North of the River Thames PUBS 
"Those of us who like to explore the capital's hidden corners and forgotten byways can only applaud
Paul Talling for compiling derelictlondon.com, an often uncomfortable record of the capital's underbelly.
We see them every day: the disused cinemas, boarded-up shops, vermin and even human derelicts
that society would rather turn a blind eye to. They may be less picturesque than Big Ben, Beefeaters
and the London Eye, but they are no less part of London. Once you start noticing them, you just can't
stop.I can't quite bring myself to look at the toilets, though."
THE GUARDIAN
Greater London has 228 fewer pubs in the last 5 years - 638 were closed and 410 were opened.
The old boozer, where the regulars had their places at the bar and red and gold flock-wallpaper set the tone, is increasingly a thing of the past. In England and Wales six rural pubs close every week.
Once closed and boarded up these old pubs are ruthlessly targeted by developers either for demolition or
conversion into flats.
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DID ANYONE USED TO DRINK IN ANY OF THESE PUBS? ANY STORIES TO TELL?
Canning Town - The Royal Oak
c.1848. Well known 1950s - 80s as having a professional boxing gym above PH.
Frank Bruno trained there for 10 years.
Chas and Dave's video for their "Rabbit" song was filmed here.
John writes: In the late 1960’s I used to go there to watch the boxers train. I used to go with Jimmy Anderson, who became
a British Champion. Like me, Jimmy came from Enfield and I used to accompany him in his small car to training. Because
of my work I could not go every night, but I always enjoyed the atmosphere. The landlord at the Royal Oak was Morrie
Vickers, who doubled as a boxing manager himself. However, the major stable of boxers which trained there was that of
Terry Lawless, who managed Jimmy Anderson and a number of boxers who became champions."
It has been rebuilt whilst keeping the original front and renewed pub signage - upstairs has been made into flats.
Downstairs looks as if its being opened as an estate agents
Royal Victoria Dock one of this website's most popular pubs!
Closed in 1990.
Derelict London reader Helen Pearce writes: "The Tidal Basin Tavern featured in the last section of the
cult film 'The Leather Boys'. This early 60s film combined a 'realistic picture of working class life' with
rockers on bikes doing a ton and dodging around the famous north London ACE cafe, with a gay
not-very-sub text. The scenes in the Tidal Basin Tavern feature the main character's dilemma whether
to run away to sea with his gay mate or stay (perhaps go back to his wife). He reluctantly decides
to stay possibly prompted by bitchy comments from some stereotypical 'queens' in the bar there,
somewhat offensive in my opinion." The cast included Colin Campbell, Dudley Sutton and Rita Tushingham
The Tidal Basin Tavern was also once the venue for a Siouxie & The Banshees gig in 1977
Rob Syers writes: "I had been a friend of the landlady maybe a year before it closed, it had a reputation as a bikers pub and it was but
they were some of the friendliest people you could meet. I believe it was shut due to severe structural problems, cracks an inch or two
wide were in most of the external walls, I believe it was subsidence. They served Fullers Ales and they were always in excellent condition."
Mark Gillman writes: " I drank in the Tidal Basin Tavern. It would have been in 1978. I went with a mate of mine to see a group called
Wayne County and the Electic Chairs. Wayne had a sex change operation and renamed the group Jayne County etc. Even then
it was a bit primitive, about a month later someone stuck a shot gun through the door and shot dead a guy in the boozer. Even when
i was there you could tell the place had a bit of form. Na Wot I Meen. I now live in Australia the pubs are more civillised but give me
a traditional English Pub any day."
Trevor Gordon writes: "It’s not music that evokes my memories, but sexual terror! I arrived in London (well, Ilford) aged 18 in 1978 to
escape my (then) homophobic hometown of Northampton. As a naïve and un-streetwise teenager, the local Brook Street Bureau got
me a job at an ancient steel company in Canning Town (right on Silvertown Way – now demolished). “Canning Town – is it nice?” I
asked the bureau girl. Whilst bopping my nights away in the various gay establishments of North/East London (and gigging – I was
a weekend punk) I remained totally closeted with the serious geezers with whom I worked. A couple of times a week, I would be
dragged to the Tidal Basin at lunchtime (“Topless Go-Go Girls” it said on the frosted glass window. Talk about understatement!),
where I would have to feign interest in the various girls utilising Guiness bottles in various ingenious methods. They obviously
sussed me, as it was always I they picked on when moving amongst the audience, and my beer that was molested in some way.
Talk about a trauma!"
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The Intrepid Fox - Soho
Everybody was dismayed when this historic piece of Soho was closed down in Autumn 06 to be demolished to make way for apartments.
Popular boozer especially amongst rockers,punk & goths. I used to go here before going to the old Marquee over the road (another sad loss)
Ultimate pub guide described it as "A scary looking place from outside and even scarier inside, with scary patrons and scary toilets. If you like longhaired men, big cleavages and even bigger riffs, then the Intrepid Fox is the place for you."
