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, 28 September 2013

East Kent Arms 1905 - 1909



Folkestone Express 10-6-1905

Monday, June 5th: Before The Mayor and Alderman Vaughan.

George Read was charged with being drunk and incapable in Sandgate Road on Saturday. He pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Watson said at four o`clock on Saturday afternoon he was on duty in Sandgate Road, where he saw the prisoner very drunk. He fell down in the East Kent yard, and was ejected from there; witness, finding he was unable to walk, brought him to the police station.

The Superintendent said prisoner was a “regular client” of theirs.

Fined 2s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. costs, or seven days` hard labour.
 
Folkestone Daily News 19-11-1907

Inquest

The Coroner (Mr. W.G. Haines) held an inquest this afternoon on the body of Thomas Nickalls.

Harry Nickalls, a postman, brother of the deceased, identified the body as that of Thomas Nickalls. He was 23 years of age, and was single. He had acted as potman at the East Kent Arms, and lived at 10, Spring Cottages. Witness last saw him alive on Sunday night at No. 9, The Plain. He had been in good health up to the last two months, and only said he was down on his luck. He was in constant work, and had been in his recent occupation about a week. He had formerly been barman at the Red Cow, Foord Road. As far as witness knew he had no troubles. There was something in his manner on Sunday night that witness could not understand. Deceased had been under the doctor, and had been treared for nervous breakdown, which witness thought was due to his not being able to get work. Witness parted with him on Sunday night at 9.10. Witness asked him several things, but could not get any satisfactory answer.

Alice Cladingbowl, wife of Charles Cladingbowl, a coachman, said she resided at No. 9, The Plain. The deceased was her brother, and often visited her. She noticed he was strange in his manner about a fortnight ago, and did not seem himself. She had questioned him about his breakdown, but he gave no particular reason, and certainly did not lead her to think he would take his life. He left the house on Monday morning, as if he was going to work, after having his breakfast.

George Flood, 6, Coastguard Cottages, said on Monday morning at 8.10 he got as far as the west end of the Switchback, when he saw a body floating about three or four fathoms from the shore. He got the body out of the sea and handed it over to Mr. Chadwick. Witness did what he could to bring the deceased round, but failed. He also sent to the police station.

Dr. Gilbert deposed that on Monday week he saw the deceased, and found he was suffering from a general breakdown and a love affair. He also seemed to have a difficulty in getting work. Witness saw him again on Thursday, and he seemed better, and his trouble seemed to be passing off. On Saturday deceased called at witness`s house, and asked to be allowed to go off his Club. The marks on deceased were no doubt caused by the action of the beach. Death, in his opinion, was due to drowning.

The Town Sergeant gave evidence as to the body being handed over to him on Monday morning, and also to finding several letters on the deceased, none of which, however, had any reference to the matter.

The jury, without any hesitation, returned a verdict of “Suicide whilst of unsound mind”.
 

Folkestone Express 23-11-1907

Inquest

On Tuesday afternoon the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines) investigated the circumstances attending the death of Thomas Nickalls, whose body the previous morning was found floating in the sea close to the sea wall near to the switchback. Unfortunately, Nickalls had for some time been unable to obtain regular employment and that probably preyed upon his mind, and he had a nervous breakdown, which proved too much for him.

Henry Gordon Nickalls, a postman, residing at 7, Geraldine Road, identified the body viewed by the jury as that of his brother, Thomas Nickalls, who was 23 years of age. He was a single man, and was last engaged as a potman at the East Kent Arms. He was living at 10, Spring Cottages. Witness last saw him alive on Sunday night at 9, The Plain, the residence of his sister. Up to the last two months the deceased had been very well. He had only seen him twice during the last two months. He had often complained to witness that he was down on his luck and could not get any work. He believed he had been in work for about a week. He had been barman at the Red Cow, Foord Road. He did not know that he had any troubles or any money troubles. On Sunday night the deceased seemed strange, and he could not make him out at all. His sister had told him that his brother had been under the doctor for nervous breakdown. He took it that the cause of the breakdown was worry because of no work. He did not know it was because he wanted to get married. On Sunday night the deceased stared so and seemed very distant. He left his brouther at the Plain Cottages about a quarter past nine.

