Above photographs of the Swingate Inn by Paul Skelton 4 August 2007

Above photograph kindly sent to me by Ian Norris and shows the pub circa 1920-30's

 A PAIR OF CUT-THROATS.

On Saturday night last or early Sunday morning, while Henry Price, a policeman, was on duty near the "Dog Kennel," he observed two men driving a loaded donkey. Suspecting all was not right , he made up to them with a view of ascertaining what their load contained, and on his approaching, the men deserted their charge and ran away. He then made search and discovered a pig weighing 30lbs., with its throat cut, and two new sacks containing one bushel and a half of potatoes. The names of the men are Gatehouse and Bean: they are still at large. The pig belonging to Mr. Marsh, landlord of the "Swing Gate," Guston. The animal's throat was cut completely across, not at all in the usual way such brutes are slaughtered. The wives and the families of the accused parties have left Charlton to join their husbands, which may be the mans o tracing the delinquents. When the contents were taken from the donkey, he was set at liberty to find his way home, and went direct, to the house of the offenders, whose wives were on the watch, with a fire ready prepared to scald the pig.

My great Grandfather, William Stephen Norris, is shown as licensee in 1922. I can add some information, as follows (lifted from my family history data):

Although most of his working life was spent as a publican, William Stephen worked for some time as an undertaker, carpenter and wheelwright in Petham. As a carpenter, he made all of the coffins needed by the undertaking side of the business.

He eventually became one of the best known licensees in the Dover area. Before finally settling at the Swingate Inn, on the main Dover to Deal road, he had also been landlord of the Chance Inn, Guston, The Duke's Head, Canterbury, Cross Keys Inn, Chartham and the Royal Oak on the Dover to Folkestone Road.

Whilst he was landlord at the Swingate Inn, in 1920, William formed a cricket team consisting of himself and his ten sons. From the beginning, the club was run on the same lines as any other club - with weekly meetings, fixture cards etc. The team competed against teams from Dover, Deal and the surrounding district with some success, on one occasion winning as many as 16 matches out of 21 during the season.

Notable members of the team were Claude (bat), Steve (fast bowler), Wilfred (slow bowler) and Algy (wicket keeper). Carrie, one of the two daughters, often kept the scores at matches. The club played as a family team until 1928 when William died. Sheet's giving averages for the 1932 and 1933 seasons show that nine of his sons were still playing regularly for the team - the exception was Douglas, a farmer, who had cows to milk on Saturday, afternoons!

The Second World War put an end to matches. The cricketing tradition continued after the war when William Stephen’s eldest son, William Thomas, formed a team at the Red Lion, St Margaret's-at-Cliffe. A number of members of the original Swingate team, together with other relatives, played for this team.

I understand that, when William died in 1928, his wife Harriet became licensee of the Swingate Inn and that, sometime later, my grandfather Oscar took over from her.

I have attached three photographs. These show the cricket team in the garden of the Swingate Inn around 1920, the team in a newspaper article in 1926 (much better gear by then!) and the Swingate Inn. I would guess this was taken sometime during the 1920’s or 30’s.

Incidentally, my father was born at The Plough Inn, Guston, where his mother was renting rooms whilst her husband Oscar was away serving in the Royal Navy. Maybe this is why I enjoy the odd pint or two!

I hope this is of some interest.

Regards

Ian Norris

The Norris Cricket XI Swingate Inn Circa 1920.

Standing l to r:- Steven Andrew, Oscar, Douglas, Lewis, Alec, Claude.

Seated l to r:- Wilfred, William Thomas, William Stephen, Algernon, Ralph.

Photo kindly sent by Ian Norris.

The Norris Cricket XI Swingate Inn 1926.

Standing l to r:- Alec, Algernon, Lewis, Oscar, Stephen Andrew.

Seated l to r:- Douglas, William Stephen, William Thomas, Claude.

Seated l to r:- Ralph, Wilfred.

Photo kindly send by Ian Norris.