10 King Street

The foundations of a tavern which had borne this title were found in King Street during a road widening early in the nineteenth century. One of the plots of void land was let on a 99 years' term to Thomas Dawkes, yeoman, on which probably he built the "Flying Horse" Inn. When first built about 1558 it had been called "Fleur de Lis".

That was its name in the reign of Elizabeth, and the title deeds, bearing date 1600, described it as the "Flower de Luce." The name was afterwards changed to the "Flying Horse," to suit its character as a posting house.

Thomas Dawkes, the yeoman, who leased this land and built the house, had made himself a considerable position in Dover. He was one of the two Commissioners appointed by deed to collect the subsidy, or benevolence, that Queen Mary granted for the Harbour; he was at one time the holder of the land attached to St. Martin's Church; later he is described as the Common Clerk.

Richard Dawkes is thought to have kept an inn hereabouts also, in the mid seventeenth century. That would have carried the "Flying Horse" sign. It still traded in 1805. (Benskin). Richard Dawkes who, during the Civil War, successfully conspired with others to seize Dover castle for the Parliament. The plot to seize the castle has always been said to have been hatched at the "Flying Horse." Taking with him 10 other men as daring as himself, they, in August, 1642, formed a plan to seize the castle for the Parliament.  It may be presumed that owing to the direct violation of the "service" clause of the lease, Richard Dawkes and the "Flying Horse" parted company.

By 1864, it was described as a commercial inn and tavern and in 1884 was named the "Flying Horseman". It was later described as the "Flying Horse Hotel", with stabling and lock up coach houses. Those coaches in fact ran to here from Canterbury every Friday, returning the same day.

It was purchased by the government in 1891, subsequently being removed to make room for a new general post office. That opened on 2 October 1893 but it has been used for many varied activities since 1914 when the post office operated from a more central site in Priory Street.

I would have expected to find some evidence of rebuilding here prior to 1893 but the gods are not always kind. At the time of demolition the "Flying Horse Hotel" was said to be several centuries old.

LICENSEE LIST

PITCHER William dec. 1751

BADCOCK William jun. 1751+

DOURNE or DOORNE Thomas 1789-91

BENSKIN 1805

MINTER John 1823

CHITTENDEN Mrs D 1830 ?

CHITTENDEN Sarah 1828-39+

ELLDEN William 1840+

ELLENGER John 1847-63 end

BIRCH Joseph George 1863-71

MOWLL E R 1871

BALL James 1871-89

BAILEY C A 1880s?

TOMKINS George 1890-91+

From the Pigot's Directory 1823

From Batchellor's New Dover Guide 1828

From the Pigot's Directory 1828-9

From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

From the Pigot's Directory 1839

From the Pigot's Directory 1840

From Bagshaw Directory 1847

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