Licensees
Thomas Baker 1780 1787
John Tims 1787 1819
William Major 1819 Renamed Valiant Sailor
Kentish Chronicle
20-8-1819
As
Mr. Clement, of Dover, baker, was going up Folkestone hill, with his two
sisters, on Monday evening, they were attacked by a man employed on the
preventive service, who, when about six paces distant, cried out “Stop, you
b----r”, levelled a blunderbuss, drew the trigger, and it snapped; he then
cocked it, presented it as before, drew the trigger, and it flashed in the pan.
He then drew out his powder horn and attempted to prime the blunderbuss, when
Mr. C. Stepped up and seized the powder horn, and asked if his intentions were
to murder or rob, to which the fellow replied he had been insulted some little
time before and would be damned if he would not kill someone, he cared not who.
Mr.
C., perceiving the danger he was placed in asked him what would do to dissuade
him of his purpose, to which he replied sixpence of a pot of beer would soften
the matter.
Mr.
C. then gave him sixpence and went with him to the public house at Folkestone
Hill, where liquor was refused him. Mr. C. was informed there that he had
presented the blunderbuss at the landlord, and also to the man at the
toll-gate. Shortly after, two of his companions arrived in order to secure him
and convey him to the East Wear watch-house.
From
the frequent occurrences of this nature, we suppose the matter will rest
without further proceedings against the villain.
Kentish Chronicle 31-8-1819
Advertisement extract:
Valuable brewery, free
public houses and other estates to be sold by auction by Messrs. White (without
reserve). Pursuant to certain orders of the Vice Chancellor of Great Britain,
and before the major part of the Commissioners named and authorised in and by a
Commission of Bankrupt awarded and issued against Matthew William Sankey, of
the city of Canterbury, brewer, dealer and chapman, at the Guildhall of the
said city of Canterbury, on Wednesday, the 22nd day of September, at
eleven o`clock in the forenoon (subject to such conditions of sale as shall be
then and there produced).
Also the following
leasehold estates:
Lot 32: A messuage called
the Jolly Sailor, with the stable, lodge, yard, garden and appurtenances,
situate at the top of Folkestone Hill, in Folkestone aforesaid, and now in the
occupation of William Major.
Note: Does not
appear in More Bastions.
N.B. This is held by lease
under the Right Honourable the Earl of Radnor, for the residue of a term of 61
years from Michaelmas, 1786, at 2s. 6d. per annum.
The last lots will be sold
subject to the rents and covenants reserved by and contained in the existing
lease under which they are respectively holden.
And all the above lots will
be sold subject to the tenants in possession claiming their fixtures by the
power of removing them, or being allowed for them by a valuation in the usual
way, and to quit rents (if any).
There will be no auction
duty payable.
For further particulars
apply to Messrs. Plummer and Son, or Mr. J.J. Pierce, solicitors, Canterbury;
or to Messrs. Wiltshire, Bolton and Cole, solicitors, Winchester House, Old
Broad Street, London, at whose respective offices printed particulars may
shortly be obtained.
Dover Telegraph
31-10-1840
On
Monday last an inquest was held before T.T. DeLasaux Esq., Coroner for East
Kent, at the Shakespeare`s Head beerhouse. On the body of George Joiner, who is
supposed to have fallen over the cliff, near the sea wall, on Saturday evening,
while in a state of intoxication.
No
evidence could be adduced that anyone had seen the deceased since he left the
Jolly Sailor public house at the top of Folkestone hill on Saturday night,
when, it is supposed, that instead of going home to Capel, he intended to come
along the cliff, en route to Dover, and that getting too near the edge, being in
an inebriated state, fell over. It is evident that he had not been robbed,
because his tobacco box, containing 3s., (the result of his labours for the
last fortnight, after his beer &c., had been paid for at the “Tommy shop”,
as it is termed,) was found under him when picked up.
The
deceased, however, was not discovered till Monday morning, when William Page,
taking a stroll along the cliff, saw him lying amongst some bushes, which had
prevented him rolling to the bottom. Page could not get near the body, but he
called to some men working on the railroad below, who picked him up and
conveyed him to the place where the inquest was held.
The
Coroner, in remarking his surprise that the deceased had no more than 3s. for
his fortnight`s earnings, was informed that the contractors on the railroads
have erected “Tommy shops” along the line, and that although the men were not
compelled to spend their money at these places, the contractors soon dismissed
them from their service when they ascertained they did not. This led to a
considerable degree of drunkenness, and ot was no uncommon thing for the men to
spend the whole of their fortnight`s earnings to within two or three shillings.
And some men even found themselves as much as 7s. or 8s. in debt at the termination
of their fortnight`s labours.
The
Coroner said such contractors were highly censurable.
Verdict:
“Accidental Death”.
Note: Jolly Sailor had been renamed Valiant Sailor 20 years
previously!
Kentish Mercury
31-10-1840
On
Monday last an inquest was held before T.T. DeLasaux Esq., Coroner for East
Kent, at the Shakespeare`s Head beerhouse. On the body of George Joiner, who is
supposed to have come by his death on Saturday evening last, by falling down
the cliff near the sea wall between Dover and Folkestone while in a state of
intoxication.
