St Katherines Dock & Pubs along the Wapping Wall
Tower Hill found in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is an extremely fascinating part of London, not only for the torrent of tourists who visit the capital, also for those of us, who were born & breed,installed with the stories of London's gruesome history.
Convicts were fastened to a hurdle, or wooden panel, and drawn by horse to th
Tower Hill found in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is an extremely fascinating part of London, not only for the torrent of tourists who visit the capital, also for those of us, who were born & breed,installed with the stories of London's gruesome history.
Convicts were fastened to a hurdle, or wooden panel, and drawn by horse to the place of execution, where they were hanged (almost to the point of death), emasculated, disembowelled, beheaded and quartered(chopped into four pieces). Their remains were often displayed in prominent places across the country, such as London Bridge. For reasons of public decency, women convicted of high treason were instead burned at the stake.
Archaeological evidence shows early settlements were here as early as the Bronze Age. A later Roman village was burnt down by Bodicea's army, in AD 60 where it is said a layer of ash survives in the make up of London's archaeologyBetween 1381-1747 the area was used for Public Executions carried out on high profile traitors & criminals. On the corner of Great Tower Street, & Lower Thames Street you will find a Fullers pub aptly named, "The Hung Drawn & Quartered".
The pub is decorated inside with pictures of royalty, especially a splendid portrait of King Henry VIII.
To be Hung Drawn & Quartered was a statutory penalty for an act of high treason from 1351.
St Katherine's Dock before it took it's present form was originally a medieval church, & hospital. Founded in 1147 by Queen Matilda a
The pub is decorated inside with pictures of royalty, especially a splendid portrait of King Henry VIII.
To be Hung Drawn & Quartered was a statutory penalty for an act of high treason from 1351.
St Katherine's Dock before it took it's present form was originally a medieval church, & hospital. Founded in 1147 by Queen Matilda a wife of King Steven, it was built in memory of her two children Baldwin & Matilda, who both died in infancy. The church/hospital was demolished in 1825 to make way for St Katherine's dock, this re-development brought dramatic changes to the area, displacing over 11,00 people, ridding the area of old winding lanes, & quaint ramshackle wooden buildings.
The Dickens Inn is a pub built to resemble an old coaching inn that uses the notoriety of, " Charles Dickens", as its pulling power to attract customers who want to sample the authors Victorian past.
The original building stood on a Thames side site just east of its current location. In the 1820's its timber frame was encased in a more modern brick shell to make the warehouse conform to the architectural style of St Katharine Docks masterminded by Thomas Telford, the celebrated Scottish civil engineer
It could not, however,
The original building stood on a Thames side site just east of its current location. In the 1820's its timber frame was encased in a more modern brick shell to make the warehouse conform to the architectural style of St Katharine Docks masterminded by Thomas Telford, the celebrated Scottish civil engineer
It could not, however, stay on its original site as this had been earmarked for housing under the St Katharine's dockland development scheme. The 120 tonne timber shell was therefore moved some 70 metres and erected on its present site. The original timbers, tailboards and ironwork were used in the restoration and the building reconstructed in the style of a three storey balconied inn of the 18th century
The grandson of the famous author Charles Dickens named Cedric Charles Dickens, opened the Inn in May 1976.
However, amongst the disruption of re-development, one major contribution of the London brewing scene was to still remain. The Red Lion Brewery.
The Red Lion Brewery aka Messrs Hoare & Co.
The Red Lion Brewery started out as 1 of 26 beer houses referred to John Stow recorded in his infamous Survey of London, known then as a beer house named,"The Lyon", in a licence given to brewer John Merchant, a Flemish gentleman to export ale called Beere by King Henry VII in 1492.
The Red Lion Brewery in Lower East Smithfield was established in the late 1500's.Then a 130 later , the banker Henry Hoare of Mitcham, placed his son George Matthew Hoare in charge.
The brewery became a Hoare family concern, with many family members being involved in the business as partners & investors. The brewery was re-named Hoare & Co.
The brewery was 1 of 10 breweries around at the time in London, being made famous for brewing Porter, which was a staple drink of London's manual workers.
