Updates

11th January, 2014: Folkestone Daily News Reports for 1913 Added

Bouverie Arms 1910 - 1914

Folkestone Express 28-5-1910

Wednesday, May 25^th: Before Messrs. E.T. Ward, W.G. Herbert, and R.J. Linton, and Major Leggett.

The licence of the Bouverie Arms was temporarily transferred from Mr. Attwood to Mr. A. Hart, a former tenant.

Folkestone Express 9-7-1910

Wednesday, July 6^th: Before Mr. R.J. Linton and Major Leggett.

 

The licence of the Bouverie Arms, Cheriton Road, was transferred from Mr. Attwood to Mr. A. Hart.

Folkestone Daily News 11-9-1912

Local News

Harry Culver, a well-known man with a wife and family to provide for, lost his horse on Saturday. The horse was worth about £25 – a terrific loss for a man in his position, and one which will prevent him from obtaining a livelihood.

Fortunately Mr. Albert Hart, the proprietor of the Bouverie Arms, and the young and energetic Guardian of the Poor, who has saved the ratepayers so much by his skill and knowledge in building the new infirmaries, stepped into the breach and opened a subscription, which we publish in today`s paper. It will be seen that some of Mr. Hart`s influential friends have headed the same, and we trust that in a few days he will have received sufficient to replace Culver`s loss.

Every subscription given to Mr. Hart will be acknowledged through our columns. We might note that every penny given will go to Culver, and no deductions will be made either for printing, postage, collecting, etc. Mr. Hart gives his services free, and any little assistance we can afford is also freely given.

Folkestone Daily News 22-5-1913

 

Wednesday, May 21^st: Before Messrs Herbert, Vaughan, Leggett, Morrison, Fynmore, Linton and Boyd.

Mr. Albert Hart applied for an occasional licence to supply excisable goods at the Town Hall on the occasion of the Football Smoking Concert on Monday night.

The application was granted, the hours being from 7.50 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Chairman announcing that the law did not allow a later hour.

Folkestone Express 24-5-1913

Local News

At a special licensing sessions on Wednesday an occasional licence was granted to Mr. A. Hart to sell at the Football Club smoker at the Town Hall on Monday evening from 7.30 to 10 o`clock.

Folkestone Herald 24-5-1913

Wednesday, May 21st: Before Mr. W.G. Herbert, Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Major G.E. Leggett, Mr. R.J. Linton, Mr. G. Boyd, and Mr. E.T. Morrison.
Mr. Hart applied for an occasional licence from 7.30 to 11 p.m. at the Town Hall, on the occasion of the smoking concert to be held in connection with the Folkestone Football Club. A licence from 7.30 to 10 p.m. was granted, it being pointed out that it was not legal to grant an occasional licence after 10 p.m.

 

 

 

Prince Albert 1910s

Folkestone Express 5-10-1912

Friday, September 27^th: Before E.T. Ward Esq., Lieut. Col. Fynmore, J.J. Giles Esq., and Col. Owen.

Sarah Marsh was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Tontine Street the previous afternoon. She pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Varrier said about half past one the previous day he was in Rendezvous Street, when he saw the woman, who was drunk, go into the public bar of the Prince Albert. She was refused drink, and when outside the house she commenced to make use of filthy language. Having previously cautioned her about her conduct, he took her into custody.

Prisoner said she was very sorry.

Inspector Swift said the woman was married, but was living apart from her husband. She was a housekeeper for two men at Lyminge.

Fined 5s. and 4s. costs, or seven days` imprisonment in default.

Folkestone Daily News 2-5-1913

 

Monday, April 28^th: Before Messrs. Vaughan, Stainer, and Owen.

Ernest Eustace was charged with being drunk and disorderly. Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Toms, in proving the case, said on Saturday night prisoner was drunk in Tontine Street, where he was having an altercation with another man. Prisoner refused to go away, and commenced fighting.

P.C. Piddock corroborated.

Sergt. Prebble said that when brought to the station at 11.45 on Saturday night prisoner was undoubtedly drunk.

