July 1972 just before closure - Photo by JE Gilham
The Stone set in the wall seen in the above photo reads......
ON THIS SITE STOOD AN ANCIENT BUILDING, PART OF THE MONASTARY OF St MARTIN-LE-GRANDE, TO WHICH THE ALMSHOUSE AND MARINERS HOSPITAL WERE TRANSFERRED FROM NEAR TWONWALL STREET IN 1552, THE MARINERS HOSPITAL BEING CONTINUED UNTIL 1875 WHEN IT WAS SOLD AND THE FUNDS TRANFERRED TO DOVER HOSPITAL WITH THE LIABILITY TO KEEP A CERTAIN NUMBER OF BEDS FOR SEAMEN ------------------------ REBUILT WITH PART OF THE STONES BY RICHARD DICKESON & COMPANY LIMITED 1908 CRESSWELL AND NEWMAN ARCHITECT |
Activities at the site
1887-8 Pikes lists 3 - Dickeson grocery warehouse, Powell J lodging house, Powell, John chimney sweep. (NB this covered a wider area than where the garage ended up)
1907 Pikes - Dickeson & Co's grocery warehouse. (NB this covered a wider area than where the garage ended up)
1914 Pikes - Dickeson & Co's grocery warehouse. (NB this covered a wider area than where the garage ended up)
21 January 1916 (DE) - On Tuesday morning, at 5.15, an alarm of fire was raised at Messers Dickeson and Co's garage, Queen Street. One of the men saw a burst of flame from petrol on the floor, and with the aid of workmen by means of fire extinguisher and sand put it out, the only damage done being the door scorched. How the petrol caught alight was a mystery, as no one was seen near it, but it is thought that a lighted match must have been thrown on it.
25 March 1921 (DE) - Sale of Canteen Warehouses - Dickeson's Former Premises - It is announced in our advertisement columns that Messers Knight, Frank and Rutley are selling by auction, at Hanover Square Sale Rooms on Tuesday April 6th, the island block of warehouses formerly occupied by Messers Dickeson and Co, and subsequently by the Navy and Army Canteen Board. The formation of this Board during the war swallowed up a very successful business of Messers Richard Dickeson and Co, and directly afterwards there was a gradual transference of its activities from Dover, with the results that when the end of the war came this this large block of business premises became derelict, and a great number of men who had been employed in connection with them were no longer required.
1927 Pikes - Navy Army and Air Force Bakery Tel Dover 581
10 May 1929 (DE) - The old Pentside Baptist Chapel is now being demolished and this week a commencement was made in taking off the roof. It was built in 1823 and was closed in 1903 as a Baptist Chapel. Recently it has been the headquarters of the Dover branch of the Assembly of God of Great Britain and Ireland who have moved into new premises in Queen St, which have been made by adapting a portion of a warehouse formerly belonging to Messers Dickeson and Co.
29 December 1933 (DE) - Dover in 1933 - Obituary........... Sir Alexander W Prince, KBE, aged 63 Managing director of Sir Richard Dickeson and Co when that firm was dissolved during the war and taken over by the Navy and Army Canteen Board - 21st March.
1935 Pikes - Queens Garage, Files & Co
25 January 1935 (DE) - Advert
8 February 1935 (DE) - Petroleum Licence - An application by Messers, Files, Knott and Company for a licence to store 500 gallons of petrol in their garage in Queen Street was approved.
15 Feb 1935 (DE) - Advert
10 May 1935 (DE) - Garage Fire This Morning - Police Smart Work - Shortly before 5 o'clock this morning a fire was discovered at the garage of Messers, Files, Knott and Co in Queen Street, next to Last Lane. A police constable's attention was attracted by sounding of a motor horn and on investigating found that it came from inside the garage from which smoke was issuing. He gave the alarm and with assistance burst open the door. A large Daimler car was found to be alight and efforts were concentrated on keeping the flames in check and saving the six or seven other cars in the garage. Fire extinguishers obtained from the NAAFI next door were used and with assistance of the fire engine, which arrived quickly, the outbreak was extinguished. Most of the cars had been got out, but in addition to the Daimler, the body-work of which destroyed, a car belonging to Mr Heller was badly scorched and damaged. A wooden partition which divides the garage from another was scorched. The Daimler belonged to Mr C Barham, "The Castle" Inn. Dolphin Lane.
21 June 1935 (DE) - Advert
5 June 1936 (DE) - Advert
28 August 1936
4 December 1936 (DE) - New telephone subscribers........ Dover 961, Files and Co, Queen's garage, Queen Street.
26 March 1937 (DE) - Advert
1938-9- Pikes - Queens Garage, Files, Knott & Co
20 May 1938 - Public Notice
20 May 1938 (DE) - J.A. Mercer of Queen Street Garage, wishes to notify his customers that he will be carrying on business at Queen Street, in ex N.A.A.F.I Bakery.
8 July 1938 (DE) - Queen Street Garage - The Surveyor reported that notice an plans had been received from Mr J Robson for alterations and additions to 9 Queen Street. The work consisted of converting the ground floor into a garage and practically rebuilding the first floor and adding a story to form a dwelling house above the garage.
The Town Clerk said that he believed those premises in respect of which a closing order was in existence, so that the matter would have to be reported to the public health committee. This was agreed
I am gratefull for these invoices sent in by a local resident......
1939-40 Pikes - Mercer, J. A. Queen Street Garage
3 February 1939 (DE) - Notice
2 June 1939 - Petrol Storage........ in regards to J.A.Mercer's premises at Queen Street garage for storing 1000 gallons. the first floor has been let for holding meetings. This was in contravention of the conditions of the licence and structural alterations were necessary to ensure the safety of the persons on the first floor. The owner had consented to carry out the necessary alterations, involving a fire proof ceiling to the garage and separate access properly protected. The applications were recommended for renewal subject to the alterations being carried out where necessary. This was agreed.
14 June 1940 (DE) - A motor-cycle caught fire in Mr Mercers garage in Queen Street on Tuesday afternoon. The fire brigade was called and made a rapid turn-out with the Leyland engine. Using the foam extinguisher they quelled the outbreak, and were back at the station nineteen minutes after receiving the call. The motor-cycle was badly damaged.
14 November 1941 (DE) - Advert
1948-9 Pikes - Queen Street Garage, Mercer, John A
15 April 1949 - Advert
9 December 1949 (DE) - Advert
1950 kellys - J.A Mercer propr, motor engineers & motor car dealers Tel No 157
1953-67 kellys - J.A Mercer propr, motor engineers & motor car dealers Tel No 157
1962
1969 kellys
1971 - kellys - Queen st garages
1 August 1972 this garage was closed as part of the redevelopment of the area, Mercer's Garage moved, with Mr EA Mercer trading at Priory Gate, and Mr F Mercer trading at River Garage, River Street.
To put the position of the Garage in context, it can be seen on the right in this photo taken by JE Gilham in August 1973, demolition of the garage took place in January 1974.