Mrs. Alice Cladingbowl, the wife of Charles Cladingbowl, a coachman, residing at 9, The Plain, said the deceased was her brother. He had very often been in the habit of visiting her lately. He had been out of work a good deal. Previous to getting work at the Red Cow he worked for Mr. Lukey. During the past fortnight she noticed he was strange in his manner. He seemed to be very absent minded. After he was ill he stayed with her, so she sent for Dr. Gilbert, who attended him for nervous breakdown. She had often questioned him as to the strangeness, and he answered “Nothing in particular”. He had never said anything to lead her to think he would take his life. On Monday morning, between a quarter and twenty past seven, he left the house to go to work at the East Kent Arms. He had been away from work a week. Mr. Major was willing to take him on again. The deceased did not say anything to her. He appeared to be a little better. She, however, asked him to have another week from work, but he took himself off the club.

Thomas Flood, of 6, Coastguards` Cottages,, a collector at the Metropole Lift, said on Monday morning, about ten minutes past eight, he was walking to his work along the Marine Walk and when just beyond the switchback he saw a body floating in the sea. He got it out, and with assistance carried it up the beach and handed the body over to Mr. Chadwick at ten minutes past nine. He turned the body over and got the water out of him. He appeared to be quite dead and cold. There was frothing at the mouth, the face was bruised and the eyes were blood red.

Dr. Thornton Gilbert said he first saw the deceased at 9, The Plain. He was suffering from nervous breakdown, and seemed to have some worry about a love affair and a difficulty of getting work. He suggested that he should take a little rest and not look at the black side of life. He saw him the following day and he appeared much better and more cheerful, and the other matter seemed to be passing off. A gentleman, who was acting for him, saw the deceased on Saturday and the latter suggested that he should be taken off the Friendly Society, as he wanted to get work. He had examined the body that day, but there were no marks of violence upon it. The marks on the face would be caused by the beach. In his opinion death was caused by drowning. The deceased`s condition on the Monday did not lead him to suppose that there would be a more serious breakdown.

Edwin John Chadwick, the Coroner`s Officer, said he took over the body from Mr. Flood about ten minutes past nine. He undressed the body and found a quantity of letter upon him in addition to other articles.

A verdict of “Suicide whilst temporarily insane” was returned.

Folkestone Herald 23-11-1907

Inquest

A very sad story was unfolded at the Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon, when the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines) held an enquiry regarding the death of Thomas Nickalls, a young man, aged 23.

Henry Gordon Nickalls, of 7, Geraldine Road, a postman, identified the body as that of his brother Thomas. He was a single man, and had recently been employed as potman at the East Kent Arms. He lived at 10, Spring Cottages. On Sunday night witness last saw deceased at  No. 9, The Plain Cottages, where his sister resided. Up till the last two months deceased had been very well in health. During that time witness had not seen much of him. He had complained that he was down on his luck, and could not get any work. He had been in his last situation about a week, and before that had been barman at the Red Cow, in Foord Road. Deceased had no money troubles. Witness could not understand his brother on Sunday night, for he seemed so strange. He had been under the doctor, owing to a nervous breakdown, as the result of his worrying through his inability to get work. Witness did not know that deceased wanted to get married. On the Sunday night, soon after nine o`clock, witness left deceased at The Plain Cottages.

Mrs. Alice Cladingbowl, wife of Mr. Chas. Cladingbowl, a coachman, living at No. 9, The Plain, said deceased was her brother. Very often he visited her. He had been out of work for a long time, and had not been in regular employment since he left Mr. Lukey`s employ as a cellarman. A fortnight ago witness noticed deceased was strange in his manner. He seemed very absent in his manner, and was not himself. Witness asked Dr. Gilbert to attend him. She often asked deceased what had caused the breakdown, but her brother never gave any definite answer. On Monday morning, about 7.15, the deceased left her house with the intention of going to work at the East Kent arms. He had been away from there a week, owing to his illness. Mr. Major had expressed his willingness to take deceased back to work on the Monday morning, and was surprised that he did not reach there. On the Saturday he took himself off the club, though witness advised him to have another week at home.

