The Geezers have started research on their project Where’s My Boozer Gone? At this point we are establishing pubs in Bow which have closed in the last 20-30 years.
We have got pictures for most of them which we have posted below.
Do you remember them? Did you socialise in them? Did you work in them?
Let us know about it. We are interested in your stories and memories for an exhibition we will be mounting at the Idea Store in the Roman Road and at other venues in the Borough.
We will also be producing a booklet.
Please send us your stories and comments in the Comment section at the bottom of the post or email: bowgeezers@btinternet.com
We are researching pub histories in the Local History and Archive Library in Bancroft Road.
Our next step is to do interviews with people who socialised or worked in the pubs. How important were they to individuals in the community and to the community as a whole?
Please let us know if you’ve got stories to tell. And we are still looking for pictures for
The Earl of Aberdeen – Grove Road now got this one – thanks to Kevin for sending us this link.
The Horns – LeFevre Road
The Lady Franklin – Old Ford photo now received, see below
The Royal Standard – Eric Street
The Marquis of Cornwallis
The Three Colts or Old Three Colts 450 Old Ford Road
Here’s the pubs we’ve found so far:
Caledonian Arms
Location of Pub- 62 Fairfield Road
Opened – 1851 Closed – 2000
Brewery? – Watney’s Brewery
What Is It Now? – Residential Use
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
This former Watney’s Brewery pub had been present since at least 1851. It’s just north of the former Bryant & May match factory, scene of the famous ‘Match Girls’ strike of 1888. The statue of Prime Minister Gladstone is outside Bow Church. Despite the clean-up efforts of the local council, he usually has red hands to symbolise his role in the ending of the strike which was said to have been “paid for in blood”. This pub must have been witness to many of the events of the time. It closed in 2000 and stood derelict for a long time, but has now been converted to residential use.
The Aunt Sally
Location of Pub- 2 Midlothian Street
Opened – ? Closed – 2000
Brewery? – Watney’s Brewery
What Is It Now? – Food Outlet
Was it known by any other name? The Outpost. The Twilight Zone.
The Melody Park Inn.
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have? Karaoke. DJ. Gay Bar.
Information so far
The Ordell Arms
Location of Pub- 22 Ordell Road
Opened – ? Closed – 2001
Brewery? – Courage
What Is It Now? – Residential Flats
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
No hand-pumped beers.
The Hand and Flowers
Location of Pub- 72 Parnell Road
Opened – 1881 Closed – 2009
Brewery? – Whitbread
What Is It Now? – Food Outlet
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
This pub was present by 1881 and belonged to the Whitbread Brewery. It ran into problems in 2006 when it was closed on the recommendation of police who said that a seven month surveillance revealed to them that the pub was notorious for “fights, drug-dealing and drunkenness”; this despite always looking completely deserted and harmless whenever I passed by. By 2007 the leasehold was available for £60,000 whilst the pub limped on until final closure in 2009.
The Black Swan
Location of Pub- 148 Bow Road
Opened – 1882 Closed – early 1970’s
Brewery? – Hodgson’s/Smith Garrett Breweries
What Is It Now? – ?
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Black Swan was situated at 148 Bow Road. This pub was present by 1822, at which time it was almost certainly in the ownership of the nearby Hodgson’s Brewery. By 1915 the brewery had become Smith Garrett’s Bow Brewery. On the night of 23 September 1916 this pub was completely destroyed by a direct hit from a bomb dropped by a German Zeppelin in one of the very first ever air raids on London, with the loss of several lives. The Zeppelin itself was later shot down over Essex and the crew surrendered – they are said to have been the only uniformed German troops to have set foot on English soil during the First World War. The pub was rebuilt in 1920, although was from then on said to be haunted by the ghosts of the former landlord’s two daughters who had died in the air raid. The pub closed and was demolished when Bromley High Street was widened in the early 1970s.
