London Bars and Pubs

[martin_sole]

I'd like to put together a list of London pubs and bars with connections to the Great War (even tenuous oned)

So far I have the Bell pub in Exeter street and the Dolphin Tavern in Red Lion street, both bombed by zeppelins.

Also the bar at the Coliseum Theatre, where bogus "war hero" and Grade 1 Walt, Lancelot Dickinson Chapman was arrested.

I know about Paddys Bar but don't know exactly where it was located in Victoria. Was there a similar establishment in Waterloo?

Any former drill halls or recruiting offices now converted to places of alcoholic imbibement?

Any help from forum pals greatly appreciated.

[martin_sole]

Here's one to be filed under "tenuous'

The Princess Louise pub on High Holborn. Probably the best preserved Victorian gin palace in the capital. Even the marble urinals in the Gents are listed.

Princess Louise was colonel in chief of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Directly opposite is the site of the now abandoned British Musem tube station, which was used as an air raid shelter in both world wars.

[stu]

The Old Star pub at the junction of Broadway and Queen Anne's Gate ( opposite St James's Park station ) has a 1914 star for its pub sign, I guess there is a G.W connection hence the sign, it is an old pub and just a hundred or so yards from Wellington Barracks https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=643&q=the+old+star+westminster&oq=the+old+star+&gs_l=img.1.1.0l4j0i24l6.1484.5492.0.7402.13.13.0.0.0.0.281.1831.4j8j1.13.0....0...1ac.1.30.img..1.12.1643.cEkRVbJewf4#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=EZ4o_zfdSX1GwM%3A%3BYzBpAwNCMKs42M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%252F3663%252F3403184038_9ab12207dd_o.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.flickr.com%252Fphotos%252F55935853%2540N00%252F3403184038%252F%3B2136%3B2848

[Guest exuser1]

Black Swan Devons Road E3 bombed in Great War and damaged WW2 , finally gone in 1980s redevelopment , Stratford Broadway has if I recall Edward 7th changed its name from King of Prussia in 1914! .

[Jim Clay]

I used to use that pub many years ago. Here's a pic of the pub before name change:

and here is the same place in recent times:

[Guest exuser1]

Used it myself back in the 1970s when at West Ham college , which reminds me the recruiting station for West Ham was at the old town hall opposite the Swan public house and down from the 2 Puddings , I would assume many of the lads either prior to joining up or after signing would have popped in for a pint in some of the pubs near the town hall ?

[martin_sole]

Cracking pictures

[martin_sole]

I'm still trying to pinpoint Paddy's Bar. I know a few older forum members drank there at one time or another before BR closed it in 1979 (Centurion?)

Was it located where The Iron Duke is now, with entrances on the concourse and Buckingham Palace Road?

[Rayessex]

Hello,

What about the "Leefe Robinson VC". Named after the First Airman to shoot down a German Airship in World War One. Not strickly London, Harrow Weald on the Uxbridge Road. I believe the Airship was shot down quite near the Pubs location.

Ray

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Depending on what you consider London to be:

Alexandria Hotel, High Street, Stratford

In 1914 the Officers Mess of the 13^th (Service) Battalion, Essex Regiment was located in this hotel that was also known as ‘Essex House’.

Black Swan, Bow

This pub was hit and completely destroyed by a bomb dropped from a German Zeppelin on the night of 23 September 1916.

The landlord’s two daughters, Cissie Reynolds (twenty) and Sylvia Adams (twenty-one), Sylvia’s thirteen-month old daughter (also Sylvia) and their grandmother Mrs Potter all died.

Eight-year-old George Reynolds and his brother Sydney (nine), along with Sylvia’s husband Henry Adams were injured. The pub was rebuilt on the same site in 1920. Edwin John Reynolds had become landlord of the pub in 1915.

The pub was rebuilt on the same site in 1920 and was demolished as part of a road-widening scheme in 1970.

Bun House, Peckham High Street

Cellars used as Air Raid Shelters during Zeppelin Raids.

