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83 Biggin Street
 
84 Biggin Street
86 Biggin Street in 1899
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Above photo is of the Prince Albert in 1964 |
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From an article in the Dover Mercury 7 January 1999 by Joe Harman.
False rumour of flowing beer in 1889
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THE Prince Albert public house in Dover seems to have been listed since
1847, but I have not been able to find an earlier name.
I have found a
licensed victualler in the 1841 census in Biggin Street whom I cannot
relate to any hostelry.
However we do know that a Mr Walker, a local
brewer, lived in a house here and moved away about 1840.
In July 1879,
when it was
being rebuilt, the workmen found complete skeletons which may have
related to the nearby St Edmund's Chapel or an earlier building in this
area.
In October 1889 there was a gas explosion in the cellar which did
considerable damage to the contents but no injury to the staff or
customers apart from shock.
They all piled out into the street and a
large crowd
gathered. Someone started a rumour that beer was running down the street
but it was untrue.
The building was immediately closed for the insurance
agents to come and assess the damage.
The present building seems to date
from the rebuild of 1879 as the cast iron lintels over the upstairs
windows would be of that period.
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Prince Albert circa 1987 (Photo by Paul Skelton) |
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Prince Albert circa 1980 (Photo by Barry Smith) |
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IN these, troubled times, a police-officer is delegated to watch over
the Remembrance Service from a vantage point on the Prince Albert.
November 1984. |
Certainly present in 1847 and it was also said to be there, at the top of
the street, in 1764. The number varies over the years as some of the
properties were rebuilt. That applied to this inn when it was purchased by
Burden from Barnett in July 1879. I am also under the impression that it was
rebuilt again in 1907 but my notes do nothing to confirm that.
It has been suggested that the name honoured a visit by the Prince
Consort in November 1842. I always keep an open mind.
The executors of Walker sold for £800 in May 1859. A bit of local
excitement worth Mentioning on 2 October 1889 when the bar was wrecked by an
explosion in the cellar.
Serving Whitbread today, from one large bar which was the inspiration of
William Hagger in 1978.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 26 January 1940.
Biggin Street Bus Skid.
There was an alarming accident in Biggin Street on Wednesday, shortly
before 1 p.m. when an East Kent bus being driven towards the Post Office
got into a skid near the "Prince Albert" Hotel, in pulling out to avoid
obstructions. It slid across and mounted the pavement, the off-side
scraping along the wall of the "Prince Albert," but the driver Mr. J
Hatton, managed to turn it back into the road. Mr. Watkins, of 29, Noah's
Ark Road, who was on the pavement walking towards the Town Hall, had a
remarkable escape from serious injury, although unfortunately, her left
wrist was fractured.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 2 January 1942.
Fifteen Bottles of Beer.
At the Dover Police Court on Saturday before Mr. W. B. Brett and Mrs.
Morecroft.
Douglass Clapper (21) and Charles William Yarrington (21) soldiers,
were charged with being concerned together in stealing fiften bottles of
beer, valued 13s. 6d., the property of Richard George Porter, from the
"Prince Albert" public house, on 26th December.
On application from an officer, defendants were handed over to be
dealt with by the Military Authorities.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 29 January 1954.
Well-known Licensee Retires
"Prince Albert" Changes Hands.
After 24 years as licensee of the "Prince Albert" public house, in
Biggin Street, Mr. Richard George Porter has retired. Dover magistrates
on Monday agreed to the temporary transfer of the house to Mr. William
Herbert Scotcher.
Mr. Porter - who is well-known in the town especially for his work in
helping the former ex-Servicemen's Club - will continue to live in the
area.
Mr. Scotcher and his wife will not be unknown in Dover. Mrs. Scotcher
- before she married she was Miss Kathleen Tandy - lived for a number of
years in Dover, and when she was about nine resided in the house next
door to the "Prince Albert." Mr. Scotcher's mother was also a Dover
woman. For the past 18 years Mr. Scotcher has been carrying on business
as a fishmonger in Clapham.
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From the Dover Express, 1st April 1999. By Peter Preston.
Police use spy cameras to trap thieving barman.
A DOVER barman caught stealing from the pub where he worked has been
jailed for nine months.
Canterbury Crown
Court ordered the sentence should run consecutively to a 15-month term
Anthony Green is already serving for stealing money from a building
society account belonging to Harry Cross, the man he was once employed
to look after.
Green, 33, appeared in court on Tuesday and
admitted stealing £100 from Roy Gilham at the Prince Albert, Dover, in
June last year.
Andrew Collins, prosecuting, said that soon after Green,
of Weavers Way, began working at the Prince Albert money began to go
missing. A surveillance camera was
installed in a cupboard where the till tray was put at night and Green
was filmed taking money.
When questioned he said he sometime took subs
in lieu of wages and said he had taken £10 for a taxi.
Mr Gilham said he
would not have loaned Green, who earned £74 a week, the £100.
Peter Alcock, for Green, said he regretted the way he treated Mr Cross
and admitted the theft.
Green had financial difficulties and there was
a system in the pub where employees could get money from the till in
lieu of wages and it was a temptation.
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LICENSEE LIST
NIBLETT R. B. 1847
FORSTER John 1858-59+
WELLARD Joseph 1864
WILLIAMS Daniel 1866-67 end
WELLARD George 1867
BARNES William 1874
PARFITT Charles 1876
BURDEN John William 1882-88
WRAIGHT G. 1893 end
CROFT George Lawrence 1893-95
APPLETON Thomas 1898-1901 and 1912
CONE J. 1907
APPLETON Thomas 1912
NOAKES H. 1914 end
PENNINGTON F. C. 1914-16
WARNER Walter B. 1919-25 end
WILSON William George 1925-27 end
STEVENS Samuel 1927
PORTER Richard George 1930-Feb/54 end (Dover Express)
SCOTCHER Williarn Albert Feb/1954-57 end (Dover Express)
MILLINGTON Edward Wilson 1957-62
POPPLE W. 1964
RICH Kenneth J 1974-77 end
HAGGER William 1977-83 end
BURR Peter 1983-84 end
GILHAM Ronald G. 1984-99+
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 1895
From the Kelley's Directory 1899
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1923
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33
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