The Intrepid Fox was founded by Whig leader Charles James Fox in 1784 who promised to give free beer to anyone who offered him electoral support. In more modern times it was the favourite watering hole of London's rock elite and a big tourist draw. Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart are rumoured to have come close to trading punches there after the former tried to poach Ronnie Wood - then in Stewart's band The Faces - for the Rolling Stones. The late hellraising actor Richard Harris was a regular and Mel Gibson has been a customer.
Malcolm McLaren, who used to drink at the Fox with Johnny Rotten and the other Sex Pistols in the Seventies, backed an unsuccessful campaign to save the pub, having once named it one of the five best in the world.
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The exLandlord comments: "It is another step towards the homogenisation of Soho as just another bland, faceless residential area"
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Bethnal Green - The Carpenters Arms
Once owned by the Krays.
From the Daily Telegraph: "When they bought The Carpenters Arms, in 1967, they were less concerned about
the menu than its layout: with its narrow bar and one doorway to the road, no one could get in unobserved, so it
made for the perfect headquarters.The only time Reggie Kray got involved in the catering side of the business was
when he took a carving knife from the kitchen to stab Jack "The Hat" McVitie in the face, body and chest, before
impaling him through the throat to the floor."
Apparently the alleyway down the side is Nicholas Lyndhurst's vortex in Goodnight Sweetheart.
Update - pub re-opened and serves good food (according to Time Out magazine in Feb 08 - a meal for 2 with wine £70!!)
Pontoon Dock (Graving Dock Tavern)
Blackwall (Brunswick Arms)
Bow (Blondin Street) - pub name unknown
Mile End (Prince of Wales)
Tottenham (The Cockerel)
Plaistow (Coach & Horses)
Camden (Black Horse)
Custom House (The British Flag)
Just across the railway tracks from the Tidal Basin, there used to be regular nights that the drinkers of one pub would go to
the other and drink there. This was a reciprocal agreement.
Brick Lane - The Seven Stars
It went from a strip pub to a cafe-bar but the last pub remaining in Brick Lane now lies empty.
The pic taken through the window shows the remains of someone's meal - note the chandelier.
In a derelict boathouse on the island of Jura, the trustees of the K Foundation, Jimmy Cauty and Bill
Drummond, burned the assets of the foundation - £1 million in £50 notes. The money had been earned
from their previous project, their enormously successful venture in pop music,the KLF. The burning of the
£1 million was filmed and was due to be shown in a car-park in Brick Lane, Dec 95. but
the event turned into something of a fiasco. The car-park idea was abandoned on the night, but a basement
room was hired in the Seven Stars pub nearby. Around 400 people turned up for the showing, and most
somehow managed to crowd into the small room. Bill and Jimmy hung around, but were evidently nervous,
and hid for most of the evening in the toilets with their minders. Some of the film was shown but the cramped
conditions proved too much and the showing was abandoned. Some reports indicate the police called it off,
but although the police did turn up, it is understood that they had no part in the decision.
All that remain of the money, is one solitary brick made from the ashes. Why the did, and more specifically,
were their actions intended as art, as a commentary on art, the end of art, money or whatever else, will not be
discussed by the duo.
The Seven Stars featured quite prominently in the episode "What Makes Shamy Run?" (Series 5,
Thames TV, 1984) of Minder, starring George Cole as Arthur and Dennis Waterman as Terry McCann
Shoreditch - Flying Scud
Strippers & live metal bands pub closed in 94 after police seige involving an armed gang.
Named after a racehorse apparently (not a missile!).Though there was also a clipper ship of this name.
In the eighties it had a sign outside depicting a ship. They used to have heavy metal night on Friday and
Saturday and the strippers only appeared when the pub was close to closingdown for good, when it was
being frequented by certain gangs.
When someone says that they are "going to see a man about a dog" they really mean that they are
unwilling to reveal the true nature of their business. The expression comes from the long forgotten
1866 play 'Flying Scud' in which one of the characters uses the words as an excuse to get away
from a tricky situation. This is the only thing that seems to have survived from the play.
David Jester writes to Derelict London:"My wife used to work as a barmaid here in the 80s. She says it was bizarre
watching all the heavy metal fans frantically playing air guitar to "Livin' On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi while all the old boys
looked on from the other end of the bar. But she says they were very generous with their tips and free drinks- she used
to make £20 a night sometimes. And she certainly wasn't a rock chick - she wore wool suits with big 80s shoulder pads"
Justin Quirk writes: "A cab driver a couple of years told me that despite the pub's heavily scorched appearance, it was never
burnt down/firebombed. Apparently a film crew were shooting something round Hackney Road that was meant to be in Belfast,
and deliberately burned the pub to give it authenticity.
My mate Keith Woodhouse writes : "I grew up in the street that The Flying Scud and Marquis Of Lansdowne were in
and my uncle once told me that he stabbed a bloke in the Scud in a fight just after the war"
Stratford - Log Cabin
The above pub is due to be converted into a bar/restaurant with offices above & new flats on its yard to the rear to
fund it's refurbishment as the building is Listed and considered "at risk". It's one of the very few remaining
Coaching Inns on the route through East London to East Anglia & was once known as The Yorkshire Grey (b.1740).