Bombay Grab
Location of Pub- 246 Bow Road
Opened – 1805 Closed – early 19792/3
Brewery? – Hodgson’s/Ind Coope Breweries/Freehouse
What Is It Now? – Mosque and Islamic Centre
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Bombay Grab was situated at 246 Bow Road. This pub was present by 1805 and by 1817 had become the brewery tap for Hodgson’s Brewery, which had relocated to an adjacent site. Hodgson’s are of course famous as one of the pioneers of the export by sea of beer to the British colonies in India. Indeed, the name of the pub is believed to be a corruption of ‘Bombay Gurab’, a kind of Indian coastal vessel which would also have played a part in the export beer trade. The pub was rebuilt in 1933 when this whole area was redeveloped. After the Second World War, the licensee was James Charles Lane, a former champion weightlifter and wrestler. By this time the pub was owned by Ind Coope. It became a free house in around 1990 and closed very soon after, in 1992 or 1993. In these later years the pub had been quite a landmark, with its name painted on its roof in huge white letters, clearly visible from the adjacent Bow Flyover. The former pub now houses a mosque and an Islamic community centre. The Bombay Grab was the name of a specific ship in the East India Marine. The publican in 1900 was George Peter Hans, a Bavarian who took British nationality.
The Duke of York
Location of Pub- 129 Anthill Road
Opened – 1869 Closed – 2002
Brewery? – Smith Garrett’s Brewery
What Is It Now? – Private Residential
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Duke Of York was situated 129 Antill Road. This pub was built in around 1869 and was owned by Smith Garrett’s Brewery of Bow. It featured some very fine green tiling advertising that brewery’s products, some of which still survive and are almost certainly the best monument to that brewery that can still be seen today. The pub closed in 2002 and was converted to private residential use.
Moulders Arms
Location of Pub- 50-52 Bromley High Street
Opened – ? Closed – 2007
Brewery? – ?
What Is It Now? –
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
Facing the pub about 50 to 100 metres to the left was a large house. My grandmother my grandfather my mum and her two brothers lived in this house from 1908 to 1914. There were about twelve rooms in this house and every room had a family. On the ground floor was one toilet which everyone in house had to use, but also, The Moulders arms clientele had to use it because the pub had no toilet. ( the good old days ) My mum told me that every weekend there was a continuous queue of people from the pub going past there room, relieving themselves in the one toilet whilst sing at top note for every ones enjoyment.
The Ancient Briton
Location of Pub- 44a Glaucous Street
Opened – 1855 Closed – 2005
Brewery? – Charrington’s Brewery
What Is It Now? – Residential Apartments
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information So Far
The Ancient Briton was situated at 44a Glaucous Street. This pub was built in 1855 when Glaucous Street was first developed. By the twentieth century it was a Charrington’s Brewery pub. It closed in 2005 and was demolished in 2007, with flats being built on the site.
The Crystal Tavern
Location of Pub- 25 Burdett Road
Opened – 1880 Closed – 1995
Brewery? – Taylor Walker Brewery
What Is It Now? – Residential Use
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Crystal Tavern was situated 25 Burdett Road. This was a Taylor Walker Brewery pub, established in around 1880. It closed and was converted to residential use in around 1995 and was demolished in 2010.
The King’s Head
Location of Pub- 8 Bow Road
Opened – 1885 Closed – 1970’s
Brewery? – ?
What Is It Now? – Demolished with strip of shops
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Kings Head was situated at 8 Bow Road. The publican in 1885 was George Kemp. The pub was demolished, along with the strip of shops fronting on to Bow Road, between British and Merchant Streets, in the 1970’s.
Lady Franklin
Location of Pub- 381 Old Ford Road
Opened – 1861 Closed – 1969
Brewery? –
What Is It Now? – Residential Flats above Commercial Premises
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
Many thanks to Richard Cole for sending us the photo of the Lady Franklin. Richard said: “The old boy standing outside was the one armed paper seller George, he lived in Parnell Road a few doors down from the pub. In the six years we lived there come what may winter or summer rain or shine I never saw him wear an overcoat or take his jacket and cap off. My parents were the last tenants, this photo must have been taken just after they closed the pub down ready for demolition, I would think ‘68/69.”