George Flood, collector in the employ of the Metropole Lift Company, deposed that on Monday morning, about eight o`clock, he was going to work. He usually went to work along the Marine Walk. At the westward of the Shelter, about five fathoms out, he saw a body floating. Witness dragged it out of the water, and the Coroner`s officer was sent for. To witness the man appeared to be dead. He was quite cold, and was frothing a very little at the mouth. His face was very bruised, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Dr. J.W. Thornton Gilbert proved having attended the deceased. He first saw him on Monday week, when he was suffering from nervous breakdown. He appeared to have a general upset about a love affair, and the difficulty of getting work. Witness suggested that he should take some rest, and not to look on the black side of life. Next day he was more cheerful, and his trouble seemed to be passing off. On Saturday he visited witness`s house, and saw the gentleman who was acting for him in his absence. Deceased suggested that he should be removed from the sick books of his club, as he wanted to get work. Death had been caused by drowning. The abrasions on the face were probably due to contact with the shingle. Witness did not presuppose that deceased would take his life.

Edward John Chadwick, Coroner`s Officer, proved receiving the body from George Flood. Witness undressed him, and found a quantity of letters, an Oddfellows Club card, a silver watch and chain, etc.

A verdict of “Suicide whilst temporarily insane” was returned.

Folkestone Herald 31-10-1908


Felix

My last week`s yarns anent “Pompey” and the corpse, the wheelbarrow, and the church steeple, appear to have gone down very well. Here is another one that I and many others can vouch for. The late Mr. J.P. Scott, a prince of local whips, who met with such a tragic death at Barham, was also proprietor of the East Kent Arms. Scotty was one of the rough and ready sort, taciturn, very outspoken, true as steel to his friends, and straightforward to a degree. He was not, however, “anybody`s ha`porth”. Although there was, perhaps, something stern about him, yet he had a certain magnetic quality that made him much sought after by many “lively boys” and “young bloods”. Thus one day a bill was posted about the town that Scotty`s 50th birthday would be celebrated at the well-known hostelry in Sandgate Road, at 11 a.m., with free champagne and cigars. What a gathering there was. Those “in the know” were looking on with glee, whilst what became of poor Scotty on the occasion I do not remember. However, I do know that everything was taken good-humouredly, and in the nature of an innocent practical joke.

Just now I was referring to Scotty. Well, it reminds me how fond he was of reading. Similarly to many others, he enjoyed “a quiet five minutes” to himself. Although a licensed victualler, he never, at least in later years, allowed any alcoholic liquors to pass his lips. Very often he could be seen with one leg perched in a chair (he was lame), pince-nez balanced on his nose, and a book in hand. Thus, sitting in the cosy parlour of the East Kent, he would often be deeply immersed. Those of us who knew him well were aware that such a time was not opportune to open a conversation with our hero. To do so would mean a deserved snub. Yes, there`s no harm in stating it, some of us really loved old Scotty. I remember once some years ago one of those hee-haw gilded dons came in. He was a complete stranger. The famous whip was enjoying his book, briar, and a cup of cocoa, when the young don suggested that the weather was fine. Came a curt “Yes” from Scotty. Then came a string of inane questions and remarks from the “toff”. This was too much. Whether Scotty had a particularly interesting book in hand, I know not, but he removed his pince-nez, and, liking the stranger in the face, said “I don`t know who the Mephistopheles you are, but of this I am certain, you have never been to a school of manners. Haven`t you got the common sense to see that I am reading?” The don collapsed, drank up his ginger ale, and departed a wiser, if a sadder man. Scotty renewed his reading. And when we come to think of it the rebuke, though perhaps forcibly expressed, was deserved.
 
 

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