Prisoner said he was very excited, and he admitted striking another man with whom he quarrelled. The other man was drunk, but he (accused) denied that he was intoxicated.

Henry Smith, of the Radnor Lodging House, said prisoner had an altercation with another man, who struck accused, who at once hit back. Witness and accused had been together all day on Saturday. They had three drinks on Saturday night. They were in the Prince Albert about 1½ hours. Neither he nor the prisoner were drunk.

The Chief Constable: What were you and accused doing on Saturday?

Witness: Hawking.

Have you a hawker`s licence? – No; I was selling flowers.

What caused the trouble on Saturday night? – The others, who were drunker than what we were. (Laughter)

The Chief Constable said accused was fined in July last for drunkenness, and in February of this year given 21 days for drunkenness and an assault on a constable.

Fined 5s. and 7s. 6d. costs, and allowed until Saturday to pay.

 

Folkestone Express 3-5-1913

Monday, April 28^th: Before Alderman Vaughan, Alderman Jenner, and Col. Owen.

Ernest Eustace was charged with being drunk and disorderly on Saturday night. He pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Toms said he was on duty in Tontine Street, when he saw prisoner having an altercation with another man. Seeing he was drunk, with the assistance of P.C. Fox, he brought him to the police station.

P.C. Waters said about 11.30 he was on duty in Tontine Street when he saw prisoner arguing with another man named Maxted. He separated them and advised them to go away, the former doing so. Prisoner ran up to him and again argued, and he had to again separate them, and then P.C. Toms arrested Eustace.

P.S. Prebble said he was on duty at the police station when defendant was brought in, and he was drunk.

Defendant denied that he was drunk, and said the other men who set on to him and his friend were drunk.

Henry Smith said he was with prisoner on Saturday. They had three drinks in the Prince Albert from half past nine to “chucking out time”.

In reply to the Chief Constable, witness said the six men who set on prisoner in Tontine Street were more drunk than they were. (Laughter) A chap hit the prisoner in the face, and he struck back. He did not hear what the policeman said to him.

The Chief Constable (Mr. H. Reeve) said there were two previous convictions against the prisoner. Last July he was sentenced to twenty one days` for a similar offence, and on the 8<sup>th</sup> of February he was sentenced to twenty one days` for being drunk and disorderly, and a month for assaulting a police constable.

Fined 5s. and 7s. 6d. costs, or fourteen days` hard labour. The Magistrates allowed him till Saturday to pay.

 

Isle of Cyprus 1910s

Folkestone Daily News 13-2-1913

 

Annual Licensing Sessions

The Licensing Bench on Wednesday, February 12^th, was constituted as follows: Messrs. Ward, Boyd, Leggett, Swoffer, Stainer, Herbert, Fynmore, Hamilton, and Linton.

The Chief Constable read his report (for which see Folkestone Express).

The Chairman said the report of the Chief Constable was very satisfactory, but the Bench were still of opinion that there were too many licensed houses in a certain portion of the town. Therefore a number would have their licences withheld until the adjourned sessions on the ground of redundancy. Formal opposition to the renewals would be served so that full enquiries could be made into the trade of these houses, with a view of referring some of them to the Compensation Authority.

The following were the licences which were held over: The Raglan, Dover Street; Oddfellows, Dover Street; Royal Oak, North Street; Isle of Cyprus, Bayle; Lord Nelson, Radnor Street; Lifeboat, North Street; Wellington, Beach Street.

Folkestone Express 15-2-1913

Annual Licensing Sessions

The Brewster Sessions were held on Wednesday morning. The Justices present were E.T. Ward Esq., Major Leggett, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, G. Boyd, G.I. Swoffer, R.J. Linton, and J. Stainer Esqs. Mr. Boyd and Mr. Stainer did not take part in the licensing business, not being on the committee.

The Chief Constable read his report as follows: Gentlemen, I have the honour to report that there are at present within your jurisdiction 119 places licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor by retail, viz., Full Licences 73, Beer On 7, Beer Off 6, Beer and Spirit Dealers Off 15, Grocers, etc. Off 9, Confectioners` Wine On 3, Chemists Wine Off 5. This gives an average, according to the Census of 1911, of one licence to every 281 persons, or one on licence to every 418 persons. As compared with the return submitted last year this is a decrease of two licences. At the general annual licensing meeting last year a new licence was granted for the sale of beer off the premises at Morehall, and two other off licences were discontinued.

