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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.


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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.

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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 7 June 2013

Richmond Tavern 1900s



Folkestone Express 14-2-1903

Thursday,  February 12th: Before W. Wightwick Esq., Colonel Hamilton, Alderman Salter, W.G. Herbert, and G.I. Swoffer Esqs.

Two little lads, Frederick Thomas Clark (10), and John Keeling (9) were charged with stealing a contribution box from the Richmond Tavern.

Florence Ovenden, wife of Charles Ovenden, landlord of the Richmond Tavern, said she recognised the defendants. They come into the bar of their house on Tuesday afternoon about four o`clock. She asked them who they were looking for. Clark replied “My father”, and said his father`s name was Green. She said she had not seen him and did not know him. One stood on the step, and the other just inside on the mat. She had a contribution box on the bar counter, which anyone could reach standing on the mat. When they left she went into her sitting room, and while there she thought she heard the sound of a footstep. She went into the bar. She could not see anyone, but missed the box at once. She went into the street, but only saw a number of little children. The value of the box was one shilling. There was money in it, but she did not know how much.

The box (in pieces) was produced for inspection by the Bench.

Detective Burnsiton said on Wednesday morning he called on the last witness at the Richmond Tavern, and acting on the description given to him he went to 7, Norris Place, Mill Bay, where he saw the boy Clark. He said to him “You answer to the description of a boy in the Richmond Tavern yesterday afternoon, and shortly after you left the bar Mrs. Ovenden missed a contribution box. I am going to take you there for the purpose of identification”. He replied “John Keeling took the box. There was only 2½d. in it. I buried the box in the garden”. He was taken to the Richmond Tavern, where he was identified as one of the lads. In the garden of Brook Cottage he found the box buried. Later on he saw Keeling in the Fishmarket and charged him with being concerned in the theft of the box. He replied “Clark took the box. There was only 2½d. in it. He gave me a farthing”.

He Chief Constable said three weeks ago Clark received twelve strokes with the birch rod and Keeling eight strokes for a similar offence.

Two little urchins only seven years of age and brothers of the boys before the Bench were brought forward, and the Chief Constable explained that these children had been taken to the police station on several occasions for being concerned in several petty thefts, but on account of their tender years they could not bring any charge against them. It seemed to him that the parents were more to blame than the children, and he was only sorry that the Bench had not the power to send the parents to a prison or a reformatory for not doing their duty to the children.

The boys pleaded Guilty and elected to be tried summarily.

The boy Clark apparently has a tender regard for bad characters, for on Tuesday night, thinking no doubt to meet a kindred spirit, he went to the theatre to see “The Worst Woman In London”, and arrived home at the respectable hour of one a.m.

The Bench said it was very difficult to decide what to do, and adjourned the case for a week, the defendants to remain in the custody of their parents.

Folkestone Herald 14-2-1903

Thursday, February 12th: Before Mr. W. Wightwick, Mr. W. Herbert, Alderman Salter, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, and Mr. G.I. Swoffer.

Frederick Thomas Clark (10), and John Keeling (9) were charged with the theft of a contribution box from th bar of the Richmond Tavern, Richmond Street. Both lads pleaded Guilty.

Florence Ovenden, wife of Charles Ovenden, landlord of the Richmond Tavern, said that the two boys came into the bar on Tuesday afternoon about four o`clock. She asked them what they were looking for, and Clark replied his father, whose name, he said, was Green. Mrs. Ovenden told the lad that she did not know such a person. The lads then went into the roadway. Immediately afterwards, whilst in the sitting room, she thought she heard the sound of a footstep in the bar. When she got there she could not see anyone, but missed the contribution box at once. She looked out into the street, but there was nobody about except a number of little children. The value of the box was 1s., and it contained some money, but she did not know the amount. On Wednesday afternoon, about half past one, Detective Sergt. Burniston brought the boy Clark to her, and she recognised him as being one of the boys who had been in the bar the previous afternoon. Neither of the lads desired to ask witness any questions.

