Nelson House Restaurant, Broad Street, Deal, Kent

A Memory of Deal.

Where Deal Library stands today was the site of the 'Nelson House Restaurant', which was owned and ran by my father, Frederick William Ford; around the corner in Middle Street, was 'Lady Hamilton's Cottage', where Lord Nelson was supposed to have had an affair with Lady Hamilton! Diagonally opposite the restaurant was a sweet shop and on the corner oppostite was a public house. Next to the 'Nelson House' was a small garage and further down towards the traffic lights, was 'Allens' the hairdresser. As a small boy I spent much of my time on the beach swimming and rowing skiffs hired out by Freddy Upton - he and his wife had a small hut on the beach, which had inside a colourful parrot. To pay for the skiff I used to grease the skids for the long boats to enter the water (fishing parties), and bait up 'Lug Worms' from Sandwigh Bay. I remember one year, the herrings were so plentiful you could scoop them out with a bucket! I know that sounds like a tall story, but it had to do with the run of the tide and the Goodwin Sands and the herrings being trapped by the beach. Before the 'Nelson House' Dad used to own the 'Downs' cafe on the seafront, near the 'Royal Hotel'. This later became 'Mrs Mopps', of radio fame, and later 'The Lobster Pot'. In the old days the 'Downs' cafe, had a small greengrocer next to it called 'Goumers', and then the 'Golden Hind'. If there are any photos of the 'Nelson House' restaurant out there I would love to see them. One last memory that brings back a laugh, one short job I had a go at was a projectionest at the 'Royal Cinema', run by a Mr Lodge, the film I remember well, 'The Seven Hills of Rome' Maria Lansa, 'Be My Love', etc. Well I was told to match the music in the interval to the film. So I looked for the records and found one up on top of a cupbord that hadn't looked like it had been played for awhile, so I put it on. Turned out to be the 'Fire' record, to be played if there was a fire in the cinema! I didn't last long in that job!