It
did not appear that any person had seen the deceased since he left the Jolly
Sailor public house near the turnpike-gate at the top of Folkestone hill and,
as he was very much given to drink, it is supposed that he was intoxicated at
the time. He was not, however, discovered till Monday morning, when William
Page, a labourer, happening to take a stroll along the edge of the cliff,
discovered the body lying in the bushes about halfway down the cliff. Several
men working on the railroad close at hand then conveyed the body to the house
where the inquest was held.
It
was pretty evident that the deceased had not been dealt with unfairly for the
sake of the money he had about him, as his tobacco box, containing some tobacco
and 3s. was found under his body when he was picked up.
The
Coroner said that three shillings was a very small sum for a man to take home
from the pay table, and enquired how often the men were paid. Someone present
said once a fortnight, but it was no uncommon thing for the men to receive no
more than two or three shillings when the day of reckoning came, because the
contractors had several “Tommy shops” on the line for the men to go to for
their provisions and beer. This led the men to spend the whole of their money
in drink. That they did not want for food, because the contractors discharged
those in their employ who did not spend the whole, or nearly the whole, of
their money at these “Tommy shops”.
The
Coroner considered that the contractors were highly censurable for such
conduct, as it tended in a very great degree to the increase of crime.
Verdict:
“Accidental Death”.
Folkestone
Herald 16-5-1931
Felix
Of course we have been reminded if we needed reminding
– of the “sailor” described as “valiant” standing isolated alone on the edge of
the cliff on the Folkestone-Dover Road, and standing all these years four
square to all the winds that blow, and hundreds of feet above the level of the
sea. Of course, I am referring to the famous inn “The Valiant Sailor”, owned by
Mr. A.C. Aird as it was also by his father, the late Mr. W. Aird. Of course
this particular “Sailor” is on the main road to Dover – six miles distant.
Outside the establishment was at one time a toll house or turnpike gate. So
rapid is the flight of time that the present generation can hardly realise that
every horse and vehicle, besides droves of sheep and cattle, were compelled to
pay toll before they could pass through the aforesaid gate or similar gates on
the main roads. A carrier van, and an occasional horsed bus – that was all the
communication that existed in those days, which many of us can recall. And so
it comes about that our “Valiant Sailor” on Dover Hill has witnessed a
revolution. He has seen the old gate abolished, a ten minute motor bus created
between the two towns, whilst hundreds of motor vehicles pass by every day of
the year. Here is progress if you like. I may be perhaps pardoned for
mentioning it, that I made the first journey ever made from Folkestone to Dover
on a motor vehicle named “The Pioneer”. It was driven by Mr. Ernest Salter,
motor engineer, and son of the late Alderman W. Salter, J.P., of Folkestone.
Those of us who braved that journey, especially up Dover Hill, were proud of
ourselves on that day. I often gaze on a photo which depicts the old “Pioneer” on
its way to Dover. I could write a story – an exciting one, too – of an
experience I had on this self-same “Pioneer” as it did a sprint down the famous
Whitfield Hill. Space, however, just now forbids.
I am informed by the present proprietor, Mr. Alfred C.
Aird (whom I have already mentioned) that the old inn alluded to was originally
designated the “Jolly Sailor”. Why its name was altered I cannot tell, and my
friend, Mr. Aird, cannot throw any light on the subject. Certainly there is
something very jolly associated with that word “Jolly”. But from what I can
gather from a volume that I have before me, there were certain people in other
days that did not approve of it. Thus I read; “The use of the word “Jolly” on
the signboards of various inns formerly so common in our now “Merrie England”
is now gradually dying away. Whatever be the opinion on the subject of national
good humour it seems people no longer desire to be advertised as jolly”. Why
object, for instance, to the “Jolly Britisher”, the “Jolly Farmer”, or the
“Jolly Sailor”? What a funny world this is. It would seem then that in the
Merrie England of those other days they had their killjoys with their sour
faces and their canker of envy, malice, and uncharitableness ever gnawing at
their hands. However, when we pause to think, the word “Valiant” is a very fine
one.
Folkestone
Herald 6-6-1931
Felix
With reference to a recent note appearing in this
weekly contribution, and having reference to the approaching visit of H.M.S.
Valiant, I mentioned the fact that the old Valiant Sailor had stood solitary
these many years on the edge of the cliff on the Folkestone-Dover road. I also
stated that the famous wayside hostelry was once known as The Jolly Sailor, but
that its name, for some reason, was altered to the Valiant Sailor. Why, no-one
appears to know. Mr. A.C. Aird, the present proprietor, since my paragraph
appeared, has had an opportunity of looking up the deeds of the property with
the result that he kindly informs me that the designation of the house was
altered from “Jolly” to “Valiant” in 1826. Mr. Aird also states that he is
unable to explain the change in the name. As he truly remarks he has always
found the sailor to be both “Jolly” and “Valiant”, and so either one fits in as
well as the other. However this may be, our old friend declares that the same
spirit prevails in the ranks of the 20th century sailors as it did
in that of their forefathers when ships of war depended entirely on sail rather
than coal and oil, and when navigation, too, depended alone on the compass and
flag signals.
Note: Date for name change is at variance
with More Bastions.