Found this written about the Log Cabin on www.charlottecooper.net
"The interior looked like someone's carpentry project. Hundreds of pieces of plywood scraps were
nailed to the walls. The chairs and tables looked as though they had been roughly hewn out of
wood. Everything was wonky, clunky, heavy. On one of the tables there was a giant egg-shaped
stone, like a weird centrepiece. We would sit and drink and fondle the dinosaur egg absentmindedly.
The place was rarely busy, the punters were grumps. The building has just been sold for £1.4 million.
It's going to be knocked down, maybe the new owners will build some more luxury flats on the site,
or another hotel." Someone has now told me that the building is listed so can't be demolished!
Canning Town - The Rose of Denmark
Once popular with dockers as it was known to open at 6am.
Rose of Denmark, built in 1867. Demolition seems inevitable as only the shell of the ground floor remains
in a poor state.A planning application has been made to the council for "demolition of existing building and
construction of a new 7 storey office building incorporating car parking on the ground floor"
The shell was finally demolished in January 2005:
Hackney (The Frampton Arms)
One of London's first pubs with gay barstaff and entertainment. Also known for gangland trouble of the 60s
Shoreditch (The Conqueror)
Just before they finally got closed it was well known for having lock-ins every night. Eventually this was so well known
that it was usually busier at 1am than it was earlier in the evening and, as it's on a totally residential st, their license
went. Was squatted for several years after that.
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Want present day pics of your old haunts? Researching your family tree and need location pics? Pictures taken to order - low cost - any job considered (not just derelicts!). Much cheaper than professional photographers
Contact: Paul at derelictlondon.com 
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Mile End (The Albion)
This was a good family pub close to the canal it was friendly place to pop into on Sunday having good typical East
London bar nibbles. The pubs popularity declined when a murdered person was discovered in the back yard under
the railway viaduct
Aldgate East (The Red Lion)
This sign is all that remains of a pub demolished next to the tube station entrance.This area was once a mass
burial site during the Plague.
Stella writes:
"In the late 19th c. my gt. grandma & her brother, orphans, were living in the stables belonging to the pub which I think were just
round the corner in Leman St. The older building on the site had an association with Dick Turpin."
Barry Thomas writes:
"The tube station was on the corner and the pub wrapped around it with an entrance on either side. I was at college at Sir John
Cass School of Art in 1979. My brother worked by St Pauls so we sometimes had lunch (ie a couple of pints and a pork pie)
at this pub. They had very very dodgy strippers there. The large mirrors behind and above the stage gave a good all round
view. One girl had a burn scar in the middle of the back which we could just make out in the mirrors before she turned round.
Must have been the size of a rugby ball. Not in the first flush of youth."
Keith Woodhouse writes:
"One story that I heard about the Red Lion in Aldgate was that it was where Dick Turpin killed an informer and started his
infamous ride to York."
Shadwell (The Britannia)
Rob Syers writes: "I was a bus driver in the mid to late 90's on the route 100. This route stopped outside the Britannia and then
it was looking a little careworn. I remember seeing signs for boxing exhibitions but I don't know if these ever took place."
Kings Cross (Shaws)
It was originally a car repair shop, but the owner decided to make more money by converting it into a bar as there were two
very tall office buildings next door. The nearby office space was taken up by NatWest before they were taken over by Royal
Bank of Scotland, and loads of the staff used to go in a drink there. Some of the best nights in there were probably football
nights, especially during the European Championships help in England. The bar manager had to get two extra tv's in so that
everybody in there could see a screen. Memorable nights, but when RBS moved all the staff out, that was the end for Shaws.
Shayne from Sidney used to live in a flat above this pub: "The pub itself was surreal - well maintained but usually very empty
with the exception of a few local die-hards. The publican used to go to the effort though, a few weekend nights he would play
some cheesy pop music and have those lousy traffic light style disco lights flashing - but to no avail it seems.
The times I was in there though it was pleasant enough - the staff were always happy to have someone to serve and its a bit
of a shame to see it close down really - perhaps in hindsight I should have gone there more often."
Shadwell (Crown & Dolphin)
The Ratcliffe Highway murders - The murder of the Marr family and James Biggs also the Williamson family by John Williams
in 1811. John Williams was caught for his crimes, tried and found guilty. Whilst in custody awaiting execution he hung himself
in his cell. His body was placed on a cart and paraded around the locations of his murders, as was the custom of the time
(usually before execution). The body was then taken to a 6ft. deep grave that had been dug outside The Crown and Dolphin.
His body was put in the grave with a stake hammered through his heart and covered with earth. It was the custom with suicides
not to bury them in consecrated ground, but at a crossroads, so the soul had no direction to travel and to have a stake hammered
through the heart.His skull was kept as a souvenir on the bar.
De Beauvoir Town ("The Trafalgar - more commonly known locally as "The Traff")
Ravey Davey writes "If I'm right the last owner bought it with insurance money he got when his wife was murdered by the
yorkshire ripper. It was his dream and he loved it dearly. Sometime in the early 90s though he ended up owing serious £££
to some gangsters who forced him to close. A friend of mine ended up squatting it in the lat 90s. When the owner found out
he enlisted the squatters to help him reopen it as a late night bar. Totally illegal of course, but the police didn't care - it was
Hackney after all"
Maryland, Albert Square (The Queen Vic)
Rob Syers ex bus driver writes "Not the fake one in that nasty soap but the proper one (Adam Woodyatt, the slimy toad known
as Ian Beale from aforementioned soap even hosted some tv event there) was closed in the late 90's, again when the area
changed, drove past it many times to and from work and at work (route 308)"
Smithfields (Smithfields)
This pub was among the earliest to open in the capital - 5am, to cater for the market workers. The pub displayed many photos
of butchers.This was home for a Sunday club called Heavenly Social & feature DJ sets by Chemical Brothers & Death in Vegas.
Rob Williams writes to Derelict London:
"I was the last manager of this pub and it is a total scandal that the landlords (Corporation of London) killed it off by not renewing
the lease so they can "redevelop" the site. Five and a half years on and it's still there - empty. *******s - that was the best job I've
had!
Any places you think should be on this site? Let me know!
Also info (however trivial) or stories/personal memories on any of the buildings would
be appreciated.
or make a donation to derelictlondon:
Clerkenwell (The Hat and Feathers)
One of London's best known pubs for being derelict - it was this for years though its reopened as a restaurant
as of Nov 2006.
David Hines writes :"I used to wait outside this pub when i was akid for my Dad to finish his session sometimes with
the obligitry arrowroot biccy and lemonade, He once promised to take us all out on a Bank Holidaybut could'nt get
past the old Hat and Feathers so we did'nt go anywhere! "
Carol Horan writes: "my grandparents ran the Hat & Feathers in the early 1950's. My mother was married from this
pub in 1952 at St Mary Moorfields church. My father was a printer but worked behind the bar in the evenings and
the family had many stories to tell about the customers. My father became very adept at leap frogging the bar to
sort out the trouble makers."
Staines (The Crooked Billet)
Well known local landmark at the infamous roundabout of the same name.Due to be demolished & replaced by
39 flats....Once owned by Beefeater pub food chain
Claire writes: "I knew this place well, it had been there for years. If I remember rightly, most of the food wasn't all
that but the ice cream was quite nice! I lived in the Staines area between 1995 and 2000, and the pub closed a
year or so before I moved back to London (sometime in the late 1990s). I still pass it regularly and the back of
the building appears to have been quite severely gutted by fire - there are a number of very large holes in the
roof. It has stood derelict for a long time, and it is only relatively recently that a demolition notice has appeared
outside the pub. Not a bad place (a bit bland perhaps), but there were always much better pubs in Staines!"
Clerkenwell (The Yorkshire Grey)
James Coyle writes: "I worked there as head barman in its twilight days. Scottish and Newcastle breweries had been running
the place into the ground for years before prior to a vast selloff of pubs. While I was there, the roof was on the verge of colapse,
and the top three of 4 floors in total were almost rotten through, including the kitchen, management and staff accomodation.
The basement used to house a fantastic micro-brewery which produced the pubs bitters and stouts for many years and was
CAMRA reccomended, one of the last variations being "BabyBlair's Bitter" to mark the birth of young Leo (as Cherie's offices
were oposite - suppose they were trying to raise the profile of what was a rather ramshackle operation by the end!). It was very
popular for Freemasons functions for many years, many a raised trouser leg and dodgy handshake were to be seen in the
Grey. The main bar also used to have large portholes in the floor so customers could see the brew in progress, and the staff
sneaking a sly fag. Dearly missed in its old (delapidated!) state, it has since reopened with a full personality bypass, and my
grotty room behind the beautiful sculpture on the East corner has been sold off with the other upper floors for 'contemporary
urban living space'."
Above pics taken 2005 pub has now reopened as of Sept 2006
Tottenham White Hart Lane (The Railway Tavern)
CB writes: "This is a real shame this pub closed down. It was a fairly big pub with a
few pool tables, situated right next to White Hart Lane train station.
Packed out on match days but again not very busy during the week. I used to
live just round the corner from it in Durban Road and remember getting so
drunk in there one night I could hardly stand up, and had severe difficulty
in getting out of the pub"
Edmonton - Tudor Inn (previously The Horse and Groom)
C B writes: "It had a reputation for under age drinkers during the 1980s and the joke was that they used to take their homework
there in the evenings. There was a disco there most saturday nights but was also frequented by posers and dolly birds which
being a skinhead used to rule me out of going there!"
Edmonton Green (The Exhibition)
The pub sign remains inside Edmonton Green market. The pub itself is now a shop.
Edmonton (The Steps)
Was used by squatters when closed, was also known as Kelly's Steps before it was
named The Steps.
CB writes: "The Steps in Lower Edmonton was a bit of a loud pub which had a band at the
week ends. I remember one night in there a bloke offered the band 100 if they would play
"American Pie" by Don McLean. He went to get the money out off his pocket and promptly
threw up over himself. Hilarious, like something out of Little Britain! Was a bit of a locals pub
and had its regular crowd of herberts."
Tottenham (Red Lion)
CB writes"I used to go to school with a bloke who's parents ran this pub. It was a fairly quiet pub which did most of its
business during Tottenham Hotspur match days. There was a nice picture of the Queen Mother presenting the Irish
Guards with shamrocks behind the bar, I think the Irish bar man was in the Irish Guards at some point."
Nov 07 - sign attached - acquirred by a builders merchant
Plaistow (Earl of Beaconsfield
note the glass still on the bar & beermats strewn across the floor
Hackney (Careys)
Hackney (The Dagmar Arms)
Enfield Town (Enfield Arms)
Recently demolished to make-way for a new traffic system. The locals were appalled, but sadly there's nothing that could be
done to save it.....pic courtesy of Austin McNally
Stepney Green (The Artichoke)
Michelle Summer writes:
" my parents used to drink in the Artichoke years ago when I was a kid. It was a really nice homely pub in the 1970's with live
music some nights and pub food and snacks. Customers used to take their children along at the weekend's and although
there was no beer garden there were tables and chairs outside and there was a real family atmosphere."
Jim Lucy writes:
"My parents (Tom & Jean Lucy) owned the pub for sixteen years from 1972 until 1988 in what would commonly be regarded
as the pub's heyday. The pub was a busy family house and I am sure many people will remember it with affection. All of My
family now live in Berkshire, and on the rare occasions I return to Stepney I am amazed that the Artichoke is still there, I am
sure one day I will return and find it converted to flats."
Goodge St - The Windmill
Was a great little pub hidden away off Tottenham Court Road - cheap beer,food, punk rock jukebox and the perfect place to
watch the footie scores on Saturday afternoons. I was actually meeting some people here for a beer when I realised it had
shut down so an impromptu photo sesh took place.
Stonebridge (The Orange Tree)
Bloomsbury ( Bull and Mouth)
"Bull and Mouth" derives from the Battle of Boulogne Mouth of 1544 during Henry V111's reign
Rose and Crown (Poplar)
Used to be owned by Queeny Watts, jazz singer and actress. The pub featured in 'Sparrows can't sing' with Barbara
Windsor. Now converted to flats. A piece of the original pub sign is still visible on the side of the building.
The White Horse (Poplar)
Pub has been replaced with flats, but white horse still stands outside.
Custom House (The Barge previously The Freemasons Tavern)
Now used as a hostel for immigrants according to local sources.
This old pub will be demolished to accomodate a new station at Custom House -provided to serve the Royal Docks area
and provide an interchange between Crossrail and the DLR. The new station will consist of a new high-level concourse and
ticket office attached to an extended public walkway linking with the existing walkway between the ExCeL exhibition and
conference centre and Victoria Dock Road. The present Custom House station will be demolished
Barking (The Fishing Smack)
Fishing smack = a small vessel used in sea fishing. These vessels operated out of Barking Creek in the 1850's.
Pub for sale with planning permission for 15 flats and commercial space
September 2007 update - pub now demolished
Forest Gate (The Spotted Dog)
16th Century pub. Henry VIII had dog kennels here and a lodge. In the pub there is a a marker indicating the
centre of Epping Forest, which the area was many years ago.
James Hunt writes:"The is an interesting story about an underground passage that runs under he pub to the
boleyn (near west ham football ground) the tunnel was built by Henry VIII but i'm not sure what it was used for.
The entrance is still visible in the basement of the pub but the rest has been filled with concrete."
Limehouse (The Royal Duke)
Hayes (The Royal Oak)
Now demolished - now a building site for flats
Shoreditch (Partners)
formerly the Marquis of Lansdowne
Barking (The Westbury Arms)
Sally Harlow writes: "I used to work there as a part time barmaid in the mid 80s and have some fond memories of the place.
There used to be a disco every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, Mark the DJ was a bus conductor on the number 15
route by day. The pub was run by an East End-made-good Mother and Daughter (Pat and Lynn) who I was frankly terrified of. We
used to put roast potatoes and other seafood on the bar every Sunday lunchtime, an East End tradition that seems to be dying out."
Haggerston (The Prince of Wales)
Apparently there is "bad luck" associated with this pub! I'm sure that someone will write in and enlighten us all on what
atrocities occured here?
Bethnal Green (The Panther)
now demolished
Ilford (Rose and Crown)
Mark Goodwin writes: "Totally shocked to hear this shut to be honest. Used to live in Ilford up to ’93 but popped back
occasionally. Nice place inside, very woody and traditional. Typically friendly old locals and had the traditional quiz night
on Thursday. We always came last apart from one exception when ‘Wilsy’s wonders’ mysteriously came top thanks to my
covert operation involving peeking at peoples answers when I made my way to the bar every 10 minutes. The hardcore quiz
night massive almost lynched us!"
Shadwell (The Old House at Home)
Found this recent review:"Pubs like this in the East End will be gone in 20 years time. All the old locals will have died or moved
away and most young people around here do not drink for religious reasons. This one could survive if it is tastefully redecorated
and they introduce some more interesting beers." Unfortunately, the pub has not survived and is apparently being converted to
flats
Ilford (The Plough)
from the local press:
"IN A SAD, but fitting coincidence, a former publican has died as the former century-old pub he ran is readied for demolition. Ron Payne grew up in The Plough, Ilford Lane, Ilford, and was the joint licensee with his mother Florence Payne from the late 1950s until 1970.
He died on August 30 2007, three weeks short of his 90th birthday, in Queen's Hospital, Romford.
The Plough, meanwhile, will soon be gone in readiness for a modern healthcare facility opening in December. The centre will include a GP practice, baby clinics, sexual health and family planning, counselling, eye, dental and ultra sound services, as well as out patient clinics and minor surgery units.
Mr Payne's youngest daughter Vera Noble, 47 of Romford, said in its day The Plough was the heart of the community. "A lot of Ford workers were living in the area. There were regular wedding receptions held, Rotary club meetings were held there. There was a jazz club, so lots of local society meetings and occasions were held on the premises. It was a focal point for the community," she said.
The Plough first opened its doors in 1899. Florence Payne moved in in 1924 when Mr Payne was six years old. In 1970, Mr Payne and his wife Nan ended their association with The Plough, moving to the Victoria, Barking.
Mrs Noble said: "It seems a little bit poignant with The Plough being demolished. The place was such a big part in my father's history and his affections, that as The Plough goes, he goes." She said: "He was Victorian in a lot of ways, very old-fashioned, never approved of swearing in front of ladies."
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Dagenham (Robin Hood)
Phill says "it used to have some great stag nights, (the stripper and comedians and a fish n chip supper type of stag nights)
i saw mike read, jimmy jones AND jim davidson (doing his first stag) all on the same bill and the price? 30 bob!!!! including
the fish n chip supper! it was later (in the late 70's) a venue for grab-a-granny nights or singles as the managemant called it,
huge place quite 'posh' for dagenham"
Local rumour that it will be a Lidl supermarket
Pub now demolished
De Beauvoir Town (The Mitre)
Holloway (The Lamb) (The Lion)
Two of what were originally four pubs standing on the corners of the old cattle market. Apparently the market taverns were
used by the slaughter men and drovers who used to drive cattle and sheep to the market there. It has also been suggested
that cattle were brought in to the market by rail from an extension that previously existed from Kings Cross station. The other
two pubs were The Bull and The White Horse. The old market site is now a very large development of residential flats built
in the 1970's. The Lamb reopened Dec 2006
Bill Pearmain writes: "the London market slaughter trade move here from Smithfield at the end of the 1800's leaving
Smithfield to deal only with carcases, my uncle Chis (or chiz) was a slaughter man and uncle Charlie played the piano for
money in at least two of the pubs. I recently toured the area with my mum who was born across the road in the shadow of
Pentonville and who's in her 80's, she has vivid memories of the Cows and Sheep being herded up Caledonian road from
the specially built railway depot pens and being stored in more pens in the market where you could stoke and poke them
through the fence. She also remembers livestock escaping to the delight of the local children and running around the area.
Market Road appears to be a bit dodgy now with working girls on the beat but as she said nothing much changes."
Bow (The Moulders Arms)
Demolished April 2007
Pictures of film stars and a history of the pub decorated the lounge bar walls.
The Moulders was named so because of an old Iron Foundery which was directly behind
the pub many years ago. & knocked down after the war and Flats have since been put there.
The locals called it the Rocks and Boulder slang for the MOULDERS!
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Want present day pics of your old haunts? Researching your family tree and need location pics? Pictures taken to order - low cost - any job considered (not just derelicts!). Much cheaper than professional photographers
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Hackney Wick (Lord Napier)
now used as a squat - well at least until the developers for the Olympics 2012 move in..
Jo writes: "My great great grandfather was a potman in the Lord Napier in the 1890s, and in fact his daughter, my great
grandmother Martha Ruston was a bar maid there before her marriage in 1901. I wish I could do a spot of time travelling
to take a look inside it then ... what a contrast to its latter years!"
David Eason writes: "Below are two poor qlty picks that my dad took from his upstairs window opposite in the 30's or 40's.
My Uncles brother played piano in this pub and the Lea Tavern around the corner (Big John Ward) Alos as a point of
intrest the Napier is opposite an old yard that was once owned by Carles Capel and Leonard who invented the word
"Petrol" This booza is also a stones throw from where the worlds first plastic was invented, the diode valve and Dry Cleaning."
Tottenham - Connaught Tavern
Nov 07 - Demolished flats being built on the site
Tottenham - Prince of Wales
CB writes: "if ever there was a pub with character that was it. Always good for a late one, I was in a band that atcually played
there a few times. It was an Irish pub and a fight was garanteed there almost every night. When I first started going out with
my missus we used to end up in there - read into that what you will! I remember a mate of mine was in the Army Cadets and
walked in there one night in an Army uniform. The band stopped playing and he had to make a hasty retreat as the Irish locals
were going to lynch him! The bloke who owned it was the brother of my mechanic and he was a tough Irishman who didn't take
any shit from anyone."
Tottenham - Pleasure Rooms
CB writes: "I remember a recent World Cup was watched in there by me and a mate. What a night that was! Strippers the lot
and they weren't shy either! Let's just say I won't forget that night in a long while! Now closed down as it was owned by some
shady characters. My mate used to DJ there and I think some kid died after taking an E there one night."
Tottenham - Rose and Crown
Bernie writes: "The Rose and Crown in tottenham was our local from about 1981 to 1990 it had changed managers a few
times, but it was a good place to be, the club at the back was called valentinos - to match with the club outside the Spurs
ground which was rudolphs - i worked there for a while - it was still the robert e lee - then after a while it was re named the
rose and crown - there is a lot of history in that particular part of tottenham - i knew kevin molloy, who was murdered in
Tottenham high road - he was the last manager of the rose and crown and the place is still boarded-up and there is at least
several hundred years of history lost there" Kevin Molloy was stabbed to death when walking down Tottenham High
Road at 5am. This was part of a random killing spree by Daniel Gonzalez who has been branded “the most
dangerous and unpredictable patient” ever to be held at Broadmoor maximum security hospital in Berkshire,
where he is to serve the first part of his “whole life” sentence.Gonzalez has already attacked while on remand
awaiting his Old Bailey trial. He has also tried to slit his veins in suicide bids and been escorted to an outside
hospital by six armed police officers in riot gear. He showed no emotion as he was handed six life terms by
Judge Ann Goddard, QC, after being found guilty of four murder counts and two of attempted murder.
Jan writes: "I remember going to the Rose and Crown in Tottenham, when it was the Robert E Lee, we used
to go to the club at the back, being teenagers in the 60's we thought it was great, so grown up, yea right. We
had some good times there. There is a lot of history to that pub, and I think a lot of old customers and managers
come back to visit. Being in a paranormal group, We'd love to do an investigation there."
Nov 2007 - Demolished - flats being built on the site
New Southgate - Fenaminos
Also once known as The Railway Hotel & then The Castle
Tottenham - The Plough
The flowers are artificial......
CB writes: I used to get in of a Friday afternoon after work. A bit intimidating if you weren't a local but used to get packed.
There used to be a lot of trouble in there on match days and a mate of mine was arrested after taking on a few Newcastle fans
- nothing to do with football I think it was over a game of pool or something. He ended up good mates with them all after they
were all locked up in the same cell!
Bruce Morgan writes to Derelict London:
"My ancestor, George Morgan, took part in a robbery at "The Plough" in Tottenham in December 1796. Owing to his inept
method of disposing of the loot he was arrested at the "White Hart" and sentenced to Transportation to Australia. The trial
is T17970111-7 on the Old Bailey transcripts web site. Mr George Brooks was the landlord at the time. After completing his
sentence in Sydney, George married, had 16 children and became a respected member of his community. His story and
that of his descendants has been published as "A Colonial Brickmaker's family" by Paul Goard (1981). To this day none
of the family have been able find any trace of him prior to his arrest."
Whilst this building pictured is certainly not over 200 years old its possible that its built on the site of the original Plough.
The Plough now a Bedfred betting shop although the hanging sign is still there
Poplar (Sir John Franklin)
Bill Martland writes:
I was working for London Docklands Development Corporation in the mid 1980s and given the London traffic when I found
out the Sir John Franklin had strippers on early in the evening I used to stop there on the way home most nights. The girls
were mainly good, the landlord was a man called Barry who fancied himself as a stand up comic but as a pub operator was
useless. Hardly ever was there draft beer, crisps, and change available simultaneously and the bar was always sticky !
Despite his uselessness the place stayed reasonably busy but then a subsiquent landlord dropped strippers and later
though they were brought back it never really took off again. Horrible 50s or 60s building, I don't know what Franklin
{ a polar explorer} had done to deserve having a dump like that named after him ! "
North Woolwich - Three Crowns
Apart from a little railway museum & the ferry there is really little to see in N Woolwich. Its actually quite eerie.Colin Price
writes "I remember drinking here at an East London Camra social on a Tuesday night in the early 80's. Just before closing
time my mate Tony and I realised that although the Three Crowns shut at 10.30pm the pubs in Woolwich would still be open
to 11. so we left the pub walked down the steps to the tunnel under the river, through the tunnel and up the steps on the south
side and into the Rose and Crown for a couple more pints followed by a more leisurely walk back"
Peter Barrett writes:"Many years ago, I have lived in Australia for 35 years, I lived on the south side of the river in Woolwich,
there were three gay pubs we used to visit in North Woolwich, The Kent arms, the Three Crowns and another one I forget the
name of. We used to go mainly to look at the gays and lesbians, there were regular fights in the Three Crowns, and the Police
station was right opposite, saw a couple of blokes arrested there one night and then almost the whole pub, rush over to the
Police station and set the blokes free."
Camden Town (Rat and Parrot aka The Camden Stores)
The Pogues shot a promo video years ago. When it was known as The Camden Stores there are tales of
lots of fights between Irish from different counties. Any charm that the pub originally had inside was lost when it
became the Rat & Parrot in the late 80's (?) and part of a faceless chain. During the 90's I spent most of my
time in Camden and only visited this unremarkable pub once.
