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.

Contribute

If you have any anecdotes or photographs of the pubs featured in this Blog and would like to share them, please mail me at: jancpedersen@googlemail.com.

If you`ve enjoyed your visit here, why not buy me a pint, using the button at the end of the "Labels" section?


Search This Blog

Saturday, 22 March 2014

Star Inn 1915 - 1919



Folkestone Express 2-10-1915

Elham County Bench

Thursday, September 30th: Before Garnet Man Esq., Sir Clarence Smith, J.H. Maltby Esq., A.S. Jones Esq., and E.J. Bishop Esq.

Private J.R. Horncastle (C.E.F.), summoned for being drunk in the Star Inn, Newington, on September 15th, was fined 10/-.

The defendant said he had been admonished by the military authorities.

A military Sergeant said the case was dismissed.

The Chairman: Why? Because he was not drunk enought?

The Witness: I don`t know, sir. I was not there.

It was explained that inquiries were being made as to why the case was dismissed.

Albert Charles Maycock, of the Star Inn, Newington, was summoned for permitting drunkenness on his premises. Mr. G.W. Haines appeared for the defence. This was a sequel to the last case.

The facts alleged by the prosecution having been stated, defendant said he had been in the house eight years. It had been in the family for 65 years, his father and grandfather having held the licence. He declared that time after time he ordered Horncastle to leave, but he refused. On no occasion was he served in the house. When found by the police he (defendant) did not know the man had come back. He asked the Military Police to come and look round the premises.

The Bench dismissed the case, and a summons for “selling” was withdrawn.

Folkestone Herald 2-10-1915

Elham County Bench

Thursday, September 30th: Before Mr. E. Garnet Man, Mr. A.S. Jones, Mr. E.J. Bishop, Sir Clarence Smith, Mr. J.H. Maltby, and Mr. A.N. Watney.

Albert C. Maycock, the landlord of the Star Inn, Newington, was summoned for permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises on the 15th September. Mr. G.W. Haines appeared for the defendant, who pleaded Not Guilty.

After lengthy, conflicting evidence the Bench dismissed the summons.

Pte. Horncastle, of the 12th Reserve Canadian Batt., who had been ejected three times by Mr. Maycock, and who was ultimately ejected by P.C. Wellard and Corpl. J. Tulloch, was fined 10s. It was stated that defendant had been tried by a Court Martial, but it being his first offence for drunkenness, was only severely reprimanded by his Commanding Officer.

Folkestone Express 22-7-1916

Elham County Bench

Thursday, July 20th: Before E. Garnet Man, A.S. Jones, J.E. Quested, H. Strahan, C.E. Mumford, E.J. Bishop, and J.H. Maltby Esqs.

William Coveney, of High Street, Cheriton, was summoned for supplying beer to soldiers, contrary to the Order.

P.C. Clow saw the defendant leave the Star, Newington, on July 2nd with a sack on his back. He watched, and then saw a soldier with two bottles of beer. Subsequently a soldier came up and said “Yes, that is the man who bought the beer. We gave him 2/-“.

Mr. Douglas De Wet (who appeared for the defence): The defendant was an old resident of Cheriton. A soldier did not tell witness that the beer was given to him. Witness called at the Star and was informed that the defendant came every evening and took away two bottles of beer.

Corporal C. Baker, Canadian Military Police, said one of the soldiers concerned was an escaped prisoner of war, having just returned from Germany.

Defendant, in the witness box, said he had lived in Cheriton over thirty years. He was working at Dibgate, and was in the habit of calling in the Star Inn with a Mr. Cook every evening. They always, if they could, took four bottles of beer to last them until the next evening. On the day in question he took four bottles for Mr. Cook and himself. He used to hide up the bottles so that they should not have the trouble of carrying them home, a considerable distance away. As he was going along two soldiers spoke to him, but he neither sold nor did he give to them any beer. Witness then hid the beer, but later found only two bottles instead of four.

By the Bench: The soldiers must have seen him hide the four bottles.

Alfred Cook, of Whitby Road, Cheriton, also spoke to four bottles being hidden and only two being found.

The Chairman pointed out that the defendant said he left the beer in the grass, while  the witness said he found two bottles in the potatoes.

Witness: Well, we always knew where to find them. (Laughter)

Mr. De Wet said the men had a good many hiding places.

In reply to the Chairman, witness said the four bottles of beer were never hidden together.

Mr. De Wet remarked, amid laughter, that in this case it was fortunate all the four bottles were not hidden together.

The barman at the Star Inn spoke to defendant`s habit of taking away four bottles of beer each evening.

A Lance-Corporal, called by the Bench, said to the best of his knowledge the beer was given to his chum by a civilian, presumably on account of his chum having been an escaped prisoner of war from Germany. They had the beer, and unfortunately they ran into the Military Police. The reason witness did not have the bottles was that his tunic was too tight. (Laughter) They got the beer, but had no time to drink it. His chum gave a considerable amount of money away that evening, he being in a generous state of mind, but to his (witness`s) knowledge he did not give 2/- to the defendant for the beer.

The defendant was fined £5, it being explained that the maximum penalty was £100, or six months` imprisonment. A month was allowed for payment.

Folkestone Herald 22-7-1916

Elham County Bench

Thursday, July 20th: Before Mr. E. Garnet Man, Mr. A.S. Jones, Mr. J.E. Quested, Mr. E.J. Bishop, Mr. J.H. Maltby, Mr. C. Ed. Mumford, and Mr. H. Strahan.

William Cobeney, labourer, of High Street, Cheriton, was summoned for unlawfully supplying beer to soldiers on July 2nd. Defendant, who was represented by Mr. De Wet, pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Clow, and Corporal Baker, of the Canadian Military Police, gave evidence.

