9-1902

Saturday, August 30th: Before Alderman Banks, Lieut Col. Hamilton,W. Wightwick, W.G. Herbert, and G. Swoffer Esqs.

Susannah Lumber, Joseph Sutton, Robert McKay and John Williams were summoned for drinking on licensed premises during prohibited hours.

Detective Burniston said about 11.15 a.m. on the 17th inst. he was passing the Lifeboat Inn in North Street when he saw the defendant Lumber leaving the premises with something concealed under her apron. He found it was the bottle of stout produced. On entering the premises he found McKay leaning against the counter with a pint of beer by his side. Williams was in a room at the rear of the bar; he also had a pint of beer. Sutton entered the door, and was detained by witness.

A fine of 10s. and 9s. costs was imposed in each instance.

Folkestone Herald 6-9-1902

Saturday, August 30th: Before Alderman Banks, Colonel Hamilton, and Messrs. Herbert, Wightwick, and Swoffer.

Susan Lumber, Joseph Sutton, Robert McKay and John William were summoned for drinking on licensed premises (the Lifeboat) during prohibited hours.

Detective Burniston gave evidence.

Fined 10s. and 9s. costs in each instance.

Folkestone Herald 7-3-1903

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

The Adjourned Licensing Sessions for the Borough of Folkestone were held in the Town hall on Wednesday. In view of the opposition by the police to a number of the existing licences extraordinary interest was evinced in the meeting, and when the proceedings commenced at eleven o`clock in the morning there was a very large attendance, the “trade” being numerously represented. Representatives of the Folkestone Temperance Council and religious bodies in the town were also present, prominent amongst them being Mr. J. Lynn, Mrs. Stuart, and the Rev. J.C. Carlile. Prior to the commencement of business the Licensing Justices held a private meeting amongst themselves. When the doors were thrown open to the public there was a tremendous rush for seats. The Justices present were the following:- Mr. W. Wightwick, Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Mr. J. Pledge, Lieut. Col. Westropp, and Mr. C.J. Pursey.

Before proceeding with the business, the Chairman announced that at the Annual Licensing Meeting the Justices adjourned the renewal of 23 full licences and five on beer licences, and directed the Chief Constable to give notice of objection to the owners of the licences of the following nine houses:- Providence (Arthur F. East); Marquis Of Lorne (William R. Heritage); Granville (Charles Partridge); Victoria (Alfred Skinner); Tramway (Frederick Skinner); Hope (Stephen J. Smith); Star (Ernest Tearall); Bricklayers Arms (Joseph A. Whiting); and Blue Anchor (Walter Whiting). Since the former sessions the Justices had inspected all the houses objected to, and considered the course which they ought to pursue with respect to the same, with the result that they had directed the Chief Constable to withdraw the notices of objection served by him with respect of the Victoria, Hope, and Blue Anchor, and to persist in the opposition to the following:- Providence, Marquis Of Lorne, Granville, Tramway, Star, and Bricklayers Arms. As regarded the remaining 15 full licences and five beer licences they would renew the same this year, and deal with them next year according to the circumstances.

The five beerhouses on licences were granted before the 1st May, 1869, and had been continuously renewed since that date, therefore they could not refuse to renew the licences, except upon one of the four grounds set out in Section 8 of the Wine and Beerhouses Act, 1869. They, however, cautioned the landlord of the Lifeboat, who was convicted on the 27th of August last for selling beer during prohibited hours, not to commit any further breach of the Licensing Laws.

Folkestone Chronicle 13-2-1904

Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 10th: Before Mr. W. Wightwick, Alderman Herbert, Lieut. Cols. Fynmore, Westropp, and Hamilton, Messrs. C.J. Pursey and E.T. Ward.

The Chief Constable (Mr. H. Reeve) read his annual report, which contained interesting figures with regard to drunkenness, etc. No person in Folkestone had yet been convicted a sufficient number of times to be placed on the “black list”. The Chief Constable objected to the renewal of the licence of the Swan Inn, Dover Road, and asked that the consideration of this licence might be deferred until the adjourned sessions.

