Star and Garter 1925 -

Folkestone Express 31-10-1925

Local News

On Tuesday at the Folkestone Police Court, before Alderman R.G. Wood and other Magistrates, the Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew) said a summons had been issued against Mrs. Annie Arthur, licensee of the Star and Garter Inn, Harvey Street, for an alleged infringement of the Licensing Act of 1921, and also against Christopher P. Binfield and George Avery for alleged consuming. He had received a letter from Messrs. Mowll and Mowll, Dover, who had been instructed to represent the licensee, requesting an adjournment for one week.

Inspector Pittock said the police had no objection, and the case was adjourned until Tuesday week.

Folkestone Herald 31-10-1925

Tuesday, October 27^th: Before Alderman R.G. Wood, Alderman A.E. Pepper, the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson, Mr. J.H. Blamey, Mr. L.G.A. Collins, Colonel P. Broome-Giles, and Miss A.M. Hunt.

Mrs. Annie Arthur, the licensee of the Star and Garter Inn, Richmond Street, was summoned for a breach of the Licensing Act. Christopher P. Binfield and George Avery were also summoned for a breach of the Act.

The Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew) said he had received a letter from Messrs. Mowll and Mowll, of Dover, stating that they had been instructed to represent the licensee, and that it would be impossible for them to appear on Tuesday. He asked for an adjournment for a week.

Inspector Pittock said the Chief Constable had no objection.

The Magistrates adjourned the case for a week.

Folkestone Express 7-11-1925

Tuesday, November 3^rd: Before Alderman Wood and other Magistrates.

Annie Arthur, of the Star and Garter beerhouse, was summoned for having, on the 19^th October, supplied intoxicating liquor during prohibited hours.

Mr. Rutley Mowll defended, and pleaded Not Guilty, stating it was a question of time, and he was not quite sure that he would be able to satisfy the Magistrates that he (Mr. Mowll) was right as to the time. For the moment he would plead Not Guilty.

The Clerk: And hope for the best. (Laughter)

Sergt. Chaney said that at 10.15 p.m. on the 19^th October he was in Harvey Street, with P.C. Whyman, and noticed several men in the public bar of the Star and Garter beerhouse. He opened the door and saw two men drinking from pint glasses He later ascertained that the glasses contained beer. The licensee was in the bar, and the daughter was calling “Time”. He drew their attention to the time, which was then 10.15. The clock in the bar gave the time as 10.17. He drew their attention to his time. Mrs. Arthur said “It is not so much as that by St. Michael`s Church clock, the clock I am going by”. He told her he would report her for allowing intoxicating liquor to be consumed on the premises during prohibited hours, and she replied “It was served before ten o`clock. It is a shame; I think you might look over it this time”.

The Clerk: Did either of the men say anything?

Sergt. Chaney: Yes. Binfield said “It was bought and paid for before ten o`clock”.

By the Clerk: He would not describe the beer as freshly drawn.

The Clerk: Do you know anything about St. Michael`s Church clock?

Sergt. Chaney: Yes. St. Michael`s Church clock that night was seven minutes slow by the Town Hall, and it would be eight minutes past ten by St. Michael`s Church clock when we entered the house.

Cross-examined by Mr. Mowll: He did not hear Mrs. Arthur say she reckoned to keep her clock ten minutes fast. He pulled his watch out, and it was ten minutes past ten, and he said it was fifteen minutes past by the Town hall.

Mr. Mowll: Which was right, your watch, St. Michael`s, or the Town Hall? Did you listen in for the time from Greenwich?

Sergt. Chaney: No. The Clock struck ten as I was going down High Street.

How do you know the Town Hall clock was right? – It is considered to be the correct time. I think it is put right every day.

Mr. Mowll said Mrs. Arthur had been residing in the public house for something like 32 years. Her husband had been dead for fourteen years, and she had had the responsibility of the house for the whole of that time. There was nothing against her whatever, except that there was a summons under D.O.R.A., which was so full of pitfalls for all of them that no-one could truthfully say they had not committed a breach against it. He understood Mrs. Arthur had one of those records which anyone might be proud of. Without discussing the question which of the time-pieces was correct, he was going to ask the Magistrates to consider the fact that customers were already leaving when the police went in, and the landlady`s daughter was trying to get them out. He asked for the Magistrates to dismiss the case, because her good character justified them in regarding this as a trivial case.

The Clerk: Do you say this beer was actually served before ten o`clock?

Mr. Mowll: That is the contention.