The Tenterden Arms
Location of Pub- 22 Devons Road
Opened – 1869 Closed – 2007
Brewery? – Truman’s Brewery
What Is It Now? – Residential Flats above Commercial Premises
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Three Tuns
Location of Pub- 185 Bow Road
Opened – 1823 Closed – 1999
Brewery? – Hodgson’s/Whitbnread Breweries
What Is It Now? – Residential Flats above Commercial Premises
Was it known by any other name? Ye Olde Three Tuns
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Three Tuns was situated at 185 Bow Road. This pub was present on what was then Bow High Street in 1823, at which time it was owned by the Hodgson’s Brewery of Bow. By the late twentieth century it was a Whitbread Brewery pub, popular enough to be enlarged into the neighbouring premises in 1985, and in its latter years it affected the name Ye Olde Three Tuns. But in 1999 it closed and was converted into residential use.
Bromley Arms
Location of Pub- 51 Fairfield Road
Opened? ? Closed – 2005
Brewery? – Watney’s/Shepherd Neame Breweries
What Is It Now? – Residential
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Bromley Arms was situated at 51 Fairfield Road. This pub was present by 1861 and closed in 1997. It had been a Watney’s Brewery pub until 1989, when it was purchased by the Shepherd Neame Brewery of Faversham, Kent. It stood derelict for a while after closure, until converted to residential use in 2005.
Morpeth Castle
Location of Pub- 69 Cadogan Terrace E9
Opened? 1860 Closed – 1990
Brewery? – Truman’s Brewery
What Is It Now? – Residential
Was it known by any other name? Manhattan’s/Butlers
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Morpeth Castle was situated at 69 Cadogan Terrace. This pub was established by 1860. It was a Truman’s Brewery pub and still exhibits some brewery signage. Although at the time still owned by Truman’s, by 1983 the pub had been renamed Manhattan’s. By 1986 the name had been changed to Butlers, and the pub closed in 1990. By 1992 it had been converted to residential use.
Bridge House
Location of Pub- 14 Bow Common Lane
Opened? 1878 Closed – 2000
Brewery? – Watney’s/Bellhaqven Breweries/ Freehouse
What Is It Now? – Residential
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Bridge House was situated at 14 Bow Common Lane. This pub was present by 1878. It was a Watney’s Brewery pub until around 1990 when it was sold to Belhaven. The pub closed in 2000, after a final short period as a free house, and has been converted to residential use.
The Earl of Ellesmere
Location of Pub- 19 Chisenhale Road
Opened? 1866 Closed – 2001
Brewery? – Taylor Walker/Godson’s Breweries
What Is It Now? – Residential
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have? Music and Dancing
Information so far
The Earl Of Ellesmere was situated 19 Chisenhale Road. This pub was present by 1866, at which time it obtained a licence for music and dancing. It was a Taylor Walker Brewery pub, although by the 1980s it stood opposite the modern-day Godson’s Brewery. It closed and was converted to residential use in 2001.
The John Bull
Location of Pub- 490 Roman Road
Opened? 1850 Closed – 1996
Brewery? – Taylor Walker Brewery
What Is It Now? – Estate Agents
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have? Music and Dancing
Information so far
The John Bull was situated at 490 Roman Road. This pub has stood on Roman Road since at least 1850. It was a Taylor Walker Brewery pub and, despite always seeming busy, it closed in 1996. The premises now serve as an estate agent’s offices.
The Needle Gun
Location of Pub- 215, then 527 Roman Road
Opened? 1828 Closed – 2011
Brewery? – ?
What Is It Now? – Hotel
Was it known by any other name? The Trader
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Needle Gun was at 215 Roman Road but it later became 527 Roman Road through road renumbering. The pub was established in 1828 and in recent years was renamed the Trader (2007). By 2011 the pub had become a hotel .