Porter was developed around the year 1720 becoming very popular with the men who earned a living moving goods on & off ships, moored on the river Thames, these fine working class men were known as, "Fellowship Porters". Another group of working class men, who delivered packets, parcels, letters & messages throughout the city, were known by the term," Ticket Porters", also had the taste for the drink, for which the name became affiliated to, as they were always downing the stuff by the pints a dozen.
One small clue still remains, as to the whereabouts of the brewery, this can be found by the sign to an alleyway down to the riverbank. Alderman stairs refers to Humphrey Parsons, proprietor of the brewery from 1717-1741, putting the brewery into the limelight with the brewing of his much," Black Champagne". The Red Lions Brewery most reputed London Porter.
Hoare & Co's famous registered trademark was the famous Toby Jug, which came about through a couple of mergers with Bass Charrington.
The Town Of Ramsgate.
The Town Of Ramsgate
The first pub on this site dates back to the War of the Roses, in the 1460s called The Hostel. En during more peaceful times in 1553, it became known as the Red Cow, apparently after a red headed barmaid. Then in 1766 the pub took on the name of," Ramsgate Old Town". The name was then slighty alterted to it's curr
The Town Of Ramsgate
The first pub on this site dates back to the War of the Roses, in the 1460s called The Hostel. En during more peaceful times in 1553, it became known as the Red Cow, apparently after a red headed barmaid. Then in 1766 the pub took on the name of," Ramsgate Old Town". The name was then slighty alterted to it's current guise in 1811, to the more familiar name of,"The Town Of Ramsgate".
The pub gets it's name from the fact that fishermen would sell their wares on the Wapping Stairs, to avoid paying higher taxes put upon them, at Old Billingsgate Market. The pub sign depicts Ramsgate's old harbour dating to 1850.
If you didn't know already, the Thames back in those days, along the Wapping Wall, was a mass of sailors, ships, alcohol, privateering,prostitutes, smugglers & pirates, all out to have fun, make money, or drown away their sorrows, due to the harsh conditions, of being away for long periods of time at sea. To keep everyone in check,
If you didn't know already, the Thames back in those days, along the Wapping Wall, was a mass of sailors, ships, alcohol, privateering,prostitutes, smugglers & pirates, all out to have fun, make money, or drown away their sorrows, due to the harsh conditions, of being away for long periods of time at sea. To keep everyone in check, punishments for the most simplest of crimes were dealt with extremely harshly by the laws of the land.
The wine cellars to the pub were capable of holding men who had been press ganged by the Admiralty. Naval personnel would prowl the streets at night to force men over the age of 12 into joining the Royal Navy as sailors.
The reward for capturing each man would be £10 each to the captor. Many men were easy targets as being drunk was always a risky business for bringing down your guard.
The men were held in the wine cellar, as though they were prisoners, before being transported to waiting naval vessels. Therefore, going out for a few beers a cou
The reward for capturing each man would be £10 each to the captor. Many men were easy targets as being drunk was always a risky business for bringing down your guard.
The men were held in the wine cellar, as though they were prisoners, before being transported to waiting naval vessels. Therefore, going out for a few beers a couple of hundred years ago was fraught with many dangers. The cellars were later used to imprison men women & children, who had been convicted of minor offences. The conditions were atrocious, overcrowded the prisoners being sometimes held for up to months at a time before being shipped to America & Australia.
Judge Jeffreys The Hanging Judge.
Judge Jeffrey's was a judge who showed no mercy during his time on the bench, he condemned hundreds of men to be hanged. He was renowned to abuse & mock the attorneys of men who he sent to their horrible end.
The Hanging Judge, as he was to become known, was Lord Chief Justice in 1683, who presided over the proceedings known as the," Bloody Assizes". The purpose of the trial held in Winchester, on the 25th August in 1685, was to convict men in the Battle Of Sedgemoor, who were rebelling against King Charles II as part of the Monmouth Rebellion. The trial condemned around 700 men to their execution, although the number is more likely around 160 - 170.
Judge Jeffreys for his excellent work during the trial was awarded a peerage by Charles II, however when the king was finally over thrown during the,"Glorious Revolution", of 1688 Judge Jeffreys became a highly wanted man.
Whilst hiding from King William III troops who were closing in on London, the Judge tried to flee capture, by disguising himself as a sailor to escape to Hamburg. Hiding in the vicinity of the," Town Of Ramsgate", he was recognised by a surviving judicial victim, who claimed he would never forget the Judges countenance.