The Chairman said that having regard to the excellent record of Mrs. Arthur, and the fact that there was a dispute about the time, the Magistrates unanimously agreed to dismiss the case.

Christopher Binfield and George Avery were summoned for consuming beer, and these summonses were also dismissed.

Alderman Wood: I advise you to keep your watches quite right in the future.

Folkestone Herald 7-11-1925

Tuesday, November 3^rd: Before Alderman R.G. Wood, Alderman A.E. Pepper, Col. G.P. Owen, the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson, Mr. J.H. Blamey, Mr. W. Griffin, Colonel P. Broome-Giles, and Miss A.M. Hunt.

Annie Arthur, the licensee of the Star and Garter, Richmond Street, was summoned for having, on October 19^th, supplied to Christopher Binfield and George Avery intoxicating liquor during prohibited hours. Mr. Rutley Mowll appeared for the defendant and pleaded Not Guilty.

Sergt. Chaney said at 10.15 p.m. on the 19^th ult. he was in Harvey Street with P.C. Wyborn, when he noticed several men in the public bar of the Star and Garter beerhouse. On opening the door he saw two men, Christopher Binfield and George Avery, drinking from two pint glasses. Later he ascertained that it was beer that they were drinking. The defendant was behind the counter, and her daughter was in the bar calling time. He drew defendant`s attention to the time, which was then 10.15. By the clock in the bar it was 10.17. Defendant said “It is not so much as that by St. Michael`s Church clock. The time I am going by”. He told her she would be reported. She replied “It (the beer) was served before 10 o`clock. It is a shame. I think you might look over it this time”. Binfield said his beer was bought and paid for before 10 o`clock. Avery did not say anything.

By the Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew): The beer was not what one would call “freshly drawn”. St. Michael`s Church clock that night was seven minutes slow by the Town Hall clock. Therefore it would be about eight minutes past ten by the St. Michael`s Church clock.

Cross-examined, witness said his watch was not right that night. By his watch it was ten minutes past ten. It was fifteen past ten by the Town Hall clock.

Mr. Mowll: How do we know that was right? Do you listen in for Greenwich time? – No. As I went down High Street I heard the Town Hall clock striking ten.

How do you know the Town hall clock was right? – It is supposed to be Greenwich time. I think it is put right every day.

Mr. Mowll, addressing the Magistrates, said Mrs. Arthur had resided in this house for something like thirty two years. Her husband had been dead for some fourteen years and she had had the responsibility of that house for the whole of the time since. There was nothing against her except for a slight offence under D.O.R.A., which was so full of pitfalls for them all. That was not treated as a very serious matter. With that exception, the defendant had got one of those records of which anyone might well be proud. Mr. Mowll then referred to the many different times mentioned in the case and aske the Magistrates, considering all the facts, to dismiss the case. He did not ask them to find his client Not Guilty, but he thought her own good record justified them in regarding the case as a trivial one.

The Chairman said the case, having regard to the excellent record of the defendant, and all the circumstances, would be dismissed.

The Magistrates` Clerk: What about Binfield and Avery, who were found consuming?

The Chairman said the same course would be taken in regard to them.

Folkestone Herald 14-11-1925

Felix

“Look at the clock” quoth Winifred Pryce. This quotation from that wonderful book of rhymes “The Ingoldsby Legends” came almost instinctively to my mind as I read the report of certain proceedings in the local Police Court on one of the dull days of last week. A leading part was taken (against her will) by Widow Arthur, who holds the licence of a small public house known as the Star and Garter, in Harvey Street. Her late husband held the licence before her. It was all a matter of looking at the clock. There sat the justices serious of men, and the Magistrates` Clerk and the Chief Constable (Mr. A.S. Beesley) were there also, each appearing to be weighed down with a sense of responsibility. There was also a big array of constables of all ranks present, and there sat the Widow Arthur (not merry at the time) to face this terrible charge, which practically amounted to not looking at a clock at the right time, or of looking at the wrong clock. Mr. Rutley Mowll championed the cause of the Harvey Street widow.

The principal witness in support of the charge against the defendant was Sergt. Chaney, who declared that the time was 10.15. The Sergt. further declared in his evidence that the time by the clock in the bar was 10.17. Mrs. Arthur said the time was not so much as that, and that she went by St. Michael`s Church clock. The Sergeant expressed the opinion that the clock in St. Michael`s tower was seven minutes slow by the Town Hall. Then the Sergeant added that his watch stood at ten minutes past the hour. The widow`s advocate asked a very pertinent question of the worthy Sergeant; “Which was right, your watch or the Town Hall? Did you listen in for the time at Greenwich?” The officer replied that he went by the Town Hall clock, which he thought was put right every day. The case was dismissed – a decision which no impartial person will call into question. Alderman Wood (one of the justices) advised those interested to keep their watches right in the future. And so I humbly agree. I say with Winifred Pryce “Look at the clock”.

