11 Stembrook Street

Above photo circa 1910.

Stembrook, as a name, is, no doubt, derived from the circumstance that anciently, near this spot, was the pointed piece of land which divided Eastbrook and Westbrook, and as that point "stemmed" the body of the stream, it would be appropriately called "Stembrook." In connection with the very old established public house in Stembrook called "The Ancient Druids," it is of interest to recall that when war in India, at the beginning of the year 1846, necessitated balloting for the Kent Militia, working men's clubs to provide funds to pay for substitutes were formed throughout the county, and one for Dover was held at "The Ancient Druids," Stembrook.

Its earlier sign, when purchased by James Poulter in 1844, had been "Prince of Orange".

A Fremlin outlet at the close which was probably in 1940 when licensee Frank Ashbee was killed by enemy action on his way to the pub. Denise Matcalf, Frank's Grand-daughter says that the pub was bomber during the war and Frank was on his way to see the damage and had stopped off as some public toilets and was killed then. I assume by the description of the toilets they were the ones outside the "White Horse".

The end is a mystery. At the close of hostilities, and I seem to recall it still standing then, it would have been in a redevelopment area but I found no mention. My notes merely state that it was demolished by February 1952.

LICENSEE LIST

HOBDAY Thomas 1847

BEER W 1855

HOLYMAN Edward Finnis 1869-82

FAGG Thomas 1891

EDWARDS S. 1895

FRY Edward Swinford 1895-1900 end

BURTON Lewis Herbert 1901-16 end

McKEEN Edward Arthur 1916-20 end

MARSH John Philip 1920-30 end

NEVARD Albert 1930-34 end

DOLBEAR William John 1934-35 end (Dover Express)

ASHBEE Albert Victor (Frank) 1935-40 dec'd (Dover Express)

From Bagshaw Directory 1847

From the Post Office Directory 1855

From the Post Office Directory 1874

From the Post Office Directory 1882

From the Post Office Directory 1891

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895

From the Kelley's Directory 1899

From the Post Office Directory 1903

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1909

From the Post Office Directory 1913

From the Post Office Directory 1918

From the Post Office Directory 1922

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1923

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924

From the Post Office Directory 1930

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33

From the Post Office Directory 1938