A popular veterinary surgery has permanently closed after almost 100 years due to “extensive” issues with the building.
Staff and clients at Burnham House, in Castle Street, Dover, have been transferred to a sister branch in Folkestone.
The Medivet company, which has owned the business since 2019, announced the closure at the weekend.
Its letter to clients said: “We regret to inform you that due to extensive building issues at our Dover branch (Burnham House Vets) the decision has been made to close permanently.
“All clients will receive individual communication regarding the branch closure.”
Jeremy Stattersfied, a past long-term owner of Burnham House, traces the property as being run as a veterinary surgery back to the 1930s.
“I am very sad it is closing, it was a major part of my life for more than 30 years,” he said.
“It is very weird the property will no longer be a veterinary surgery after all this time.”
Mr Stattersfield bought the business in 1990 when it was the Castle Street Veterinary Surgery.
He sold it as Burnham House to the present owners, Medivet, in 2019 and finally left the practice in 2021.
Mr Stattersfield is now based in Canterbury district, running his own practice.
In its letter, Medivet explained that staff and registered clients have been transferred to the Folkestone Sandgate Medivet branch at Sandgate Hill, Folkestone.
The company’s satellite clinics in Walmer (Goodwins) and Whitfield (Bewsbury) will carry on as normal.
Folkestone Sandgate will now operate as a base for these clinics as Burnham House had.
Bosses say the ‘Vets Now Ashford’ service the company uses will remain as the out-of-hours provider.
The closure news, which was also posted on Burnham House’s Facebook page, sparked more than 100 comments from residents.
Heather Green wrote: “End of an era. l feel sorry for the staff who are local to Dover that now have to use time and fuel to travel.”
Judith Piggott said: “Sad to see the Castle Street branch closed but, on the plus side, we can still see the lovely hard working staff, with a bigger waiting room which is better for stressy dogs and nervous cats. Got to look for the positives.”
Valerie Barrow wrote: “Feel quite heartbroken seeing this, feel so lucky that I got to be a part of Burnham House.
“Jeremy built an amazing practice, so very sad it's come to this.”