Alfie Sykes writes:"I used to drink here in the mid 80's. In my teenage years, when taking girls out to the now Odeon cinema
directly facing, which used to be the best fully in use art deco cinema in London, we would drink in 'The Stores' before hand.
I always remember one freezing December and the massive Xmas ques outside the cinema in 1985 for 'Ghostbusters'.
Those clever enough to purchase their tickets in advance were plotted up across the road in the pub watching the hordes
line up in the hope of getting in to see this Xmas 'blockbuster'.
George Bradley writes: I used to drink here in the 80's. a lovely pub with a function room upstairs. The scouse
landlady went on to take the "sussex" in st martins lane, which was unfortunately bombed by the IRA during
the early 90's. the stores was refurbished and rebranded as a "rat and parrot" i didnt use it much after that.
went past last week and it's now a large curry house..perhaps i'll pop in for a prawn korma."
Bow (Ancient Briton)
May 2007 - Update- Ancient Briton now demolished
Stratford (Railway Tavern)
Canning Town (Marquis of Salisbury)
built c. 1881
Stratford - The Swan (pic courtesy of Mark A Walker)
This pub closed in Nov 2005 and is now a betting shop
Keith Woodhouse writes:
"The Swan in Stratford is where I watched West Ham parade the FA cup as you get to see the coach twice as it goes
around the one way system, and they hit there just on opening time."
Kentish Town (Tally Ho!)
This pub was demolished during 2007
Jim Delaney writes:
"My mother, Lilian Delaney, was landlady of the Tally Ho from 1959 to 1973, during which time it was the best and
most famous Jazz pub in London, with live music 7 nights and Sunday Lunchtimes. We had a write-up in the Daily
Worker in 1961. Ronnie Scott used to complain that he'd paid the fares from the US for famous jazzers and there
they were jamming for free on Sunday lunch at the Tally Ho. After the popularity of jazz started to go down, there
were folk/soft-rock bands such as Kilburn and the High Road - the Tally Ho was one of the places they (and their
lead, Ian Dury) got their start.
Not long after it was taken back into management by the brewery (Watney's) and we all moved on, the large
Public Bar, the larger music bar, the small private bar, the off-licence and a large store-room behind the
off-licence were all knocked into one ridiculously-sized room, which made it more like a barn than a pub.
I never went there again, it was too depressing."
Clapton - Kings Head courtesy of Dave Rimmer
the works pub for Latham's Timber yard which stood on the River Lea. I love the name on the roof. It has now sadly been
demolished. The local paper hackney gazette reported just as the demolition company was about to start tearing it down
two bedraggled squatters scampered out of the building just in the nick of time.
The Dagmar Arms - Hackney
Camden Town - York and Albany
Public house and stables of c1826-7. Vacant since 1985.
George Bradley writes: "this was my local in 1982. the manager was called paul and had a CB radio behind the bar.
we used to chat to passing motorists (usually girls) and get them in the pub for a drink. Paul moved on and an irish
manager called "barny" took over. One weekend his brother came to visit from ireland and had a bet with a customer
he could drink a whole bottle of vodka over the period of the evening. Barny's brother decided to down the bottle as
fast as he could. he went upstairs to sleep it off...and never woke up. he died in his bed upstairs! pub was never the
same after that. it turned into a heavy rockers pub. year or so later it shut and never reopened to this day.i still live
down the road in albany street. i walk past it quite often and always remember how it was in the 80's.
This bar/hotel/ restaurant is now due to open sometime april 08 under Gordon Ramsey no less!
I walked past yesterday and it looks pretty plush. no furniture as yet, but the bar and decor looks gorgeous. the
general shape of the place looks the same as i remember from 1985 when i had my last beer in there.
I did notice on the window the usual papers with applications for licenses etc, so looks like the april opening on schedule.
Gotta say, iam looking forward to popping in for a drink once it up and running after some 23 years! "
Gary Love, whose TV appearances include London's Burning, Soldier Soldier and Birds of a Feather, is converting the York
and Albany Pub.The well located listed building is thought to be one of the first designed by Georgian architect John Nash,
who was commissioned to redesign the Regent's Park area by the Prince Regent in 1811. The Crown Estate, which originally
owned the building, sold the freehold for £2million to Mr Love and his business partner.They are now spending around £3.5million
on its renovation.Mr Love said: "This is our biggest project yet and we are very excited about it. It's a great site and the history of the
building makes it even more interesting."Despite the huge amount of modernisation that needs to be done, Mr Love plans to keep
the original 1830s features. As well as restoring the old beams, plaster and windows, the hotel will also have working fireplaces
throughout. Mr Love said: "The place has been left to rot but some of the original building is still here. "We want to try and keep it
looking authentic but it has been left for so long. When we arrived we found dead pigeons who had been nesting here for 25 years."
The new hotel, will include 10 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a large deli, bar and modern European restaurant.
Woodford - The Woodmans
Demolished Dec 2005 to make way for flats
Hoxton (The Unicorn)</
