Philip Yorke

Philip Yorke was a local solicitor and is remembered for unsuccessfully helping Dover when they were fighting to retain their ancient charter. It was he who had built the family home on the Back Ditch side of Snar Gate along with what became Five Post Lane. The gabled house looked pretentious but Philip senior was not at all wealthy. He had, however, married Presbyterian Elizabeth Gibbon, daughter and co-heiress of Richard Gibbon of Rolvenden and widow of her cousin Edward Gibbon. She was also related to Edward Randolph (1632-1703) of Westcliffe, whom, it is said, was one of the most hated men in pre-Revolutionary America!