Flashman's of Dover

Flashman's of Dover opened in the autumn of 1830 in the corner of Market Place (now the Market Square), which at the time was not joined to Castle Street. It was founded by George Flashman, a cabinet-maker, and specialised in high quality and bespoke furniture.

In 1836, George sold some of the land adjacent to the store which, along with the demolition and clearing of other nearby buildings, allowed Castle Street (an upmarket residential area at the time) and the Market Square to be connected, putting Flashman's in a prime location.

In addition to their Market Square premises a furniture depot was opened in Market Lane, as well as a cabinet factory in Dieu Stone Lane - the latter replacing the old Excavator's Arms pub. Business flourished, with Flashman's serving not only the elite of British society but also the Royal Family.

Following George's death in 1885 his sons and son-in-law continued to run the business. Over time they expanded their services, marketing themselves as decorators, auctioneers, house agents and even funeral directors.

By their centenary in 1930 there were also Flashman's stores in Folkestone and St. Margaret's Bay. However, World War Two saw their premises in Maison Dieu Lane destoyed by shelling and the main store in the Market Square was also damaged. The main store was refurbished and the business was rebuilt while the economy recovered, but the following years saw a change in spending habits and the high prices of their products saw business diminish.

The shop finally closed in November 1964 and the building was demolished soon after.

Furniture made by Flashman's is still sold at auction today and often fetches high prices - a pair of mahogany Windsor chairs sold at Christie's in 2008 for £2,000, one-third more than the highest estimate.