Defendant stated that, in accordance with his custom, he bought the beer at the Star, Newington, and placed two bottles for a fellow workman named Cook in a part of his allotment for consumption next day. At different times they had missed the bottles, and on this occasion he found that two bottles had been stolen.

Alfred Cook and Charles Southern, barman at the Star Inn, corroborated.

Defendant was fined £5, being allowed a month to pay.

Folkestone Express 27-7-1918

Local News

During a thunderstorm on Saturday a chimney stack was demolished at the Star Inn, Newington. The interior of one of the lower rooms was also much damaged. Fortunately the people in the house escaped injury.

Folkestone Express 9-11-1918

Inquest

On Tuesday the County Coroner, Mr. Rutley Mowll, held an inquest at the Star Inn, Newington, relative to the tragic death of Mrs. Emily Ruck, of Stelling Minnis, who, while driving in Newington on Friday last, was thrown from her pony trap, and, falling beneath the wheels of a truck drawn by a traction engine, was crushed to death.

The evidence went to show that the deceased lady apparently pulled the near rein rather tightly, with the result that the pony swerved, and the wheel of the trap going on to the bank, the vehicle was overturned. The deceased was thrown out, and a wheel of the last truck passed over her head, death being instantaneous.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from Misadventure”, and exonerated the driver of the traction engine from all blame.

Folkestone Herald 9-11-1918

Inquest

On Tuesday Mr. Rutley Mowll (East Kent Coroner) held an inquest at the Star Inn, Newington, relative to the death of Mrs. Emily Ruck, aged 47, of Stelling, who met with a fatal accident on the previous Friday. Mr. Frederic J. Hall watched the case on behalf of the owners of the traction engine (Messrs. Chittenden and and Simmons, of Maidstone).

George Walter Ruck, wood dealer, of Court Hope Farm, Stelling, identified the body as that of his wife. On Friday about 7 a.m. she left for Folkestone with a pony and four wheeled wagon containing vegetables and wood. She was accustomed to driving, and had driven this particular animal for some twelve months. It was a quiet pony and not inclined to shy. His wife had good sight and hearing.

Pte. Hawkes, C.M.P., stationed at Risborough Barracks, stated that he was on duty outside the Star Inn on Friday. He saw the deceased driving a pony and light van on the left side as close to the bank as she could get, proceeding in the direction of Ashford. About a hundred yards from where he was standing a traction engine drawing three trucks was approaching towards Cheriton. Deceased had passed the engine and two trucks, when he saw the rear end of the van tip up. He at once rushed forward and saw the woman lying with her head crushed. Death had apparently been instantaneous. The van was completely turned over and the pony was lying on its side. He examined the truck, and saw a mark near the rear, as though it had been scraped by the van.

The Coroner: Did the traction engine have room to pass? – I did not notice particularly, but the horse and van having passed the engine and two trucks, I conclude there was room to pass the third truck. The height of the engine obscured my view.

A juror: How fast was the engine travelling? – I do not know, for I am no judge of the speed of engines or motors. I should say, however, six or seven miles an hour.

Fred. Fox, Salisbury Road, Cheriton, said he was an engine driver in the employ of Mr. Nichols. On Friday about 12.40 he was driving in the direction of Cheriton, following another engine and three trucks. The traction engines and “trains” had nothing to do with each other, belonging to different owners. He was travelling at a distance of about 150 yards behind and saw the van go over. He pulled up at once and rushed to the spot. He found that the wheel of a truck had gone over the woman`s head. He was of opinion that it was the last truck. There was plenty of room for her to pass, and he could not say why she ran up on the bank. So far as he could see the horse did not take fright.

P.C. J.C. Yates said the width of the road was 22ft., and there were no footpaths. The off hind wheel of the rear truck was 11ft. 6 ins. from the bank, and the rear wheel 5ft. 4ins. from the near side of the bank. The width of the truck was 7ft. The distance from where the truck pulled up to where the body lay was 12 feet. The width of the van which deceased was driving was 4ft. 9ins. from hub to hub. There appeared to have been plenty of room for the van to pass. The driver of the engine stated that he had a load of 21 tons behind him, and that he pulled slightly to the crown of the road because there was another horse and van standing in front of him at the inn.

Dr. J.J. Wallace, who happened to be on the road at the time, confirmed the evidence of the military policeman and other witnesses. The deceased woman`s head was lying in the track of the wheel completely crushed. There was obviously plenty of room for her to pass, and the engine pulled up very quickly indeed.

Thomas Henry Shavill, of London Road, Wrotham, stated that he was proceeding to Cheriton when he saw the deceased approaching him. He was driving the engine. He drew to the right side of the road as the pony and cart passed him, and deceased passed the engine and second truck all right. It was his invariable custom to look back while any other vehicle passed him on the road, and he did so on this occasion. He noticed that the small van began to mount the bank. He shut off steam, and put the reversing lever at neutral, and ran back, when he saw that the hind wheel had passed over deceased`s head.

The Coroner: Can you account for the van going on to the bank in any way? – The woman was looking over on to my trucks and holding the near rein rather tight, and that would cause the pony to go too near the bank.

The foreman: The van was a light one? – Yes, I lifted it right over myself.

The Coroner, in summing up, said it was clear that there was plenty of room for the poor woman to have passed. She evidently had her mind on what she was passing at the time, and holding the left rein too tight. The pony naturally went too close, and the light van was overturned.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death” and exonerated the driver of the traction engine from all blame.

The Coroner expressed the sympathy of the jury and himself with the husband, and Mr. Hall tendered the sincere sympathy of the owners of the traction engine.
 

 
 
 
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment