History Of Our Building

Deblyns is situated on land that once used to belong to The Priory.

Together with its neighbouring building it is believed that it was originally a medieval hall house, with the main structure dating from circa 1700 in Land Registry records.

Like many other New Romney buildings, it appears to have been built upon the site of an even earlier structure which was destroyed in the Great Storm of 1287.

Previous owners, Pauline and David Lillywhite, originally opened the shop as a florist, converting it to a teashop in 2005. Whilst restoring the building they came across lintels from a much earlier structure.

There is a myth that at one time the premises, like many in the High Street, was a tavern and upstairs was rumoured to be a brothel. To this day a grille can be seen which supposedly was for the purpose of ‘viewing’ the activities within.

Anyone who was found drunk and disorderly found their way quickly into the Town Hall dungeon opposite.