48 Tower Street

Above photo kindly supplied by Denise Metcalf and shows a pub outing taken outside the pub in 1919.

Imperial Crown circa 1987 (Photo above by Paul Skelton) Photo below by Barry Smith circa 1980

Above and below Imperial Crown just after closure in 1987 photos by Barry Smith

Ratcliffe in 1861 and if not the first he could not have been far off that distinction. It was an outlet of Fremlin when Godden applied for the spirit licence in 1960.

Up to 1928 it was always 46a. I can shed no light on that. It does have the appearance of being a single storey extension which has been added at some time.

I have been informed by Denise Metcalf, Albert Victor Ashbee's grand-daughter that Albert, a landlord of the pub, left it for a job on the railways after a fire damaged the pub in 1923, but as yet have no more information regarding the fire and how much damage was done to the pub. He must have regained the call to pub life as in 1935, a good 12 years after leaving the Imperial Crown, he became landlord of the "Ancient Druids".

1919 showed the pub t be tied to Leney's but a Whitbread outlet which was on offer in August 1989 and never continue in the trade.

Offers invited for pub

BREWERS Whitbread are selling their old pub, Imperial Crown at Tower Street, Dover, through the Dover offices of Nationwide Anglia King and Chasemore. Offers are invited. (1989).

Now a residential house. (2007).

LICENSEE LIST

RADCLIFFE R.M. 1861

RATCLIFFE Richard Munden 1861

BROCKMAN John 1878-84 end

PODEVIN Joseph George 1884

BROCKMAN Mrs Elizabeth Ann 1899 (beer retailer)

RHODES Mrs Elizabeth Ann 1901-13

CASTLE Mrs Elizabeth A. 1915-19 end

ASHBEE Albert Victor (Frank) 1919-23 end 1922

SCOTT William 1920 ?

WILSHER H. K. 1923-47

HORTON Sydney 1950-56+

GODDEN Frederick William 1956-74 dec'd

GODDEN Mrs Joan K. 1974-81 end

HAMBROOK Stephen 1981

FILTNESS R. 1987

From the Kelley's Directory 1899

From the Post Office Directory 1922

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924

From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33

From the Kelley's Directory 1950

From the Kelley's Directory 1953

From the Kelley's Directory 1956