The Lord Palmerston
Location of Pub- 45 Hewlett Road, Old Ford Road
Opened? 1866 Closed – 2002
Brewery? – Charrington’s
What Is It Now? – Residential
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
The Lord Palmerston was situated 45 Hewlett Road. This was a quiet, backstreet Charrington’s Brewery pub, established by 1866. It closed in 2002 and has been converted to residential use.
Top O’The Morning
Location of Pub- 62 Frances Terrace, Wick Lane then 129Cadogan Terrace E9
Opened? 1864 Closed – 2013
Brewery? – ?
What Is It Now? – ?
Was it known by any other name? Mitford Castle
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
Mitford Castle The pub was present by 1864 at 62 Frances Terrace, Wick Lane in 1878. Later address is at 129 Cadogan Terrace. It had been named Top O’ The Morning since at least 1983. Closed as a Pub by 2013, although possibly earlier.
The Matchmaker
Location of Pub- 580-586 Roman Road
Opened? ? Closed – 2010
Brewery? – Freehouse (Wetherspoons)
What Is It Now? – Poundland
Was it known by any other name?
What Activities Did Pub Used To Have?
Information so far
Looking through the list, you seem to have forgotten the Imperial crown St Leonard Street and the pubs which were both on the Coventry cross estate – neither of which I can remember the names of sadly.
Jimmy Fagg played in the Imperial.
Not that this is remotely the right time period but my 3x great grandfather worked in the Conventry Cross pub in St Leonards Street as a Landlord in 1871. Anyone have any photos of what this pub became?
Remember most of those pubs from playing either darts or in pool leagues
The Three Tuns also ran a Sunday league football team in the late 80’s in the north London Sunday League – I played for them during this time. The pub also had a shove ha’penny table in it which was the brilliant.
I still live in Bow and for a few years had the Eleanor in Old Ford I have done lots of history with hundreds of photos have taken photos of every pub on the manor in the 90s and gave them along with tons of writing to the East London archives in Bancroft roa
Brad, Thanks for the info.
I used to live in Roman Road 1950s-1960s. My family ran two shops there. My friend Melvyn Jackson lived in Lyal Road and his parents were regulars in the White Horse on the corner of the Roman and Ford Street. Melvyn and I started going there when we were 15. It was a very busy pub then, especially Friday nights with a group. Queuing for the bar often started at the street door but by the time we got to the bar two pints were always pulled up and waiting.
Hi, I run The pub history site, mostly old and boring historical stuff, landlords etc, e.g. https://pubshistory.com/LondonPubs/Bow/index.shtml ; keep up the good work and feel free to use my history with relevant references.
Best,
Kevan
Kevan, Thanks for letting us know.
My Aunt and Uncle (George and Margie Riddle in the late 50’s – 60’s) used to run The Duke of York at 129 Antil Road.
Hi I have picked up on site, I lived in panel road opposite the hand and flower ph
in the early sixty, I was born in rippoth road in 1939
in my teenage years we used many pubs the lady franklin, the needle gun, the rose and Crown, and many more
my mum lily fey lived in rippoth road in1930s. she was born in beachy road.
Hi my nan lived in rippoth road no:1
And her daughter my aunt married joe fey
Hi my my mum was born in rippoth road no:1
My aunt married joe fey
I lived in usher road when my dad won enough money playing darts in the lady franklin he would take 6 of us to the cinema in st stephens road
The Albion 25 St. Pauls Way was pulled down in 2005, after it laying empty for a number of years, the story goes that a body was found in the back yard under the arches wrapped in a carpet coming from the pub. My aunt and uncle had it back in the 1960’s they were Esther and Tommy Everett, it was later taken over by their daughter Renee and her husband Jimmy Saunders. I think flats are now being built on the site.
My nan and grandad Mr and Mrs Carter and their son Micky ran the Bridge House in Bow Common Lane in the 1950’s. They then retired to Romford.
My Mum and Dad were tenants at the Old Three Colts 450 Old Ford Road in the 1960s. I think there was 1 more tenant after them before it was knocked down.