At the last adjourned general annual licensing meeting the renewal of the licence of the Rendezvous Hotel was referred to the Compensation Committee on the ground of redundancy, and at the meeting of that Committee on the 7^th August, 1912, the licence was refused, and after payment of compensation the house was closed for the sale of drink on the 28^th December last.

During the past year fifteen of the licences have been transferred; one licence was transferred twice.

Six occasional licences have been granted for the sale of drink on premises not ordinarily licensed for such sale, and 34 extensions of the usual time of closing have been granted to licence holders on special occasions.

During the year ended 31^st December last 85 persons (62 males and 23 females) were proceeded against for drunkenness; 64 were convicted and 21 discharged.

In the preceding year 54 males and 31 females were proceeded against, of whom 66 were convicted and 19 discharged.

The number convicted of drunkenness last year, viz., 46 males and 18 females, is, I find, the smallest number convicted in any year since 1896.

Of those proceeded against, 31 were residents of the Borough, 34 were persons of no fixed abode, 13 residents of other districts and seven were soldiers.

No conviction has been recorded against any licence holder during the past year. Proceedings were taken against the holder of an off licence for a breach of the closing regulations, but the case was dismissed.

Eleven clubs where intoxicating liquor is sold are registered in accordance with the Act of 1902.

There are 17 places licensed for music and dancing, eight for music only, and two for public billiard playing.

I have no complaint to make as to the conduct of any of the licensed houses, and offer no opposition to the renewal of any of the present licences on the ground of misconduct.

The Chairman said it was a very satisfactory report indeed, but they felt that there were still too many licensed houses, particularly in certain portions of the Borough, and the Justices would direct that a certain number of the applications for renewal should be deferred till the Adjourned Sessions, so that they might have evidence as to the trade those houses were doing, and decide whether any of them ought to be referred to the Compensation Authority.

The houses to be dealt with were seven in number, namely; the Raglan Tavern, the Oddfellows, the Royal Oak, the Isle of Cyprus, the Lord Nelson, the Lifeboat, and the Wellington.

With those exceptions the existing licences were granted.

Folkestone Herald 15-2-1913

Annual Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 12th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Major Leggett, Mr. W.G. Herbert, Mr. J. Stainer, and Mr. G. Boyd.
The Chief Constable presented his annual report (for which see Folkestone Express).

The Chairman remarked that the report was a very satisfactory one, but, in the opinion of the Bench, there were still too many public houses in certain portions of the town, and they would defer the renewal of certain of the licences to the adjourned sessions, so that they might have evidence as to what trade they were doing, and see if any of them were to be referred to the compensation authority.

The licensees of the Raglan Tavern, the Oddfellows, Dover Street, the Royal Oak, North Street, the Isle of Cyprus, the Lord Nelson, the Lifeboat, and the Wellington were called forward.

The Chairman said the renewal of the licences of those public houses would be deferred until the adjourned licensing sessions, and notice of opposition would be served in the meantime on the ground of redundancy. The Chief Constable would be directed to serve the notices.

The licences of all the other houses were then renewed.

Folkestone Daily News 10-3-1913

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

Monday, March 10^th: Before Messrs. Ward, Hamilton, Stainer, Herbert, Harrison, Morrison, Linton, Boyd, Stace, Jenner, and Giles.

There was again a large crowd in Court on Monday morning, when the fate of 7 licensed houses (referred for redundancy) hung in the balance.

At the commencement of the proceedings the Chief Constable said the Bench had to consider the seven licences adjourned from the annual sessions on the ground of redundancy. He invited the Bench to hear the evidence in regard to such houses separately and give a decision after hearing all the evidence.

The Cyprus

Licensee, Mr. E. Taylor, brewers, Messrs. Mackeson and Co.

