71a Snargate Street

70½ Snargate Street

An outlet of Thompson, fully licensed and enjoying the dubious privilege of opening at five a.m. from 1876.

Considerable damage was caused, although the property was saved, when an ironmongers shop next door was destroyed by fire on 6 March 1884.

Durtnall had obliged customers here as early as 1832. In 1900, the brewer wished to transfer the licence to a new pub he proposed to build at Clarendon at a cost of £1,600. That was not entertained by the Bench and six years later this was brought to the notice of the Compensation Authority. They finalised the matter in October 1906 by closing the pub and paying the brewer £663 for his loss and the tenant, John Mills, received £32.

It was after running the Guildhall Vaults from 1888-91 that John Hills went back to being a Huntsman and joined the East Kent Hunt at Waldershare Park. He then went to the West Kent Hunt living at the kennels in Elham. He was also for a while with the Thanet Harriers at Monkton kennels. 1901 census shows John as a Groom at Redcliffe Stable, Westgate-on-Sea (aged 64) and with his birthplace as Abingdon, Berkshire. He then retired to become licensee at The Old Endeavour, The Guildhall Vaults again and then the Duke of York. John died aged 86 and is buried with his wife at Waldershare Park. Lucy was the mother of Julia who is referred to in the newspaper article, my grandmother Julia Hills (later Matson). I hope this is of interest. I have attached photos of both John Hills and his wife Julia. Kindly provided by Roger Hurst and pinched from http://londonpublichouse.com/KentPubs/Dover/GuildhallWine.shtml

LICENSEE LIST

DURTNALL John 1832-39+

COPE Thomas 1844

WESTON John 1858

SOUTHEY William 1865-74+

PRITCHARDS H J 1882

BALL Mrs Elizabeth 1884-1903

VAUGHAN Henry 1902-04 end

HILLS Johnathan 1904-06?

HILLS H. 1904-06 end

From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

From the Pigot's Directory 1839

From Melville's Directory 1858

From the Post Office Directory 1874

From the Post Office Directory 1882

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1889

From the Post Office Directory 1891

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1895

From the Kelley's Directory 1899

From the Post Office Directory 1903