The Chairman then read the Justices` Report, which stated that the number of licensed houses in Folkestone, and especially around the harbour, was out of all proportion to the population. The number of licences had not been reduced, owing to the fact that a Bill amending the Licensing Laws was shortly to be introduced in Parliament. Certain public houses – the Imperial Brewery Tap, the Hope, the East Cliff Tavern, the Victoria, the Lifeboat Inn, the Duke Of Edinburgh, and the Channel Inn had been inspected by the Justices, and recommendations with regard to their sanitary improvement and closing of back entries were made.

Mr. John Minter said that water had been laid on at the Channel Inn since the report on the bad state of the sanitary arrangements. Mr. Minter also suggested with regard to the Imperial Brewery Tap that a public bar should be made with an entrance from Mill Bay.

The Bench decided, however, that the orders made in the report should be adhered to.

Licences were then granted to the lessees of public houses and licensed premises.

Mr. Minter applied for full licences for Mr. W.T. Tame and Mr. Gregory, but no new facts were forthcoming and the Bench declined to grant them, stating that they would grant no new licences this year.
 
Folkestone Express 13-2-1904

Annual Licensing Meeting

Wednesday, February 10th: Before W. Wightwick Esq., Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Lieut. Colonel Westropp, and W.G. Herbert, E.T. Ward, and C.J. Pursey Esqs.

The following was the report of Supt. Reeve: Chief Constable`s Office, Folkestone, 10th February, 1904. To the Chairman and Members of the Licensing Committee of the Borough of Folkestone. Gentlemen, I have the honour to report for your information that there are at present within your jurisdiction 139 premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors, namely: Full licences 87; Beer on 11; Beer off 6; Beer and Spirits (dealers) 16; Grocers 12; Confectioners 3; Chemists 4; Total 139 – an average of one licence to every 220 persons, or one “on” licence to every 313. This is a decrease of one full licence as compared with last year`s return, the licence of the Marquis Of Lorne having been refused at the adjourned meeting in March. Twenty of the licences have been transferred during the year, namely, 14 full licences, two beer on, two beer off, and two grocers. One beer off licence was transferred twice during the year. One licence holder has been convicted since the last annual meeting of committing drunkenness on his licensed premises. He has since transferred his licence and left the house. The alterations which the Justices at the adjourned meeting last year directed to be made to the Packet Boat, Castle, Tramway, Bricklayers` Arms, Granville, and Star Inns have all been carried out in a satisfactory manner, and none of the licensed houses are now used as common lodging houses. Ten occasional licences, and extensions of hours on 21 occasions, have been granted to licence holders during the year. There are 14 places licensed for music and dancing, and two for public billiard playing. Eleven clubs where intoxicating liquors are sold are registered in accordance with the Licensing Act of 1902. For the year ending 31st December last year, 154 persons (131 males and 23 females) were proceeded against for drunkenness. 131 were convicted and 23 discharged. This is an increase of 65 persons proceeded against, and 51 convicted, as compared with 1902. The increase is chiefly due to the additional powers given to the police under the Licensing Act, 1902. Up to the present time no person within the Borough has been convicted the necessary number of times within the 12 months to be placed on the “black list” as provided by Section 6 of the Act of 1902. With very few exceptions the whole of the licensed houses have been conducted in a satisfactory manner. The only objection I have to make to the renewal of any of the present licences is that of the Swan Inn, Dover Road, and I would ask that the renewal of this licence be deferred until the adjourned meeting. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant, H. Reeve (Chief Constable).

The Chairman: I think, gentlemen, you will agree that the report of the Superintendent is a satisfactory one – in fact, I may say very satisfactory – for the whole year. With your permission I well read the report we now make to you. At the adjournment of the last general licensing meeting we stated that in our opinion the number of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor then existing in the borough of Folkestone, especially in the part of the immediate neighbourhood of the Harbour, was out of all proportion to the population, and that we proposed between then and the general annual licensing meeting of this year to obtain information on various matters, to enable us to determine what reduction would be made in the number of licences. We invited the owners of licensed houses in the meantime to meet and agree among themselves for the voluntary surrender at this general meeting of a substantial number of licences in the borough, and to submit the result of their united action to the Licensing Justices for acceptance. Failing any satisfactory proposal for reduction by the owners, the Licensing Justices last year intimated that in the exercise of their discretionary powers they would at this year`s meeting decide in a fair and equitable spirit what reduction should be made. But at the opening of Parliament last week it was announced in the King`s speech that the Government intended to introduce in the House of Commons during the present session a Bill to amend the Licensing Laws. In view of this legislation we are of opinion we ought not, pending the passage of this Bill through Parliament, exercise the discretionary powers vested in us, and take measures for effecting a further reduction in the number of licences within the borough on the ground that certain licensed premises are not required for the public accommodation. We have recently inspected certain houses known as the Imperial Brewery Tap, the Hope, East Cliff Tavern, Victoria, Lifeboat, Duke Of Edinburgh, Railway Tavern, and Channel Inn.