The same claim of objections were offered by the Chief Constable. The rateable value of the house is £40. In this case the Chief advanced an additional ground of objection, the back premises having access by window to two houses in the rear, making police supervision absolutely impossible. Mr. Taylor had held the licence since 1892 (sic).

Mr. Haines, for the brewers, elicited from the Chief Constable that the main ground for objection was redundancy, and he had no knowledge of the brewers ever having been warned to remedy structural defects. He had never heard of any breach of the licensing law through these windows.

Mr. Haines called Mr. H. Mackeson, who said the barrelage from 1908 to 1912 increased. In 1912 the barrels sold were 171 1/8 exclusive of bottled beers. In 1909, 1910, and 1911 the barrelage had averaged 3 barrels per week, and in 1912 4 barrels. The spirits sold in 1912 were 85 gallons. The trade had increased 25 percent in 1912. No objection had ever been served as regards the rear structure. If it had been, no doubt the objection would have been dealt with.

Mr. W.E. Taylor said when he took the Cyprus he owed nearly £400. He paid £270 for the valuation, and out of the profit of the Cyprus he had paid off all his old indebtedness within £20. The average takings were over £20 per week. His cash register showed the number of purchases per day varying from 200 to 370 odd. He had done very well and hoped to save money in the future.

By the Chief Constable: The cash register showed the number of purchases and not necessarily the number of purchasers.

The Bench retired at 4 p.m., and returned at 4.10, the Chairman announcing that the Lord Nelson and the Isle of Cyprus would be referred to Canterbury and the other five licences would be renewed.

 

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.

 

Isle Of Cyprus

 

The Isle of Cyprus was the next licence considered. Mr. G.W. Haines represented the owners and the licence holder.

Mr. Reeve, the Chief Constable, said the house was situate on the Bayle, and was formerly known as the Druids Arms. The licensee was Mr. William Edward Taylor, who had held the licence since 11^th July, 1906. The registered owners were Messrs. Mackeson and Co., of Hythe. The rateable value was £28 10s. There were two front entrances to the house opening into a front bar which was divided two compartments by a partition six feet high. There was a door from the street into the separate compartments. Behind the bar there was a small bar parlour, which was dark, having no outside light. That room was approached from the compartment on the left side of the house. Behind that room was another room, which was not now used by the public, and appeared to be simply a store room used by the licensee. From the front bar or right hand side compartment a door opened into a narrow passage, which ran down by the side of the houses for the whole length, about 48ft. long. That passage was covered over for about 17ft. 6in. There was a urinal three parts of the way down the passage. At the far end a door opened to the scullery of the house. The right hand side of the passage to which he had referred for the whole length was really the wall of the adjoining house, and in the glass-covered portion of the passage there were two windows looking into the passage. One of those was a window opening into a living room in the house next door, 76, The Bayle. That was five feet wide by 2ft. 4in. The second window, which did not appear to have been opened for some time, looked into the living room of 70, Bayle Court, which adjoined and backed onto 76, The Bayle. In the open portion of the passage there was another window, 1ft. 9in. by 1ft. 4in.. That opened into the scullery of the house, 70, Bayle Court. That small window was open on his recent visit. The cottages were occupied, and they both had an entrance from Bayle Court. The nearest licensed house was the Globe, 37 yards away, the rateable value of which was £40. The Earl Grey was 84 yards away, and the rateable value was £30. The George Inn was 82 yards away, and the rateable value was £40. The trade was small, and smaller than that done at the houses in the immediate neighbourhood. In his opinion if the licence was taken away there would be ample accommodation provided in the licensed houses in the vicinity.

Cross-examined, Mr. Reeve said his objection was that the licence was not required for the requirements of the neighbourhood. No notice had ever been given to the owners or tenant to remedy the so-called defects. He considered it was a very improper thing for windows to look into licensed premises as those in the two cottages did. He had never heard of any breach of the licensing laws owing to those windows. If the trade was double what it was said to be he would still say he was of opinion that there was an excessive number of licences in the neighbourhood. In his opinion, the more public houses they had, the more drinking there was. It was not desirable to have an excessive number of licensed houses in a working class neighbourhood. Since they had closed public houses drunkenness had gradually decreased. Some people said drunkenness in that town was excessive, but he did not think so.

