History of Dover Garages

Cannon St - New Street

Earliest references found for this (Metropole) site

Cannon St/ New St
- 1896 - Metropole Hotel complete
- 1906 - application for Metropole Theatre
- 1913 - plans for new Theatre
- 1915 - Dover Motor Co, Metropole Garage
- 1919 - notice of intention for new cinema
- 1920 - reference to the Royal Navy giving up possession of Metropole garage
- 1922 - Rowland Rouse, Metropole Garage
- 1927 - Co-operative Transport Co
- 1928 - Barwick to convert Metropole Garage to Plaza Cinema
- 1929 - The Plaza opens

Activities at this site

24 May 1895 Dover Express - Metropole Hotel Co, Limited, Dover - the above company has been registered by messers Atkins and Sons, 6 Quality Court Chancery-lane, W.C., with a capital of £15,000 in £5 shares. The object is to acquire a piece of land in Cannon Street Dover, Kent, recently forming the site of the Royal Oak Hotel, and other places, and intend to carry on the general business of an hotel, &c. The directors are Messers, G. F. Fry, R. W. Philpott, and H. W. Thorpe; qualifications £200, remuneration £30 per annum, Chairman £10 extra.
1986 The Metropole Hotel was completed
1 December 1905 Dover Express - New Theatre for Dover - To Be Built In Cannon Street - In our report of the Town Council meeting this week it will be seen that building plans were sent in by a well known London firm of architects for a new Theatre to be built in splendid style at the rear of the Metro[pole Hotel, and fronting New Street, to be known as the Metropole Theatre, and to be owned by a company titled " Dover Amusements Limited."

The New company will not be antagonistic to the Dover Theatre Company, as it is intended to absorb that and to transform the Theatre Royal into a Hippodrome. Mr Fred Dew, Managing Director of the Dover Theatres Limited, explained the new project yesterday to a representative of the Express. He pointed out that with the approaching completion of the Naval Harbour there would be a large increase in the permanent population of the town, whilst the warships that will undoubtedly make there base would equal as much as half a dozen regiments (and very much more money) to the fluctuating population of the town. To cater for the amusement of these, it is obvious that the present places of entertainment are insufficient, and with a view to cope with this demand, which will arrive a great deal sooner than is realised by the majority of the new Company will proceed to work at a very early date.

The plans of the new Theatre indicate a seating capacity very much larger than that of the Theatre Royal, whilst the stage will be 40ft deep by 70ft across. The depth will enable stage productions on a very elaborate scale to be made. The entrance to the dress circle and stalls will descend towards the stage. The entrances to the pit and gallery will be in New Street. The central position of the theatre is one that ought to command success.

19 Jan 1906 Dover Express - We believe that it is imagined by some that to build the Metropole Theatre in Cannon Street, it would be necessary to pull down or substantially alter the Metropole Hotel. We are authorised to state the new building will in no way interfere with the Metropole Hotel, which will, of course, continue open throughout the building operations. The idea that it will be temporary closed is absolutely without foundation. It is anticipated that the new Theatre will be completed by Christmas.
2 March 1906 Dover Express

24 Jan 1908 Dover Express - letter

14 March 1913 Dover Express - The Metropole Hotel - It is understood that the Metropole Hotel has changed hands, and the syndicate that has purchased it intends to erect a large hall on the vacant space at the rear.
23 May 1913 Dover Express - New Theatre - The plans of a new theatre at the rear of the Metropole Hotel were submitted by Messers Beeston and Dixon on behalf of Messers, Gurr, Wraith and Night.
2 July 1915 - The Metropole Hotel Dover - This commercial venture of 20 years ago, one of which turned out disastrously for all concerned in its promotion, bids fair to take on an entirely new and vigorous existence under the auspices of the Dover Motor Company, Limited. A transformation of which no outward indications are at present visible is proceeding rapidly in the interior of the building. Its career as a commercial hotel being over, the structure is day by day taking on a form adapted to the needs of its new and enterprising proprietors. The large open space in the rear of the hotel is to be entirely covered with north-lighted roof and will form a commodious garage approached through New Street and Queen's Gardens, and with an exit for occasional use through the present main entrance of the hotel. The area of the garage will be close upon eight hundred square yards. A feature will be a fifteen feet turntable by means of which can be turned in any direction with the greatest ease. An electric lift, of sufficient capacity for the largest cars, will be installed for raising motors to the first and second floors of the old building, the back portions of which are gutted and converted into fitting and repair shops. The largest dining room facing Cannon Street, on the first floor, is to become a showroom for motors of the latest type and two large show-bays are to be introduced for the exhibition of cars. The Motor Company's Offices will occupy the rooms to the left of the corridor. We are able to reproduce a sketch of the new front to the refreshment bar abutting on Cannon Street. Incidentally the sketch illustrates one of the new show-bays, above referred to. The Building will also contain two sets of private offices and six private flats of varying size, one will be occupied by Mr. P. G. Wraith, the managing director, and all of which are already allotted to tenants, for who's benefit the passenger lift of the hotel will be re-installed. The motor works having absorbed the original billiard room, the former commercial stock room of the hotel has become commodious and handsomely fitted with two tables. The room is approached from New Street through a strikingly improved entrance. The huge basement of the hotel will be used as smiths shop and store rooms, and will be served by the new lift.

The directors of the Dover Motor Company are to be congratulated upon their enterprise which deserves and promises to achieve a thorough success. We are indebted for many of the details to Messers Beeston and Dixon of Dover, the Company Architects.

23 July 1915 Dover Express - Builders and Contractors - Builders wishing to TENDER for NEW GARAGES and GENERAL ALTERATIONS at the METROPOLE HOTEL, DOVER, for the Dover motor Co Ltd, should send their names to me by four o'clock p.m. on Wednesday 28th July. A deposit of £2 2s is required for bills of quantities, the deposit returnable on receipt of a bona-fide tender. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted.

W. Beeston, MSA,

Architect

10, Eastbrook Place, Dover

29 June 1917 Dover Express - Advert

New Street - Metropole

21 November 1919 Dover Express - Another Cinema - The Town Clerk reported that Mr P Wraith had given notice of intention to construct a cinema at the Metropole Garage
2 April 1920 Dover Express - Sale By Auction - Owing to the Admiralty giving up possession of the Metropole Garage, Cannon Street, Dover.

26 November 1920 Dover Express - Advert

20 October 1922 Dover Express - Metropole Garage - A projecting sign at the Metropole Garage, New Street, for Messers Rowland Rouse and Co. was approved. The Mayor: It is good it has been let; it has been empty long enough
1923 Pikes - R Rouse Metropole Garage New St ( and 13 King St)
27 June 1924 - Advert

New Street - Metropole