Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Oldest surviving pub within city walls
Despite facing bombs, fires and pandemics over the centuries, the City Arms is still serving pints today...
The City Arms in Butchery Lane began welcoming back punters on July 4, after the enforced three-month coronavirus shutdown. But this was far from the first time the pub has overcome adversity over the years. Dating back to 1692, it has a strong claim to be the oldest pub within the city walls.
It was first known as the Morocco, before becoming the Angel’s Castle and Angel and Castle. The inn took its present name in 1892.
During the Luftwaffe’s raids on Canterbury in the Second World War the pub escaped with only slight damage - as the opposite side of Butchery Lane was destroyed. Its clientele in 1945 were described as “shoppers, businessmen and local artisans”.
In July 2001, the City Arms was badly damaged in a fire. When firefighters arrived on the scene they saw Lee Henderson, partner of pub manager Karyn Dunning, hanging from the tavern’s sign - clutching their sevenweek-old baby Daniel.
Miss Dunning was trapped inside the building but the brave crew members were able to rescue them all. Leading firefighter Shawn Hoare was officially commended for his heroics after reaching out from a ladder to snatch little Daniel to safety, tucking the baby under his arm “like a rugby ball”.
The pub had to undergo extensive repairs and reopened three years later. Today the City Arms offers “an eclectic mix of beer, ale and cider” and specialises in Thai Food.
■ Pictures and information used with kind permission of Paul Skelton of dover-kent.com.