Inspector Lawrence said he knew the house, and that in the passageway there were three windows looking into adjoining property. The only access to the premises was by two front entrances in Bayle Street. He knew a door led from the public bar into the passage. He further corroborated the Chief Constable as to the construction of the premises. The fact that the windows were situate in the position they were made it difficult for proper police supervision to be given to the premises.

Cross-examined, the witness said apart from the three windows there would be no difficulty in having proper police supervision over the premises.

Mr. H. Mackeson said the barrelage from 1908 up to 1912 was an increasing trade. In 1910 and 1911 there was a trade of three barrels a week, and in 1912 four barrels. That included bottled beer and crates. With regard to the spirits and wines, in 1910 75 gallons were sold, in 1911, 80, and in 1912, 53, which was caused by the Budget. In 1908 the number of gallons was 108, and in 1909 about 70. He was satisfied with the trade done.

Cross-examined by the Chief Constable, Mr. Mackeson said he did not know that the houses in Bayle Court backed the licensed house. He did not know that the window from that passage in the cottages was the only means of through ventilation.

Mr. Taylor said he had £350 indebtedness when he went into the house, and out of the profits of the house he had paid off all that with the exception of £20. His average takings were over £20, and in the season they exceeded that. From June, 1912, up to the present, the purchasers in his house numbered from 200 up to 350. He was well satisfied with his business and he hoped to save a little money from it. Since had had been there he had not done anything he ought not to have done in connection with the windows.

Cross-examined, witness said he did not mean to say he had 200 customers in his house each day. He had only been out waiting three or four times recently. It was not because trade had fallen off that he had closed one room, but it was because he could not control it. He was going in for a more classy trade now than he did previous to an affair over a broken window.

Re-examined, witness said if there was a considerable demand for lunches he could use that particular room.

Mr. Haines said the owners were willing to carry out any alterations the Bench might suggest. The house was just on the fringe of the congested area. The place was used a great deal by the military and was more easy of supervision as it was situate near the Town Hall. The trade was an increasing one, and he put it that there was no evidence the house was not required.

The Magistrates retired, and on their return the Chairman announced that the licences of the Lord Nelson and the Isle of Cyprus would be referred to the Quarter Sessions. For those there would be provisional licences. 

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.

Isle of Cyprus

The licence of the Isle of Cyprus, The Bayle, was next considered. Mr. G.W. Haines represented the owners (Messrs. Mackeson and Co.) and the licensee (Mr. W.E. Taylor).

The Chief Constable said the house was formerly known as the Druids Arms. The licensee was William Edward Taylor, who had held the licence since 11th July, 1906. The registered owners were Messrs. Mackeson and Co., and the rateable value £28 10s. There were two front entrances to the house, opening into a front bar, which was divided into two compartments by a partition six feet in height. There was a door leading from the street into each separate compartment. Behind the bar was a small bar parlour, which was dark, having no outside light. This room was approached from the compartment on the left side of the house, as one entered. Behind this was another room, which was not now used by the public, and appeared to be simply a spare room used by the licensee. From the front bar and the right hand side compartment a door opened into a narrow passage, which ran down the side of the house for its entire length – about 48 feet. This passage was covered over with glass for about 17ft. 3ins. There was a urinal three parts of the way down the passage. At the far end of the passage another door opened into the scullery of the house. On the right hand side of the passage, for its whole length, was the wall of the adjoining house. In the glass covered portion of the passage there were two windows looking into the passage. One of these windows opened into the living room of the house next door, 76, The Bayle. This window was 3ft 5ins. by 2ft. 4 ins. in size. The second window, which did not appear to have been used for some time, looked into the living room of 70, Bayle Court, which backed on to No. 76, The Bayle. In the open portion of the passage was another window, 1ft 9ins. by 1ft 4 ins. in size. This opened into the scullery of No. 70, Bayle Court. This small window was open on the occasion of a visit which he (the Chief Constable) paid to the premises recently. The houses were both occupied, and they both had an entrance from Bayle Court. The nearest licensed house was the Globe, which was 37 yards away, and had a rateable value of £40. The George Inn, in George Lane, was 82 yards away, the rateable value of this house being £40. The Earl Grey was in High Street, 84 yards away, and had a rateable value of £32. The trade of the house was small, and was similar in character to the trade of the houses in the immediate vicinity. Having regard to those windows which opened directly into the licensed premises, and to the covered portion of the house, it was quite impossible to give proper and efficient police supervision to the house. In his opinion, if the licence was taken away, there would be ample accommodation found in the houses in the vicinity for the trade that was done in this house.
Cross-examined by Mr. Haines: His objection was chiefly on the grounds that the house was not required for the needs of the neighbourhood. If there had neen any serious objection to the structural conditions, some steps would have been taken to ask for the owners to rectify them. No such steps had, to his knowledge, been taken. He considered it a very improper thing to have windows looking into licensed premises. He had never heard of any breach of the licensing laws because of these windows. Even if this house did double the trade, he was still of opinion that there were more licensed houses than required in this neighbourhood. Common sense told him that the more licensed houses there were, the more drinking there would be going on, and it was, to his mind, not desirable to have an excessive number of licensed houses in working class neighbourhoods. The cases of drunkenness were just the same last year as in the previous year. There had been a decrease since 1906 – when they started closing these houses. Some people said that drunkenness in the town was excessive, but he did not think so himself.