Carlton Tavern, Carlton Vale

On Whit Sunday 19 May 1918 this pub was flattened by a 300kg bomb dropped by a German ‘plane during an air raid on London. The landlord and his dog were killed. His wife survived but badly injured. The pub was rebuilt after the war.

Chandos, St.Martin’s Lane

Fijian troops in this country made the Chandos their unofficial headquarters during the 1914-18 War and many of them carved their names on the counter.

During WW2, the sons of the men who carved their names came to the house and added their own.

When the pub was being renovated, two of the 1914-18 veterans from Fiji called and were horrified to find the counter removed. They called at the Brewery in Brick lane and the Directors gave them the old counter, which has now been cleaned and polished. It will be sent to Suva, the capital of Fiji, where it will be an unofficial war monument.

The main group of the men from Fiji were in the 4th Batt. KRRC.

Counting House, Cornhill

The Counting House was built in 1893 as Prescott's Bank and the foundations rest partly on the North sleeper wall of a 2,000 year old Roman basilica. Today, this magnificent building is a Fuller's Ale & Pie pub, with much of the old charm of the banking hall on display

On the right hand side of the entrance is a Memorial to the Bank’s employees who were killed in WW1.

I'll post more later.

Dave

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Essex Arms, Aldgate (Now Gone)

R/19284, Rifleman Frederick Hugh Abrahams enlisted on 10th Dec 1915 at Finsbury Barracks giving his occupation as a Barman and address as 41, Aldgate High St, East London which was the address of the Essex Arms where the Landlord at the time was Frederick Gould Brown who ran the pub 1902-21.

He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on Pier Face 13A/13B.

Finborough Arms, Chelsea

George Edward Uwins originally from Reigate, Surrey was Manager of this pub from 1911. He was the son of Harry Albert and Jane Elizabeth Uwins, of 2, Southwick St., Southwick, Sussex.

At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the Mercantile Marine (now known as the Merchant Navy) as an Able Seaman. He died on the S.S. John Miles, a London registered vessel, at the age of 35, on 22 February 1917. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Hat & Feathers, Clerkenwell Road

Prior to his enlistment into the Army during the Great War Percy Pearce was a barman at the pub.

6064, Pte. Percy Saunders Pearce, 3^rd. Batt. London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) was killed in action on 31 October 1918, aged 29, having been conscripted into the Army in May of that year and after going into the frontline for the first time. He had signed on at Kensington. He is buried in Vielle-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, Lacoutre in Grave VII.C.3.

Miller’s Well, East Ham

Newham Recorder 26 May 2010

A memorial dedicated to two war heroes has been unveiled at an East Ham pub.
It was dedicated at the Millers Well in Barking Road to two local Victoria Cross recipients, Jack Cornwell and Edgar Myles.

The event was organised by Bob Stokes and Andy Browne, custodians of the memorial.

Royal British Legion padre Fred Ashford-Okal gave a small service and blessed everyone who attended including Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales.
Representatives of the Legion in East Ham and District also attended.

Nevill Arms, Nevill Road, Hackney (Gone)

A bomb rom a Zeppelin dropped in the garden of The Nevill Arms Public House. 30 May 1915

More to follow.

[martin_sole]

Verry gud.

Thanks HP

[johnboy]

Hello,

What about the "Leefe Robinson VC". Named after the First Airman to shoot down a German Airship in World War One. Not strickly London, Harrow Weald on the Uxbridge Road. I believe the Airship was shot down quite near the Pubs location.

Ray

The airship SL11 was brought down at Cuffley Herts. It crashed behind the PLOUGH PUB.

The Leefe Robinson in Stanmore was renamed Miller and Carter some time ago but I think that after pressure from locals it reverted to its old name. Leefe Robinson died at his sisters home and is buried not too far away.

