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?


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Sunday, 7 September 2014

Updates

6th September, 2014: Folkestone Express and Folkestone Herald Reports for 1939 Added

George 1930s




Folkestone Express 13-5-1933

Tuesday, May 9th: Before Alderman R.G. Wood, Miss A.M. Hunt, Mr. J.H. Blamey, and Eng. Rear Admiral L.J. Stephens.

James Hooker, an elderly man, residing in Cheriton Place, was summoned by his wife for assault by striking her in the eye with his fist. Mr. J.H. Bonniface appeared for the defendant and pleaded Not Guilty.

Mrs. E. Hooker, whose left eye was discoloured, said he was now working at 4, Castle Hill Avenue. They had only been married just over a year, and their life since had been very unhappy. On Tuesday evening, May 2nd, she walked down Sandgate Road, and when in George Lane the defendant tried to hit her. She went into the George Inn, and he followed her. He glared at her with an evil eye. She said to him “Don`t glare at me so evilly”. As he went out of the door he struck her in the face with his fist, giving her a black eye. She went over to the police station and showed the officer there her face.

In reply to Mr. Bonniface, complainant said there was no-one else in the George, and she had just called for a glass of beer. Her last place of call was in the West Cliff Shades, where she had one drink. She went into the George to get out of his way. On April 29th she left the defendant because he told her to clear out, and she took him at his word. She had never threatened the defendant`s children, but admitted she had threatened his son Robert with a flat iron because he had scandalised her. When her husband came into the George he called for a half pint of beer.

Mr. Bonniface: As he went out did you kick him?

Mrs. Hooker: I did not.

You followed him to the door? – Yes, I told him to get out.

And as you went out you pulled the door out of his hand, and that hit you in the face – It did not. He hit me with his left hand and his ring cut me.

The defendant, giving evidence, said he had three children, aged 10, 13, and 19. He denied that he struck at her in George Lane. He did not see her go into the George, and he went in there for a drink before going to the pictures. He saw his wife was having a drink, and he called for one. His wife then jumped up and said “I am finished with you. Get out of this door”. With that she gave him a kick on the shins. He drank his beer and went to the door, which he got in his hand. She pulled the door and it hit her in the face. He felt sorry for her when he saw it had hit her, but he did not go back to her, as he did not want any more, the kick being sufficient for him.

The Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes): You had had words before with her.

Witness: Not that evening. I have had a terrible time, and she has led me to a wretched life.

What part of the door hit her in the face? – It was just above the knob of the door.

The Chairman: There is no doubt that your wife has had a very black eye.

Defendant: That is so.

The Chairman said the evidence was very conflicting, and they were going to give the defendant the benefit of the doubt. They were, however, going to remit the costs to Mrs. Hooker.

Folkestone Herald 13-5-1933

Local News

A summons against James Hooker, an elderly man, for assaulting his wife, was dismissed at the Folkestone Petty Sessions on Tuesday. Mr. H.B. Bonniface defended, and pleaded Not Guilty.

Complainant said she was working and living in Castle Hill Avenue. They had only been married a year. Their married life had not been happy. On Tuesday evening (May 2nd) she walked down Sandgate Road, and as she entered George Lane her husband, who was standing there, tried to strike her. She went into the George Hotel, and defendant followed her in with evil eyes, and just as she was going out he gave her a violent blow in the face. Her eye was blackened badly.

Mr. Bonniface: Was this inside the George Hotel? – As I was going out.

Had you had a glass of beer in there? – I had just called for one when my husband came in.

Where had you come from? – Down Sandgate Road.

Where had been your last place of call? – I had been in the Shades (the Pavilion Shades) (sic).

Did you have any drink there? – I just had one.

You had left your husband on April 29th, hadn`t you? – Yes; he told me to clear out.

Did you tell him if he did not send you his wages you would go and make trouble with his employers? – No.

Your husband has some children by his first wife, hasn`t he? – Yes.

Have you ever threatened them? – No; I have been very kind to them.

Complainant admitted, in reply to further questions, that she had threatened one of the children because he had scandalised her. She did not kick at her husband when he went out of the George. She did not tell him to get out. She denied that it was the door which struck her in the face.

Mr. Bonniface: I put it to you that he did not touch you at all? – He did, sir.