As to the Lifeboat, we direct the holder of the licence of this house, within fourteen days from this date, to properly ence in the back of the licensed premises, without a door or gate leading from such back premises to The Durlocks, so that the police may exercise proper supervision over the licensed premises.

Folkestone Daily News 13-12-1905

Wednesday, December 13th: Before Alderman Banks, Messrs. W.G. Herbert, J. Stainer, R.J. Linton, R. Ames, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, and Major Leggett.

Mrs. Beaton was granted the transfer of the licence of the Lifeboat beerhouse.

Note: This is at variance with More Bastions
 
Folkestone Chronicle 16-12-1905

Wednesday, December 13th: Before Alderman Banks, Alderman Herbert, Liuet. Col. Fynmore, Major Leggatt, Mr. J. Stainer, Mr. Linton, and Mr. C. Ames.

The licence of the Lifeboat was transferred from Mr. Harrison to Eliza Beeton.

Note: Date is at variance with More Bastions.
 
Folkestone Express 16-12-1905

Wednesday, December 13th: Before Alderman Banks, Major Leggatt, J. Stainer, W.G. Herbert, T. Ames, and R.J. Linton Esqs.

Temporary authority was given to Mrs. Beeton to sell at the Lifeboat Inn, in respect of Mr. W. Harris.

Note: Date is at variance with More Bastions
 
Folkestone Herald 16-12-1905

Wednesday, December 13th: Before Alderman J. Banks, Alderman W.G. Herbert, Councillor R.J. Fynmore, Mr. T. Ames, Mr. R.J. Linton, Mr. J. Stainer, and Major Leggatt.

The licence of the Lifeboat Inn was transferred from Wm. Harris to Mrs. Beaton.
 
 Note: Date is at variance with More Bastions
 
Folkestone Daily News 24-1-1906

Wednesday, January 24th: Before The Mayor, Messrs. E.T. Ward, R.J. Linton, T.J. Vaughan, W.C. Carpenter, W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, and Major Leggett.

Mrs. Beeton was granted the transfer of the Lifeboat Inn, North Street.
 
Folkestone Chronicle 27-1-1906

Wednesday, January 24th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Councillor Carpenter, Aldermen T.J. Vaughan and W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Major Leggatt and Mr. Linton.

The following licensed premises was transferred:- The Lifeboat, to Mrs. Beaton.

Folkestone Express 27-1-1906

Wednesday, January 24th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Major Leggett, W.G. Herbert, W.C. Carpenter, E.T. Ward, and R.J. Linton Esqs.

The following licence was transferred by the Magistrates: The Lifeboat Inn, from Mr. William Hallis (sic) to Mrs. Eliza Beeton.
 
Folkestone Herald 27-1-1906

Wednesday, January 24th: Before The Mayor, Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Alderman W.G. Herbert, Councillor R.J. Fynmore, Councillor W.C. Carpenter, Major Leggett, Mr. E.T. Ward, and Mr. R.J. Linton.

The licence of the Lifeboat Inn was transferred from Wm. Harris to Eliza Beeton

Folkestone Express 1-9-1906

Saturday, August 25th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Banks, Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, and T. Ames, C.J. Pursey, W.G. Herbert, G.I. Swoffer, and R.J. Linton Esqs.

Ernest Hall, a soldier, and Martin Gefkins were summoned for inciting a prisoner to resist the police, and also for obstructing the police in the execution of their duty on August 18th. Both defendants pleaded Not Guilty.

Mr. Haines, who was instructed by the Watch Committee to appear on behalf of the police, said the summons arose out of a case the previous Saturday night, when the police had great difficulty in taking a man into custody. There was a crowd of some 200 or 300 people present, and the police had actually to draw their truncheons to keep them off. Most prominent among the crowd were the two defendants, who incited, by language both to the mob and also to the prisoner to resist arrest, and the mob did make one or two rushes, and the whole of the constables present were engaged in a melee. Some were thrown to the ground and had their clothes torn. One felt, under the circumstances, that some severe measures should be taken in future to prevent the police being so obstructed.