[johnboy]

Not sure if this is ww1 or ww2

[maxi]

Hello,

What about the "Leefe Robinson VC". Named after the First Airman to shoot down a German Airship in World War One. Not strickly London, Harrow Weald on the Uxbridge Road. I believe the Airship was shot down quite near the Pubs location.

Ray

The airship SL11 was brought down at Cuffley Herts. It crashed behind the PLOUGH PUB.

The Leefe Robinson in Stanmore was renamed Miller and Carter some time ago but I think that after pressure from locals it reverted to its old name. Leefe Robinson died at his sisters home and is buried not too far away.

If you cross over the road from the pub, just behind a hedge, you will find his grave.

Maxi

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Some more:

Prussian Eagle, Ship Alley, St.George in the East (Gone)

The Prussian Eagle started business as the Prussian Flag in the middle of the nineteenth century, and was almost certainly founded for the benefit of German nationals working in the numerous sugar-baking houses in the district. Later it seems to have become a home from home for German sailors, and then a sort of night-club for foreign sailors and local residents.

The name was changed to the Prussian Eagle in 1891.

During the Great War, at a time when there was much Anti-German feeling which resulted in attacks on German owned businesses, Jack Mueller got a ladder up to the pub sign and chipped of the letter ‘P’ to make the sign read Russian Eagle.

Queens Arms, Bolton Street, Kennington (Gone)

2440, Pte. Samuel George Eldridge, ‘A’ Battery, 71^st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery died on 10 April 1918, aged 26. He is buried in Duissans British Cemetery, Etrun in Grave V.G.6.

He was the son of Mrs. Sarah Eldridge of the Queens Arms and the late George H. Eldridge, who had worked for a brewery.

Roan Horse, Polard St., Bethnal Green

James 'Jim' Ferry who had taken a 22 year lease on the pub in 1898 died in June 1915, a year after his wife, Sophie. The pub passed to his daughter, Florence Agnes Toone (nee Ferry) and her husband, Thomas William Toone.

Thomas Toone had just passed the Sergeant's promotion examination in the Metropolitan Police but had to resign, because, by Police regulations, he was forbidden to be married to a licensee.

He, in fact, became the named licensee until, at the end of 1916, he enlisted in the West Surrey Regiment (Queen's Regiment) during the First World War. His wife then became the named licensee and remained so until Thomas returned from the Allied occupation of Germany in the spring of 1919.

Following the closure of the Roan Horse in early 1920, the family remained in the building until they had to move out during the summer of 1920.

Tipperary,, Fleet Street

It was the fist pub to sell Guinness outside Ireland and was renamed The Tipperary from The Boar's Head during the First World War when Irish soldiers enjoyed the only Irish pub in London.

Viaduct Tavern, Holborn

On one wall, three paintings of wistful maidens represent agriculture, banking and the arts. The 'arts' was attacked (some say shot, others bayoneted) by a drunken First World War soldier, and she still bears the scar.

Wheatsheaf, Wheatsheaf Place, Shepherds Bush

Many people were killed during regular air rids first by Zeppelin Airship and the by Gotha ‘planes. Unfortunately efforts to shoot down the invaders by artillery fire resulted in what is know term ‘friendly fire’ as shrapnel and shell fell to the ground.

One such incident occurred when a shell fell to the ground hitting the pavement outside the Wheatsheaf making the pub look like a pepper pot as it was so full of holes. Mr. Thomas Weight was on his way home from work when he heard the Air Raid warning. He stopped to help the woman owner of a coffee stall opposite the pub to put up her shutters before she took cover. As they did so the shell fell and exploded. A bit of the shell nearly took his right leg off and he was killed outright. The woman survived but lost two of her toes in the blast.

Witenberg Arms, Stockwell (name changed)

13413, Cpl. John Thomas Wotton, 13^th Battalion East Surrey Regiment died on 6 March 1917, aged 29. He is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery in Grave II.D.8.

In 1913 he had married Annie Lillian Ellis at St. Andrew’s Church, Landor Road, Stockwell and set up home at 65 Cottage Road, Stockwell. He was a potman and barman at the Wirtemberg Arms in Wirtemberg Street.