Defendant said his wife left him on April 29th, and he had not seen her between then and May 2nd. He never struck at his wife at the corner of George Lane. When he went into the George Hotel he saw his wife was having a drink. She said to him “I am finished with you. I will have no more to do with you. Get out of this bar”. With that she gave him a kick on the shin. He (defendant) drank up his beer, and as he was about to go out the door struck his wife in the face.

The Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes): You have had words before, haven`t you? – I have had a terrible time with her. She has led me a wretched life.

What part of the door struck her in the eye? – Just above the knob.

The Chairman (Alderman R.G. Wood), after the Bench had considered the case, said the evidence was very conflicting. There was no doubt that complainant had suffered a very black eye, but they (the Magistrates) were not there to see how it happened. The Magistrates were going to dismiss the case. Complainant`s costs (4s.) would be remitted.

Folkestone Express 9-12-1933

Local News

An application came before the Bench on Tuesday, when the Magistrates included Dr. W.W. Nuttall, Alderman T.S. Franks, Mr. W. Smith, and Councillor Mrs. E. Gore.

Mr. H. Thompson, of the George Inn, George Lane, applied for an extension of one hour, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., on the 23rd, 26th, and 30th December, as granted to the licensees on the previous Friday, and the application was granted.

Folkestone Express 28-5-1938

Local News

On Wednesday the licence of the George Inn, George Lane, was transferred from father to son. The new licensee, Mr. Henry A. M. Thompson, has acted as manager for his father for several years.
 
Folkestone Herald 6-5-1939

Photo from Folkestone Herald
 
 

Wheatsheaf (2) 1935 - 1939



Folkestone Express 31-8-1935

Obituary

We regret to record the death of Mr. George Arthur Hills, licensee of the Wheatsheaf Inn, Bridge Street, Folkestone, which occurred at his residence on Monday, after several months` illness.

Mr. Hills, who was 64 years of age, had been the licence holder of the Wheatsheaf Inn nearly 24 years, and was a member of the Folkestone Branch of the Licensed Victuallers` Association, so that his death removes a familiar figure from the neighbourhood. Before that he was for many years foreman bricklayer in the employ of the late Mr. William Smith, of Folkestone. Since he took over the Wheatsheaf, Mr. Hills was asked by Mr. Smith to help with the plans and in other ways with the construction of the houses in Dawson Road, which he did. Mr. Hills was also connected with charitable work in the town, being a member of the Brotherhood of Cheerful Sparrows, and helping in various directions, as well as at the annual fete. He was a great friend of the late Mr. Alderman Forsyth.

With members of the family the sincerest sympathy is felt in their sad bereavement.

The funeral took place yesterday (Thursday) at the Folkestone Cemetery at Hawkinge.

Folkestone Express 12-10-1935

Local News

At the Folkestone Police Court the following licence was transferred: The Wheatsheaf Inn, Bridge Street, Folkestone, to Mr. J.R. Burville, senior Dock checker at Folkestone Harbour, from the late Mr. G.H. Hills.

Folkestone Herald 12-10-1935
Local News

At the Folkestone Licensing Sessions on Wed­nesday the Magistrates approved of the transfer of the licence of the Wheatsheaf, Bridge Street, to Mr. James R. Burvill, an employee at Folkestone Harbour for many years.
 
Folkestone Herald 2-11-1935

Notice

GEORGE ARTHUR HILLS Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925

ALL persons having any claim against the estate of GEORGE ARTHUR HILLS late of The Wheatsheaf 12, Bridge Street Folkestone in the County of Kent Licensed Victualler (who died on the 26th day of August 1935 and whose Will was proved in the Principal Probate Registry on the 2nd day of October 1935 by Richard Arthur Howland of 22, Watling Street, in the City of Canterbury, the sole Executor therein named) are hereby required to send particulars thereof to us the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of January 1936 after which date the Executor will proceed to dis­tribute the said estate having regard only to the claims of which he shall then have had notice.

Dated this 29th day of October 1935.

MOWLL & MOWLL,
68, Castle Street,
Canterbury.
Solicitors for the said Executor.
  Folkestone Herald 26-3-1938

Wheatsheaf Dart Club Folkestone Herald Cup Winners

Folkestone Herald 8-4-1939