Detective Sergt. Burniston proved arresting the lads. When charged, Clark said “John Keeling took the box. There was only 2½d. in it, and I buried the box in a garden”. On the way to the police station Clark pointed out the place where he had hid the box, and the detective found the box (produced) as indicated. Subsequently, Detective Sergt. Burniston saw Keeling in the fish market, apprehended him, and charged him with being concerned in the theft of the contribution box. He replied “Clark took the box. There was only 2½d. in it, and he gave me a farthing”.

Prisoners had nothing to say, and their fathers, who were also in Court, did not desire to make any statement on their behalf.

The Chief Constable informed the Bench that this was not the only occasion on which they had had trouble with the lads. On the 4th of October Keeling was charged with stealing some money from a little girl in the street, but as the girl`s mother declined to take proceedings he was let off with a caution. On the 14th of January Keeling was again before the Court for larceny, but on this occasion also the charge was withdrawn. Next, both prisoners were before the Court on the 23rd of January, on a similar charge to the present one, and also for stealing a set of chessmen from the Masonic Hall. Clark received 12 strokes and Keeling eight strokes with the birch rod. It seemed to him, added the Chief Constable, that the parents were more to blame than the lads themselves, as owing to their neglect, the lads had caused a great amount of trouble. He only wished the Bench had the power of sending the parents to prison or the reformatory instead of the boys.

After a long consultation with his colleagues, the Chairman said the Bench would adjourn their decision for a week.
 

Folkestone Express 21-2-1903

Thursday, February 19th: Before W. Wightwick, W.C. Carpenter, W.G. Herbert, and G.I. Swoffer Esqs., Aldermen Salter and Penfold, and Lieut. Col. Westropp.

The two boys, Clark and Keeling, who were remanded a week ago on a charge of stealing a contribution box from the Richmond Tavern, were again brought before the Bench.

They were ordered to receive six strokes each with a birch, the Chairman expressing a regret that they could not send them to a Reformatory because they were too young. If they came before the Bench again, the parents would be bound over to be responsible for their behaviour.

Folkestone Herald 21-2-1903

Thursday, February 19th: Before Mr. W. Wightwick, Aldermen Penfold and Salter, Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Lieut. Colonel Westropp, and Messrs. W.G. Herbert, G.I. Swoffer, and W.C. Carpenter.

Frederick Thomas Clarke (10), and John Keeling (9), who were last week charged with stealing a contribution box from the bar of the Richmond Tavern, and remanded in order to give the Bench time to consider their decision, were brought up for sentence. Clarke was accompanied by his mother, and the other lad by his father.

The Chairman said that, unfortunately, they could not send the lads to a Reformatory because they were too young. Both were bad boys, and the Bench thought that the parents encouraged them. If ever the lads were again brought before them on a similar charge they would bind the parents over in a large sum to keep the peace. In the present case, however, they ordered each defendant to receive six strokes with the birch rod, administered in the presence of the parents. If they came again, the parents, whom the Bench thought were in a great measure responsible, as they did not look after the children as they ought to, would have to suffer as well as the lads.

Keeling`s father told the Bench that he could not deal with his lad, as when he was at home he was always in mischief.

The Chairman: You will have to look after your own children. If he does not behave himself you must flog him a bit, if you don`t we shall bind you over.

Keeling: If I use extreme measures, then I am taken for ill-treatment.

The Chairman: It is absurd a man like you saying you can`t manage a child like that. You will have to manage the child.

Mrs. Clarke said that she took her lad to school twice every day, but the Chairman said she would have to look after him better.

The lads were then taken below to receive their punishment.
 

Folkestone Express 12-9-1903

Local News

The death is announced of Mr. George Burgess, formerly of the Richmond Tavern, who latterly carried on a fruitrerer`s business in Cheriton Road. The funeral took place on Tuesday.
 

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