In 1919 Anti-German feelings caused the street and the pub to be renamed with Wirtemberg being replaced by Stonhouse.

Zeppelin Shelter, Aldgate

The Zeppelin Shelter is situated two minutes walk from Aldgate East tube station on the corner of Alie and Leman Street.

Originally built as the Black Horse to commemorate Dick Turpin’s mount and his exploits of stealing horses in the area in the 1730’s. The pub was purpose built in 1894 and has seen many changes over the years.

The area has nearly always been a home to immigrants, because of the close proximity of the Thames and the Docks. Persecuted religions from all over the world have taken refuge in the area including Huguenots, Jews and Lutherans. Established in 1732, St George’s Chapel opposite was built for the disaffected German Lutherans and served the refugee German Jews in WW2. The area became famous for sugar refinery boasting several German run factories on Alie Street.

The word Leman in archaic English means Lover, Sweetheart or Mistress and became synonymous with local prostitution and the likes of Jack the Ripper in Victorian Times. On the opposite corner stands the Old Dispensary erected in 1858 to provide medication for poor unfortunates, now housing a fine food restaurant.

1914 brought the Great War and where the pub takes its name, being damaged in World War 1 by the five Zeppelin airship raid on Aldgate and the City in 1915, which resulted in a rebuild in 1917. Luckily on the opposite corner stood a margarine warehouse, part of the Great Eastern Railway Offices built of steel girders and concrete which acted successfully as an air raid shelter during both World Wars.

The revamped premises of what was then known as the Bar Red were opened as the Zeppelin Shelter in 2007.

The ground floor bar is traditionally decorated with William Morris wallpaper and sympathetically restored in the style of 1914 – 18. The walls and shelves are embellished with antique militaria, period newspapers. Zeppelin and local memorabilia from the Great War, with even a Karaoke stand up piano and cask ales in an ambient atmosphere

[Rayessex]

Many thanks Maxi and Johnboy.

Ray

[johnboy]

The Nevill Arms Stoke Newington. It had a bomb land in the garden. There is a plaque but it is thought the date 30/5/15? is a day too early!

[Guest exuser1]

The Widows Son in Bow ,the legend goes back past the Great War but the tradition carried on through the war , most of the older pubs on the Isle of Dogs would have been frequented by Merchant Seamen through out the war ,trouble is many East End pubs are disappearing at a rate of knots , Paddys Bar was replaced if I recall by a bar with a horse and hounds theme ? that was then replaced by the present Iron Duke .

Also hotel bars ,the Liverpool Street station hotel now a Conran restaurant , I remember a very moving account by a elderly lady who married a officer spent their one night together there before he proceeded to the front and was killed .

[squirrel]

The Rifleman pub in Twickenham was renamed last year Rifleman Frank Edwards. He was the 1/18th Londons, London Irish Rifles, football team captain who kicked the ball over the top at Loos 25th September 1915.

[douglynn]

The widows son allso called the bun house.legend has it that the lady not sure if owner had hot cross bun for her sons return.but he never did return and there used to be buns hanging from the ceeling

It used to be in bow common lane

[NigelS]

Carlton Tavern, Carlton Vale

On Whit Sunday 19 May 1918 this pub was flattened by a 300kg bomb dropped by a German ‘plane during an air raid on London. The landlord and his dog were killed. His wife survived but badly injured. The pub was rebuilt after the war.

This appears to be the same pub - or, more correctly, the one built to replace that bombed - that has recently been in the news because the owners demolished it - with furniture & fittings still in place, the staff having been told it was going to be shut during an 'inventory' - without planning approval just days before it was due to be listed by English Heritage. Yesterday (5th May) Westminster Council confirmed that it was going to have to be rebuilt exactly how it was 'brick by brick'

Developers who destroyed historic London pub without permission could be ordered to rebuild 'brick by brick'

NigelS