South Foreland 1905 - 1914

Folkestone Express 15-6-1907

Inquest

The circumstances surrounding the death of Charles Foster, a Rye fisherman, will always remain to a certain extent a mystery. Early on Friday morning he was found severely injured on the railway line leading from the Junction to the Harbour Stations, almost immediately below the Radnor Bridge. His injuries, however, were plainly not the result of a railway accident, and there was hardly any doubt that they were caused by a fall from a good height. He was taken to the Victoria Hospital, where he succumbed several hours after without becoming conscious. The inquest was held on Saturday afternoon at the Town Hall, the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines) conducting the enquiry, but nothing of a definite nature came to light as to how the unfortunate man came to fall off the bridge.

John Henry Baker, mate of the fishing boat No. 48, registered at Rye, said he identified the body as that of Charles Foster, who resided at Church Square, Rye, and who was master of the fishing lugger, the Florence, No. 48, registered at Rye. On Thursday evening the boat was lying in Folkestone Harbour. He saw the deceased, who was 27 years of age, at seven o`clock, when they went aboard after they had been shopping. He left the deceased on board at eight o`clock, and the deceased said he was going ashore. Foster told him to have steam ready by eleven o`clock. When he left the deceased he was sober, but he had had a glass or two.

Mr. Blake, solicitor, said he represented Mr. Kingsford Read, the owner of the smack, and he would like to ask the witness whether the deceased had any reason to go up to the bridge in the course of his work.

The Coroner: I do not think you need trouble with that question at this enquiry.

Mr. Blake: Very well.

George Knight, of 26, Greenfield Road, said he was an engine driver in the employ of the S.E. and C.R. Company. On Friday morning, about four o`clock, he was driving his engine, with a bank brake attached, from the Junction to the Harbour, and just before coming to Radnor Bridge he noticed something fifty yards in front of his engine on the Harbour side of the crossing, lying about two feet from the outside rail. When he got closer to it he saw it was the body of a man. The body was quite clear of the rails, and he ran past it. They then applied the brakes and got down. On going to the man, he found he was alive, but unconscious. His mate went for a police constable, and he returned with P.C. Lawrence. The body was never touched from the first time he saw it.

P.C. Lawrence said on Friday morning, about half past four, from information received, he went to the Tram Road, and the last witness pointed out to him the body of a man, who was lying about two feet clear of the down rails. The body was about three feet on the Harbour side of the bridge. The man was unconscious, lying on his stomach, and bleeding from the nose and ears. He at once went for Dr. Gilbert and sent for the stretcher. Dr. Gilbert came immediately, and under his directions he removed the body to the hospital. When the doctor arrived they had got the man on the stretcher. The sleeper was marked with blood just where the man`s head was resting.

P.S. Osborne said on Friday morning, just after six o`clock, he went to Radnor Bridge and examined it. On the Harbour side of the bridge at the end nearest the East Cliff, there were some marks on the outside of the bridge, as if someone had climbed over. The marks appeared to have been caused by the toe, the moss being scraped from the wall, and on a ledge about four or five feet down there was the impression of a foot in grit. The ledge was about 10 inches wide. The grit appeared to be the same as that in the roadway. There had been a lot of rain during the night. The marks were almost perpendicular with the place where the man was found. On one of the chains of the rails he found a piece of hair.

Dr. Thornton Gilbert said on Friday morning, at twenty past four, he was called by the police to the crossing, and on his arrival he found they had got the body on the ambulance. He examined the body, which was that of an unconscious man. He found an abrasion on the face, a cut over the right eye, and blood oozing from the nose and ear. The jaw was broken in three places, and the right thigh was also broken. Having dressed the wound on the face, he ordered the man`s removal to the hospital. He saw the man again in the hospital and he was dying. The injuries were such as would be caused by a fall from a height. He should not think there were any marks which could have been caused in a brawl. The distance from the arch of the bridge to the ground was 28 feet. The man, who smelt slightly of alcohol, but not much, might have been near the rails half an hour, the blood on his face having commenced to coagulate. It was very difficult to give an accurate idea of how long he had been lying on the railway.

Dr. Cecil Hadley, the house surgeon at the Victoria Hospital, said on Friday morning, at five o`clock, the deceased was brought into the Hospital suffering from a fracture of the right thigh, fracture of the jaw, and fracture of the base of the skull. Deceased died at one o`clock in the afternoon from the fracture of the base of the skull. The injuries were such as would be received from a fall of 28 feet. They were not of such a character as would have been received in a brawl.

John Allen, 3, Kenley Bridge Road, Lower Sydenham, said he was a bricklayer. On Thursday evening last he was going across the Radnor bridge, about 11.30, from Dover Road, and saw a man on it nearest the Warren end. The man, who appeared to be a fisherman, was leaning over the bridge, looking down on the rails below. When he passed the man he said to him “It is time you were aboard”, and he replied “I will ---- well go when I like”. Witness then passed on. He could not tell from the man`s voice whether he was drunk or sober.

