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
why cant i share the manhatton pub ??
In the 1970’s I lived with my wife and children at 26 Zealand Road just around the corner from the Earl of Ellsmere. The landlord was Bob Ward senior, his son Bob junior being the drummer with the punk band Subway Sect. The pub was hugely successful in those days and for a couple of years I used to play guitar and sing there on Saturday nights. The clientel was a mix of black, white, villains and families and the atmosphere was always electric, noisy, smokey accompanied by the crash of the public bar pool table balls, the shouting of the darts scoring and the general hub bub of a busy East End pub. Those days are now long gone, society and public entertainment and the insanity of today’s politically correct snowflakes have ensured that. It was a great pub and the 1970’s were a great time to have shared in that timely culture.
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.
my mum lily may fey lived at number 1 rippoth road from 5yrs old to 15yrs when her father died she moved out.her brother was joe fey.she lived there from 1925 to1935.
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.
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.
Brad, Thanks for the info.
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
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.
Kevan, Thanks for letting us know.
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
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 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
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
Hi my nan lived in rippoth road no:1
And her daughter my aunt married joe fey
my mum lily fey lived in rippoth road in1930s. she was born in beachy 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
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.
Hi Maureen,
I hope you don’t mind me contacting you but you might be able to provide me with some information about my family, My name is Graham Shacklady and the family who ran the Shackladys would have been my Great grandparents and Rose by your time frame was most likely my Grans mother. Was the pub called “St Dunstans Arms” and do you have any photo’s.
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.