Now let us come to grips, as the costermonger would say. Which clock? There are some people who “go off” directly they seek repose. There are others who do not, probably through indigestion or to the fact of being “light sleepers”. Such people hear the striking of the clocks by night as well as by day. The dear old Parish Church booms out the midnight hour right on the stroke, the Town Hall follows suit, one, two, three, or more minutes afterwards, the Gas Works also tinkles forth the fact that Time is passing perhaps a minute or two before or after any of the times here mentioned, St. Michael`s, Radnor Park, and Christ Church following respectively in the same order before or behind. It is most confusing. Some of the clocks have a habit of refusing to go at all for weeks together. Through this cause people have lost trains; through this cause people have been too late to keep their appointments.

For many years past the public clocks of Folkestone have been a snare and delusion. I was present at a meeting of Hospital Governors on Tuesday, when the question arose informally as to the time. There was a mild query as to the precise time. One gentleman pulled his watch out, remarking “We are just on time”. The individual he was addressing differed, and said it wanted a couple of minutes to the half hour (the time of the meeting). Still another kindly gentleman opined that there ought not to be any question about time in these days. I agree. Let the whole of the public clocks (especially those of the striking order) be synchronised. This could be done for a trifle. It would save trouble, and if I might say it in a whisper, also save the use of a lot of non-classical words. At the Folkestone Herald office the clocks have been synchronised for years. It is up to the authorities to exert themselves and keep themselves abreast of science. The Post Office has a signal, I believe, from Greenwich every morning, and from the same source Father Time`s flight is registered by wireless every night. Wake up.

Folkestone Herald 20-3-1943

Local News

Mrs. Annie Arthur, licensee of the Star and Garter Inn, Harvey Street, until last week, when the licence was transferred to her daughter, Mrs. Binfield, has been directly connected with the licensing trade for 64 years. At the age of 13 she went to the Princess Royal, in South Street, to work with her future mother-in-law. She married the son, who in November, 1892, took over the licence of the Star and Garter. Her husband died in 1911, and the licence was then transferred to his widow. Mrs. Arthur, who is now 77, told the Folkestone and Hythe Herald that she would not have relinquished the licence of the Star and Garter but for the fact that her daughter had married, and she thought that the daughter should now take charge. Mrs. Arthur has three other daughters, each of whom is married. Her only son served in the Army in the last war, and was killed.

Folkestone Herald 24-4-1943

Local News

At Folkestone Police Court on Wednesday, music licences for radio installations were granted in respect of the Foresters’ Arms and the Star and Garter.

Alderman R.G. Wood pre­sided with Alderman J.W. Stainer, Mr. P. Fuller and Mr. P.V. Gurr.

Folkestone Herald 26-5-1945

Obituary

Mrs. Mary Ann Arthur, whose death at the Star and Garter Inn, Harvey Street, Folkestone, occurred last Friday, had been connected with the licensed trade for over 60 years.

A native of Dover, she was brought to Folkestone at an early age, and when only 13 was employed at a local hotel. Subsequently she held the licence of the Star and Garter for over 50 years, until two years ago, it was transferred to a married daughter.

Mrs. Arthur, who was aged 79, was the widow of Mr. William Arthur, who died in 1911. She leaves four daughters. Her only son was killed in France during the last war. The funeral took place on Tuesday at the Cheriton Road Cemetery.

Folkestone Herald 16-3-1946

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

A number of applications were granted at the Folkestone adjourned annual licensing ses­sions at the Town Hall on Wednesday. The Mayor (Alderman W. Hollands) presided, with Mr. R.G. Wood and Alderman J.W. Stainer.

Mr. B.H. Bonniface, on behalf of Mrs. Dorothy Mabel Binfield, Star and Garter Inn, Harvey Street, Folkestone, applied for a wine licence fin respect of the premises. Mr. Bonniface said at present the premises were licensed to sell beer only. For 52 or 53years the licence had been held by a member of the Binfield family, which would show that the house was doing a fairly substantial trade. All through the war Mrs. Binfield and her husband kept the place open, and their cellars were always kept open for the use of anyone during air raid and shelling warnings. It had recently been found that there were requests for wine, perhaps from members of the younger generation and from friends of the older customers.

The application was granted.