Mrs. Bertha Fagg, who offered to give evidence, said she lived at 5, Fenchurch Street. She was a widow. She knew the deceased as “Shamrock”, a name by which he was generally known. On Friday night, about nine o`clock, she left off work and went into the Queen`s Head, where she saw the deceased and several other fishermen with other women. They all came out of there and went into the North Foreland (sic), where they had another drink. She then went with the deceased, in company with other men and women, to the Clarence Inn, where they remained until eleven o`clock. She left the deceased at five minutes past eleven, at the bottom of Dover Road, near St. Michael`s Church. She asked him to go along with her, and then go aboard his boat, but he refused to do so. When he left her he had about a quartern of rum in a bottle with him. Deceased was not sober, and was the worse for drink. She had had no more drink than the other women.

The Coroner, in summing up, said there was nothing to show that the injuries were received in a brawl or from any instrument.

Mr. Hopper, the station-master at the Harbour Station, in reply to the Coroner, said two trains came from the Junction Station during the night – one at 12.35 and the other at 2.08. He had had no report from the drivers as to having seen or struck anyone, and there were no marks on the engines when they were examined the same morning.

The jury held that death was caused by the fall from the bridge, but there was no evidence to show how the deceased got there.

Folkestone Daily News 31-1-1913

Local News

Poor Harry Jordan died this morning after a painful illness, mourned by all, beloved and regretted by all. A good, kind-hearted friend of the old John Bull type, we join in the sorrow of the friends and relatives.

Folkestone Express 1-2-1913

Local News

We regret to hear, as we are going to press, that Mr. Harry Jordan, of the South Foreland Hotel, died last (Thursday) evening.

Folkestone Herald 1-2-1913

Obituary

We regret to record the death of Mr. Harry Jordan, of the South Foreland Hotel. He had been in ill-health since last September, and passed peacefully away at his house at about 9.30 on Thursday evening.

The deceased gentleman was well-known and respected among a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances, being closely identified with various branches of local sport. He was an enthusiastic member of the John Jones Coursing Club, being a close friend of the late Mr. Jones himself.

For many years past he had been the landlord of the South Foreland, the licence of which his father held before him. His death will be greatly regretted by many. In the words of an intimate friend, he was “One of the best” in every sense of the phrase.

Folkestone Herald 8-2-1913

Felix

“Harry” it always was, and “Harry” it will ever be. He was an institution, and it is true to state that the town will not be quite the same to many of us without him. Bluff and outspoken, he was a typical John Bull. He was wont to express himself in unconventional language, and it came, as they say, “straight from the shoulder”. Amongst sportsmen on both sides of the Channel he was known. He was indeed fond of a horse, and could judge one. Next to his greyhounds, Harry was passionately fond of cultivating flowers, and many a nosegay of roses or sweetpeas had he presented to me. People from the West End of the town and many Continental travellers would make a point of looking up Harry at his little hostelry. In his character glittered the gold of kindness and goodness. He did good by stealth, and this is known particularly in the neighbourhood of the Fishmarket. Many a time did he drive me and others to the coursing club dinner at Dymchurch, and it can be judged that times were gay. The late John Jones, of the Marsh village, was in life one of his most intimate friends. Harry was firm in his friendship. Once a friend, always a friend. He did not pose as a saint, but it can be said he acted and carried out all attributes to be associated with the name of Englishman. May a kind Providence lighten the sorrow of his widow and family in their sad bereavement – that is the wish of all of us. That is the wish of one who was proud to term Harry a friend.

Folkestone Express 15-3-1913

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

At the annual licensing sessions seven licences were deferred to the adjourned sessions, which were held at the Town Hall on Monday. The Magistrates on the Bench were E.T. Ward Esq., Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Alderman Jenner, and W.G. Herbert, J. Stainer, R.J. Linton, G. Boyd, W.J. Harrison, J.J. Giles, E.T. Morrison and A. Stace Esqs.

The Magistrates agreed to the transfer of the following licence: The South Foreland, to Mrs. Jordan

Folkestone Herald 15-3-1913

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

The adjourned Annual Folkestone Licensing Sessions were held at the Police Court on Monday, when the licences of the seven houses deferred at the Annual General Sessions came up for hearing. Mr. E.T. Ward was in the chair, and he was supported by Mr. W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Colonel C.J. Hamilton, Mr. J. Stainer, Mr. R.J. Linton, Mr. G. Boyd, Alderman C. Jenner, Captain Chamier, Mr. J.J. Giles, Councillor W.J. Harrison, Mr. E.T. Morrison and Councillor A. Stace.

The Chief Constable stated that since the Annual Sessions two licences had been transferred, one, the South Foreland, to Mrs. Jordan, widow of the late licensee, and the other, the Clarence Hotel, to Mr. Mooring. The transfers were sanctioned.