Inspector Lawrence said that he knew the house, and he knew that in the passageway referred to there were three windows looking into adjoining property. Inspector Lawrence gave further evidence substantially in corroboration of the Chief`s statement, and added that, in his opinion, the fact of having windows like these opening into the licensed premises made it more difficult for proper police supervision.

Cross-examined: Apart from these three windows there would be no difficulty in supervising the house, for there would be then only the front to attend to.

Mr. H. Mackeson gave evidence with regard to the barrelage. Last year it showed an increase on the two previous years of 25 percent. Regarding the spirit trade, in 1910 it stood at 75 gallons, in 1911 it reached 80 gallons, and in 1912 it came down to 53 gallons – that was as a result of the Budget, which had affected all the houses. In 1908 the number of gallons was over 100, and in 1909 he thought it was about 70 gallons. He was quite satisfied with the trade done at the house, and he did not want it to go. He had heard no suggestions regarding structural alterations.

Cross-examined by the Chief Constable: He thought this was a house that was wanted. It did a good trade, and there were two licences that had already been taken away in the immediate vicinity during recent years.

Mr. Taylor said he had £350 indebtedness when he went into the house, and out of the profits of the house he had paid off all that with the exception of £20. His average takings were over £20, and during the season they were more than that amount. The average number of purchasers a day, as shown by his register, was 200, and on occasions the number went up, as high as 350. The average of 200 extended over the past nine months. He was very well satisfied with the business he had done. With regard to the windows, during the time he had been licensee he had never done anything he should not have done. (Laughter) He was prepared to adopt any suggestions that the Bench might make in the direction of structural alterations.

Cross-examined by the Chief Constable; The register referred to did not indicate different customers. If a person had four drinks, it would count as four purchases. It was not because trade had fallen off that he had ceased to use the room for the public at the back of the bar. He had ceased to use it because he could not control it. He was going in for a more classy trade now than he did previously to an affair over a broken window.

Re-examined: If there was a demand for refreshments or luncheons the room at the back would be useful.

Mr. Haines remarked that they were not called there that day because of structural alterations, but on a matter of trade. They had figures before them to show that the house was doing an increasing trade. It was much used by the military, and he would point out it was easier to supervise a house that was situated so close to the Town Hall. He submitted that it had not been proved that the house was not required. They had only the Chief Constable`s statement to go on.

The Magistrates retired for a period to consider their decisions. On their return the Chairman said that the Isle of Cyprus they would refer to Canterbury.

Folkestone Express 12-7-1913

East Kent Licensing

 

On Wednesday, at St. Augustine`s, Canterbury, the Compensation Authority sat for the purpose of considering applications for the renewal of licences which had been referred to them by the various licensing authorities in East Kent. Amongst the licences which came before the Authority was the Isle of Cyprus, Folkestone. Lord Harris presided.

