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18 Biggin Street
An effigy of the queen's head, presumably Victoria, adorned the front of
the building together with the date 1873. That was the house which had been
built following the road widening that year. The original had been well
forward of that. Its neighbour from 27 August 1840 had been the Salem
Baptist Church and that possessed a forecourt or front garden. The pub was
said to protrude beyond that line. We know that it was active in 1791 under
the direction of Elizabeth Purflow or Susannah Smith.
I think I have now traced it back even further to 1730, obviously not the
same pub referring to Queen Victoria, but definitely with the same name.
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From the Kentish Post or Canterbury News-Letter, May
16-20, 1730. Kindly sent from Alec Hasenson.
Sale at Dover of Bardoes Rum ….. ‘Enquire of Mr. James Willis at the
White Lion in Dover or Mr. Edward Worthington at the Queen’s Head in
Dover.’
Bardoes was the name know known as Barbados.
Paul Skelton.
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It was the property of Walker's Phoenix Brewery when sold for £700 in
1859.
Three years later it was damaged by fire, details from the Dover Express
shown below.
Redevelopment of the site caused the closure of the second house in
September 1971 but it stood empty until October 1975 before it was taken
down and Boots the chemist erected.
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From the Dover Express. September 1862.
On Sunday a fire originated in a carpenter shop at the back of The
Queens Head public house in Biggin Street which for a short time caused
considerable alarm. The proprietor of the Queens Head, Mr Whitney is a
carpenter by trade and had a small shop at the rear of his house
adjoining the Salem Chapel and in close proximity to the timber yard of
Mr Finnis.
The origin of the fire is unknown but it was discovered between seven
and eight o’clock in the morning. A few members of the Salem Chapel
congregation were engaged at the time in early devotional exercise in
the school room attached to the Chapel, which overlooks the scene of the
fire, and to this circumstance may be attributed to the speedy
suppression of the conflagration. On the calamity becoming known the
service was suspended and all those engaged in it that were capable of
giving assistance did their best to extinguish the flames. Meanwhile the
alarm was raised and the volunteer fire brigade with their apparatus was
promptly in attendance under the direction of Mr. Superintendent Coram.
The water mains were charged at the time, as there was therefore a
copious supply of water at a pressure that speedily put flight of all
apprehensions of further damage. Some of the Chapel windows were broken
some gas pipes melted and a staircase leading to the schoolroom was
considerably scorched so that if aid had not been rendered in the most
prompt and effectual manner the consequence to the edifice and the
surrounding property would have been most disastrous. In addition to a
large store of timber there were nearly fifty barrels of tar on the
premises of Mr. Finnis. The carpenter’s shop was entirely destroyed
together with a number of valuable tools it contained. The police report
that a man was brought before the magistrates on suspicion of setting
the place on fire, but the Bench considered the evidence produced too
vague to justify his detention and he was therefore set at liberty
again. Mr. R. H. Jones the owner of some adjoining property has
addressed the following letter to the members of the volunteer fire
brigade.
To the volunteer fire brigade Dover.
Gentleman, Your services at the fire on Sunday morning last have placed
me under great obligation to you for which I beg to thank you most
sincerely. I regret my absence prevents me from personally thanking you.
Although your services are voluntary I hope you will permit me to send
you a “check” for £5 as on the other side which can be placed to the
credit of your treasurer towards the necessary expenses attendant on
your service or otherwise disposed of as you may think fit. Again
thanking you for your ascertains believe me.
Your obliged and faithful servant R. H. Jones. September 1862.
Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.
More reading of Dover at
www.DoverHistory.co.uk
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LICENSEE LIST
WORTHINGTON Edward 1730+
PURFLOW Elizabeth 1791
SMITH Susannah 1791
HARVEY 1805
MORLEY H 1823
BISHOP Weston 1826-28+
BISHOP Elizabeth 1832-39+
  
WHITING Ann 1847-58
 
WHITING George 1854-62
FRASER W. J. 1874 end
YOUNG George 1874
YOUNG Charles W. 1874-75 end
HONEYSETT Miss Anna 1875
NUTLEY Henry 1877
HOOKER George Henry 1882
SMITH Alexander 1882
SHIRLE Benjamin 1895 (
Late Captain Royal Mail Service)
STREET Mr early 1900's
WITMARSH F. G. 1898
HOWARD Mrs Eva 1899
READ 1901
WRAITH Percy G. 1903-07 end
WRAITH Mrs Phyllis E. 1904 end
CLARETT George 1905-13 end
 
SHRIMPTON George Marshall 1913-16 dec'd
SHRIMPTON Mrs 1916 end
WELLS Henry James 1916-24 end
 
CLARETT George 1924-33 dec'd
 
PRITCHARD Mrs Mabel Frances 1933-58 end
   
SINDELL P. J. 1959 only dec'd
SINDELL Mrs 1959-64
From the Pigot's Directory 1823
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 1895
From the Kelley's Directory 1899
From the Post Office Directory 1903
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1909
From the Post Office Directory 1913
From the Post Office Directory 1922
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1924
From the Post Office Directory 1930
From Pikes Dover Blue Book 1932-33
From the Post Office Directory 1938
From the Kelley's Directory 1950
From the Kelley's Directory 1953
From the Kelley's Directory 1956
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