From the Dover Express 24 December 1997 by Bob Hollingsbee.

ONE TIME Castle Inn landlady Mrs Marjoram outside-the Russell Street public house with a mixture of customers, two of the sailors coming from HMS Ganges and HMS Queen respectively. The picture was shown to me by a fellow local history enthusiast and former ambulance officer Joe Harman, of St Radigunds Road. I was a little surprised to read from my notes that the postcard dates from about 1904.

From the Dover Express 28 January 1998.

My MENTION recently in Memories of how few early photographs there seemed to be of the Russell Street area around the Castle Inn prompted a response from Express reader Brenda Blackman.

"It was a surprise to me to see the photo of Mrs Marjoram, onetime landlady of the Castle Inn in your December 25 edition of Memories," she writes, "as she was my mother-in-law's mother."

Mrs Blackman said she lent Joe Harman the original postcard. "The date was 1908. I know this because the young lady on the right of the picture is my mother-in-law Kate born in 1894. She was 14 at the time.

"Her brother, Albert Marjoram is third from the left in a uniform I can't identify. In 1936 he was landlord of the Royal Mortar Inn public house in Military Road."

Mrs Blackman went on to tell me their father, David Marjoram was landlord of several pubs in the town over the years "having itchy feet!" Best of these was one at the bottom of Finnis Hill where they often had actors etc staying with them while they were appearing at the old Hippodrome theatre in Snargate Street, which was near the site of the former Dover Express offices and printing works, now demolished.

When David Marjoram retired and moved to Balfour Road he and his two daughters, Alice and Kate continued to care for people including soldiers stationed in Dover in the First World War.

And, she said: "One of them became the husband of Kate who gave birth to my husband, Eric in 1924!"

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 29 September 1939.

Nelson Staines, "Castle" Inn, Russell Street, was fined 10s., the offence being on 3rd September at 8.50 p.m.

P.C. Page said that a strong light came from the bar doors when they were opened. Defendant said that he was very sorry and wuld get the lights properly screened.

From the Dover Express, Memories by Bob Hollingsbee, 4 April 2002.

End of an era.

Here are regulars of the Castle Inn, Russell Street, back In 1963, a photograph taken by Hughie McCann, who I recall from the early days of the old Southern Television studios, acrou the road from the popular 'local.'

The picture was shown to me by ex-Royal Navy man Bill Cock, of Old Park Hill, Dover, a member of a group of regulars who switched to the Castle Inn after the old "Salutation" in Biggin Street closed its doors that year, prior to its demolition as part of a redevelopment scheme.

At Bill's suggestion I showed the photo to my friend Ray Horton, of Barton Road, who immediately gave me the exact date it was taken - August 3, 1963. Ray, who is one of those in the group photograph, has good reason to know.

His wife Pat was pregnant at the time and, in fact, their daughter Julie was born only a few hours later! And that was a good reason for a toast too!

Those pictured, left to right, are: Jack Pinnock (a bus conductor); Ray Bradley; Vi Blythe (nee Manton), whose brother was a cook on HMS Hood and was lost when it was destroyed and sunk. Vic Carr is half hidden between VI Blythe and Mrs Bollans, whose husband Charlie Bollans, mine host at the Castle Inn, is Just behind, holding a Gold Top logo.

Next is Ron Townsend, wearing glasses, son of Mrs 'Lou' Townsend, who is standing in front of him holding a glass of beer. Another son, Charles Victor Townsend, was Licensee of the old "Salutation", in Biggin Street - now site of Paynes, the greengrocers. Next are immigration officer Pete Elliott, Eric King, Paul Terry, Pete Elliott's wife Betty, and, just getting his head Into the shot, on the extreme right, Ray Horton. Ray, whose best man was Vic Carr, has a slightly different shot taken by Hughie McCann at the same time - see lower photo. Like Bill, Ray recalls that when the "Salutation" closed down a group of the 'locals' decided to stick together and adopt the Castle Inn as their new 'watering hole.'

Bill's copy of the photo, sent out to him while he was serving overseas in the Royal Navy, recalls a particularly thirsty Job - working in the somewhat steamy boiler room of naval survey vessels.

About that time, says Bill, he developed a rather 'healthy' interest in, and became rather fond of Fremlins' "Gold Top" English Ale!

This was reputedly good for anyone trying to reduce weight, because of a low sugar content. That was of special interest to Bill, because, he says, he was ordered to discard some weight before a posting - or lose some holiday leave!

Photo Souvenir.

Naturally Bill didn't want that, so he would have a juicy steak, he told me, and then make a beeline for the 'Castle' - but he reckons he put on more weight if anything, not less!

His fondness for "Gold Top", provoked friendly banter and his pals thought he would appreciate this picture, signed by some of his mates. They all wrote their names on the back.

I believe "Gold Top" was originally Dover brewer Alfred Leney's brand, presumably "home grown" at the former Phoenix Brewery, off Castle Street.

By coincidence I came across a cutting from a back number of the Dover Express, of Friday, August 9, 1963, with a picture of bar staff and locals all making the most of their last ever drinks at the old "Salutation", four days before, on Monday, August 5, 1963. Twelve hours later, Dover Demolition Company began pulling the pub down.