Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1700 to 1799

Monument Types

• INN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1692 AD? to 1917 AD)
• SITE (Post Medieval - 1700 AD to 1799 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 OLD DOVER ROAD (North East Side)
No 79 (Sundial House) TR 1557 SW 9/400
II GV
2. C18. 2 storeys stuccoed. Hipped tiled roof. 3 casements and central sundials The ground floor has a canted bay on the left. 2 mullioned and transomed casements on the right and a doorcase with vestigial hood on console brackets. Studded door.
Nos 77 to 81A (odd) form a group.
Listing NGR: TR1549557028

The Canterbury UAD states that Sundial House, The Forge and The Oast make a most elegant collection of three properties in Old Dover Road and Sundial House and was for many years an inn known as the Dover Castle, or Sign Of Dover, or Town of Dover or, even Sign Of Dovor. The land on which the three properties stood was once owned by the Lord of Barton Manor. From early in the 17th century the property changed hands, either through death or disposal. Owners included Thomas Francis, William Steddy and Mary Francis.

In November 1821 William Sankey sold the 'messuage called Dover Castle to Charles Dobbs at a rent of 3s' and Sarah Dobbs is listed in Pigot's Directories for 1828-32; 1832-34 and 1840 as innkeeper. It then seems to have changed its name to the Town of Dover, and in 1858 Thomas and Elizabeth Greenstreet Stokes sold the Town Of Dover to George Ash, Canterbury brewer. Another change of name appears to have been undertaken for in Bedwells Directory for 1888-89 it is listed as the Sign of Dovor, Old Dover Raod with J. Jarvis as innkeeper.

By 1878 the inn was jointly owned by Richard Moxon, George Ash and George Collard (later Mayor of Canterbury). It was then sold to Mrs Ada Blunt who sold it to Dr H Preston. It was he who converted what had been the Sign Of Dover into a private residence.

Most entires in the directories addressed this inn as 35 Old Dover Road but the numbering was changed and the more recent number of the Sign Of Dover and now Sundial House is No. 79, adjoined to No. 81 The Forge and 83 The Oast. According to the directories some of the other inn keepers were: 1838 Mrs Dobbs; 1847 Thomas Stokes; 1865 John May; 1899 John Jarvis; 1903 Mrs Mockett.

The Sign Of Dover was listed in the Licensing List of Canterbury inns in 1692 and in the following year the Billeting Officer offered the inn six soldiers. The landlord of the inn in 1915 was Richard Wright. He was almost certainly the last landlord because there is strong evidence that the Sign Of Dover closed in 1917.

English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Pigot & Co., 1828, Pigot & Co's. London and Provincial Directory (Article in serial). SKE29961.

Pigot & Co., 1832, Pigot & Co's. Commercial Directory (Article in serial). SKE29960.

Pigot & Co., 1840, Pigot & Co's. Royal, National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the County of Kent (Article in serial). SKE29962.

Bedwells, 1889, Bedwells Directory of Canterbury (Article in serial). SKE29988.

Wilmot, E., 1992, Eighty Lost Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29747.

Sources and further reading