 

Mr. C.M. Pitman (instructed by Mr. G.W. Haines) asked for the renewal of the Isle of Cyprus on behalf of the owners, Messrs. Mackeson and Co., and the tenant, Mr. W.E. Taylor. Mr. E. Wetton opposed the granting of the licence.

Mr. H. Reeve, the Chief Constable, said the Isle of Cyprus was in the congested area, in which there were 841 houses, and he reckoned five people to a house. In that area there were 30 on licenses – 26 full and four beer on licences. There were also seven other licences, making a total of 37 premises licensed for the sale of drink. That gave one licence to 113 persons, or one on licence to every 140 persons. For the whole of the borough there was one licence to every 286 persons, or one on licence to every 418 persons. They had 117 premises licensed for the sale of drink in the borough. The Bayle, on which the Isle of Cyprus was situate, was an isolated district. The present tenant, Mr. W.E. Taylor, became the licensee on July 11^th, 1906, and was the ninth tenant in fourteen years. In the district of the Bayle there were sixty occupied houses, and allowing for five inmates per house, that made a population of 300, and in that district there were three fully licensed houses. From the public bar there was a passage running from the side of the house for the whole of the length. There was no back entrance to the house. The passage for 17ft. 6in. was covered with glass. There was a urinal about three parts of the way down and at the end of the passage there was an opening in the landlord`s kitchen or scullery.

Mr. Pitman interposed by saying that the licence was brought there on the question of redundancy, and not because of its structure.

Mr. Reeve, proceeding, said a window in the passage opened into No. 76, The Bayle. The next window opened into the living room of No. 70, Bayle Court, and further down another window opened into the same house.

Lord Harris: The house sounds so structurally bad, I cannot understand why the local authority allows the licence at all. Have you ever objected to it on the grounds of structural defects?

Mr. Reeve: I did not know about the structure until recently. Continuing, he said the house had a very small trade during the day, and the trade at night was chiefly soldiers and girls.

Cross-examined, the Chief Constable said the house was on the edge of the congested area. He certainly objected to the windows in the passage, but no objection had been made to the licensing Justices about them. He considered it would be a difficult matter to make any alterations because the other property belonged to someone else. If the windows could be done away with, and the other houses were able to get the light and air they had received, his objections to the structure would be done away with. Seven houses were adjourned to the adjourned annual licensing meeting, but only two were referred to the Compensation Authority. The second house was the Lord Nelson, the licence of which was renewed when it came before the preliminary meeting.

Inspector Lawrence said owing to the windows in the passage it made it very difficult to have proper police supervision of the house. There was very little day trade done at the house.

Mrs. Johnson, of 70, Bayle Court, gave evidence as to the urinals of the licensed house.

Mr. H. Mackeson, giving evidence in support of the renewal of the licence, said since the adjourned meeting of the Justices he had made inquiries, and he had found that the figures he then gave to the Justices with regard to the trade were not correct. In 1909 they did 181¾ barrels of beer, 114½ gallons of spirits, and 38 gallons of wine. In the following year the figures were 157 barrels, 147 gallons of spirits and 37 gallons of wine; in 1911, 172, 153, and 24; in 1912, 207, 167, and 20; in 1913, up to June 30^th, 103 barrels, 67 gallons of spirits, and 11 gallons of wine. When the matter was before the licensing Justices he gave the figures of spirits sold in 1912 as 54 gallons, but since then they had found the tenant had been purchasing spirits elsewhere than from them, thus breaking his agreement. There had been no complaint made to them about the structure before. If there had been he would have taken steps to have had it altered. He produced plans which showed how access by the windows could be stopped. His firm were willing to take them before the Bench and carry out the plans.

Cross-examined, Mr. Mackeson said in 1912 the tenant purchased over 100 gallons of spirits and wines from elsewhere.