Hi jason ,
my great grandmother and grandfather used to working at the old three colts 450 old ford road in the 1950s..I cant find the photo but why i cant find photo of the pub .
Had many great Saturday nights in the Earl of Aberdeen with my sister and our blokes! We both ended up married to them – not sure we can blame the pub for that!
Sadly my sister died 18 months ago and I’ve been down memory lane a lot since then so some good memories of this pub.
There was always live music on a Saturday night – one group in particular I remember. The leader singer did a brilliant rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water, one of my favourite Simon & Garfunkel tracks.
I also remember him making a comment about the dress I was wearing one Saturday night – it was quite low cut and he dedicated the song to the girl who was keeping abreast of the times! Inappropriate comment these days, not very p.c. at all but those were very different times wish I could turn back the clock!
hi my mum lived at 1 rippoth road her brother was joe fey.move out at 15 when her father died. she then lived at kenton road next door to kenton arms pub. i am in contact with iris joe’s daughter but not heard anything for a while.
What about the Britainia Arms. Bow Common Lane. Redeveloped as flats . Originally kept as an asset to local community when new estate was built about 1970.
Hi ,my great nan(bless her) ran the lady franklin pub,old ford road,,,ill try to dig some photos out and bring some history back,,,love reminiscing,,x
Hello Kelli, sorry for not getting back to you sooner, good news re Lady Franklin we have been trying to find photos of the pub for a long time but we have had no luck at all, so be great if you had any photos that you could post, look forward to hearing from you Barrie The Geezers Club
Hi , my parents were the last tenants of the Lady Franklin , the pub was a courage house and was demolished when the old people’s home was built around fifty years ago ..where has all that time gone !! Charlie and Lilly Cole were there names , I’m sure my nephew has some pictures of the old pub …
HI Richard. That would be good to see photos of the lady franklin and any others of the area. I drove the number 8 bus from there in the early 70s. I’m looking forward to the photos. Regards Colin
Hi i lived in usher road, my dad used to go in the lady franklin and play darts, when he won enough mony he would come home an take 6of us to the cinema in st stephens road
Would anyone have photos of themselves or others that were taken inside the King’s Head pub at 8 Bow Road?
I’d very much like to have an idea of how the pub was even though my family had it in the 1880’s and 90’s!!
Regards, Julie
Whitbread’s Brewery supplied/owned The King’s Head when run by my great grandfather, George Kemp. It’s written on the pediment of the pub as seen in the photo shown on this page.
My family had the Albion pub in st, Pauls way next to the railway arches for thirty years my nan had it for seventeen years then my mum and dad had it for thirteen years so it was in the family from about 1960 to 1990 and generations of our family grew up in there
Hi Rita
We lived just round the corner in Timothy rd. My mum and dad,Ada and Harry House used the Albion. I was in there with them the night before I had my first baby. The next day I was in the East End Maternity home in Commercial Rd. That was November 1963
Hi Maureen I remeber your Mum& Dad, did you live in the small block of flats in Timothy Rd opposite my Aund Rose’s shop.
Thank Gloria (Reynolds)
Great to see this post Rita, great memories for us both. As my Mum was the Barmaid in there for years.
Hi Andy
We lived at 9 Lamprell Street.Left in Dec.1957 due to demolition.
Hi I lived at 18 Lamprell St
Can I join ,M where is my boozer now
Hello. I’m not sure if i have already contributed?! My Grandfather, was born in The King’s Head in Nov 1885 to George Kemp, Licensed Victualler and his wife, Jane Rebekah Green (nee.) My grandfather’s birth registration cites the pub and address. I have a fair grasp of the essential records with a couple of streetscapes of Bow Road which shows the pub in its glory days. I was in London in 1975 (nursing and getting orientated to the wondrous town – but it was too much for me then.) Sadly i didn’t have much grip on family history and was basically just overwhelmed with the reality of just being ‘in London, England’! Best of British and Australian, Julie (b1948, Melbourne, now in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.)
Can Jennifer Godden nee Jones get in touch. Longing for a catch up. Reach me at maureendinks@hotmail.com