P.S. Laurence said he was in Dover Street about five minutes past eleven the previous Saturday night, in company with P.C. Laurence, when he heard a police whistle blown several times in Tontine Street. They proceeded to the spot, and, round Mr. Major`s shop, he saw a large crowd of people, numbering about 200. It was a howling mob. They had some difficulty in getting through the mob into the shop, where they saw P.C.s Butler and Allen with a man named Richardson in custody. They were holding him down on the floor and handcuffing him. He (witness) assisted in getting the prisoner into the street, when the crowd at once commenced to shout “Mob them. Down with them”. They rushed upon the constables and himself and knocked them down, and the two defendants, who appeared to be the ringleaders of the gang, began to pull and hustle them on the ground. In the struggle his trousers were torn. He had no doubt about the defendants` identity. After the crowd had hustled them for a minute or two, P.C. Chaney came to their assistance. The whole mob became so rough that he was compelled to draw his truncheon and threaten to use it, especially on the two defendants, if they did not keep back. All along the street the prisoner was very violent, and Hall and Gefkins were shouting “Don`t let them take you, Tom. Down with them”, and similar expressions. The soldier got his belt off and said to witness “I will use this on you”. The two defendants and several others appeared to be taking the lead. Four or five times along Tontine Street he had to push Gefkins back. At eight o`clock on the following evening he went to the Lifeboat public house, in North Street, in company with P.C. Allen. He there saw Hall and called him outside. He told him he should report him for obstructing the police, and further with inciting a mob to rescue the prisoner. He replied “I do not remember anything about it. My mother said this morning that I looked like getting into trouble for being mixed up in an affair in Tontine Street last night”. Later he went to 39, Broadmead Road, where he saw Gefkins, and informed him he would be reported. He replied “You have made a mistake. I was there but I did not do or say anything”. It was one of the most disorderly mobs he had seen in the town.

Alfred Davis, a grocer, of 41, Tontine Street, said on Saturday night, August 18th, at about ten minutes past eleven, he saw the police arrest a prisoner and take him into Mr. Major`s shop. A large crowd of about 200 persons were round the shop. The prisoner was very obstinate, and witness assisted the police, who had difficulty in putting the handcuffs on the prisoner. The crowd became very disorderly when the officers with the prisoner got into the street, and they shouted “Mob them. Down with them”. He saw the soldier obstruct the police, and he deliberately stood in front of the police in order to prevent them getting by with their prisoner.

P.C. Allen said he had cause to arrest a man named Richardson for being drunk and disorderly. He was very violent, and they had to handcuff him and take him into Mr. Major`s shop on account of the crowd rushing upon them. With assistance he got the man into the street, and the two defendants came on immediately and pushed the officers. They shouted “Mob them. Don`t let them take you, Tom”. They continued all the way up the street, and the soldier took his belt off and threatened P.S. Laurence with it.

P.C. Butler, in corroboration, said the soldier attempted to strike him, and also threatened to punch his ---- nose.

Hall said he was very sorry. He had just come home on furlough before going to India. He thought it was the last thing he would do to try and stop the police in their duty.

Gefkins said he saw a crowd near Messrs. Stokes`s, so he went there, and got hustled about. He did not interfere with the police, and he did not know the prisoner.

The Mayor said the Bench considered that was a very bad case, for it was the duty of everyone to protect the police. Each defendant would be fined 40s. and 10s. costs, or in default one month`s imprisonment with hard labour.

Richard Carpenter was also summoned for inciting the crowd in Rendezvous Street. He pleaded Guilty.

Detective Sergeant Burniston said he was in Rendezvous Street, in company with P.C.s Simpson and Sharpe, when he saw the man Richardson being taken to the police station. The police were surrounded by a large crowd, and he saw the defendant amongst them. He was shouting at the top of his voice “Down with them. Don`t go with him. Down with Allen”. His conduct was likely to incite the crowd.

The defendant said the remarks he passed were against “Mr.” Tom Allen because he was ill-using his prisoner.

A fine of 20s. and 9s. costs was inflicted in this case, the defendant paying the money down.
 
 

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