Mr. W.H. Wilkins, clerk to Mr. Haines, solicitor, said he went through Mr. Taylor`s books with the tenant, and he had found since he had been in the house he had paid off a total indebtedness of £260 10s. 3d., which he incurred in a lodging house in Marine Parade. He had also paid £60 8s. 6d. for an automatic piano. He produced a list of various payments made by the tenant to Mr. Binfield for wines and spirits, and he produced invoices showing the amount of spirits he had also purchased from Mr. Binfield and Messrs. Lukey. He had been through Mr. Taylor`s account books, and he found in 1906-7 the cash takings were £1,121; in 1907-08, £1,088; in 1908-09, £1,100; in 1909-10, £809; in 1910-11, £853; in 1911-12, £959; and from June, 1912, to June, 1913 £1,024. His cash register also showed that there were, on an average, 200 purchasers in the house daily.

The application for renewal was refused, and the house will go for compensation.

Folkestone Herald 12-7-1913

East Kent Licensing

Tuesday, July 8th: Before Lord Harris.

The only Folkestone house down for consideration was the Isle of Cyprus, The Bayle, Folkestone, of which the tenant is Mr. William Edward Taylor, the owners being Messrs. Mackeson. Mr. Wetton appeared for the Licensing Justices, and Mr. S.M. Pitman for the renewal.

Mr. Wetton submitted that there were three other fully licensed houses in the immediate locality of The Bayle, and this house had a small and falling trade.

The Chief Constable detailed licensing statistics in the borough. He said there were three licensed houses in this congested area, and that out of 85 charges for drunkenness, 46 came from this area. There was a very small trade, chiefly with soldiers and girls in the evenings, and if the licence was taken away there was ample accommodation in the vicinity. There was also no back entrance, but a long passage rand from the front to the rear of the premises to a lavatory, which passage had windows opening on to it from adjoining houses, making it bad for police supervision.

Lord Harris: The sanitary construction is so bad that I don`t know why the local authority renewed the licence at all.

In reply to Mr. Pitman, Chief Constable Reeve denied that the fact of the windows looking on to the passage was the reason for the house being referred, adding that the house was mentioned three or four years ago.

Inspector Lawrence said the house did very little day trade.

Mrs. Johnson, living at Bayle Court, one of the houses looking on to the passage, said both she and her husband had complained. She was on good terms with the licensee, but she used the house chiefly to get pennies for the slot gas meter. (Laughter)

Mr. H. Mackeson gave figures of trade on behalf of the brewers. As regarded the structural arrangements and the passage, he had never heard of any complaints, or the firm would have taken steps to effect a remedy. Since it had been brought to their notice their surveyor had prepared plans which would cut off these windows without affecting light and ait rights. Their firm were only too anxious to do away with any trouble on that account.

Mr. Wilkins, an accountant, gave figures as to the trade done at the house. He stated he had inspected all account books and documents relating to the business, which showed that the licensee, Mr. William Edward Taylor, who took over the licence in 1906, had since paid £260 10s. 3d. off a loan, and paid £60 for a piano. The annual takings since then had averaged £993 14s. 8d. The house had about 200 customers.

Mr. Pitman submitted that on the evidence of the trade done, rateable value of the house, etc., the house was one that should be allowed to remain. If there was anything wrong with the structure of the house, there was ample means of calling the attention of the licensing justices to it, and it could be at once enforced, and such structural alterations put right.

The Committee decided that the application for the renewal of the licence must be refused.

Folkestone Express 8-11-1913

East Kent Licensing

 

At a meeting of the East Kent Licensing Committee on Tuesday, compensation was awarded to the owners and tenants of houses in the district which are to be closed, as under:

 

Isle of Cyprus, The Bayle, Folkestone; tenant Mr. William Edward Taylor; owners, Messrs. Mackeson and Co. Ltd., Hythe. Total £1,408: owners £1,238; tenant £159 10s.

Folkestone Herald 8-11-1913

East Kent Licensing

The supplemental meeting of the East Kent Compensation Authority was held at the Sessions House, Canterbury, on Tuesday. Lord Harris presided.

Among the compensation sums apportioned was the Isle of Cyprus, Folkestone, £1,408; owners £1,248 10s., tenant (Mr. W.E. Taylor) £159 10s.