Terrified for his own safety from the prowling public Jeffreys was placed in custody in the Tower Of London for his own protection by the Lord Mayor. He died of kidney disease whist at The Tower on 18th April 1689.
The Captain Kidd Privateer or Pirate???
The Captain Kidd takes it's name from a famous privateer turned pirate, who was executed at Execution Dock. Captain Kidd was a notorious sea captain, and in 1696 was commissioned by the Admiralty to catch pirates for the King for them to be brought to justice.
Whilst at sea away from Great Britain Kidd's loyalties turned, wanting the
The Captain Kidd takes it's name from a famous privateer turned pirate, who was executed at Execution Dock. Captain Kidd was a notorious sea captain, and in 1696 was commissioned by the Admiralty to catch pirates for the King for them to be brought to justice.
Whilst at sea away from Great Britain Kidd's loyalties turned, wanting the best of both worlds he also pirated ships at his mercy, making him a very rich man. He took particular enjoyment raiding French ships, more or less keeping the bounty for himself, not paying the wealthy aristocrats, who were paying his wages.
Captain Kidd sailed to Boston U.S.A. where he surrendered on the promise of a pardon in 1699. However, he was returned to London, where he was sentenced to death.
On the 23rd of May 1701, Kidd was marched through the streets to Execution Docks, taken down to the rivers edge tied to a post, whilst waiting for the hangman, he looked u
Captain Kidd sailed to Boston U.S.A. where he surrendered on the promise of a pardon in 1699. However, he was returned to London, where he was sentenced to death.
On the 23rd of May 1701, Kidd was marched through the streets to Execution Docks, taken down to the rivers edge tied to a post, whilst waiting for the hangman, he looked up, noticing an ex-lover looking down, laughing at him from the crowd.
Kidd looked back shouting, "I have lain with that bitch three times, & now she comes to see me hanged". The Captains death was a horrific one, with the hangmans rope breaking twice during the execution, he was successfully hung on the third attempt.
In those days, it was then known for the body of the accused to be dipped in hot tar, then to be left, tied to the rope for three tides to flow over them. This of course happened to Captain Kidd, being made an example, his body also went through the process of being,"Gibbeted". This meant his body was hung from inside a metal cage at Tilbury point, as a warning for other pirates.
The Prospect Of Whitby
The Prospect of Whitby, the last of the pubs along the Wapping Wall was built around the 1520's during the reign of King Henry VIII, proclaiming to be the oldest riverside pub. The pub according to a sign hanging outside, proclaims to have served patrons during the reign of 22 monarchs, the names of which are etched proudly on the sign.
The pub boast 2 main features, these being a rare pewter bar top, plus the original 400 year old flagstone floor. The pub has also gone under the name of, "The Pelican", & then, "The Devils Tavern", due mainly, for having the reputation of the customers who frequented the premises. These of course being smugglers, cut-throats, thieves etc. If you are extremely careful you can access the shore of The Thames, by using, " The Pelican Stairs", whichare located at the end of a side alley that runs alongside the pub.
Going out for a night on the town in those days of skulduggery was treacherous to say the least. You had to pay particular attention in not getting too drunk, as it was often the case, that if you were seen to had one too many you could be bundled into a small boat to be taken out into the middle of the river, then thrown over board to drown. You were then retrieved after your little accident where your body was sold to medical schools, & student doctors to be used for practical studies.
Over the centuries the pub has entertained famous London characters. Samuel Pepys, the diarist was a regular, often being seen enjoying a pint being employes as Secretary to the Admiralty, he would often visit whilst on naval business in Wapping.
Charles Dickens the author often enjoyed a hot meal in the dining area upstairs. It is also claimed he used the pub in the novel, "A Mutual Friend", as a descriptive model for the pub called, "The Six Jolly Fellowship Porters".
The meaning of the pubs name, comes from a boat of the same name, which was moored nearby for several years.
Botanical Discovery The Fuschia is found
In the early 17oo's a sailor returning from the West Indies, brought some beautiful flowers into the bar of the pub, the flowers not having been seen before by the locals, & the first to be seen in the country. The flowers were traded by the sailor, in return for a quarter pint of rum to a local man supposedly a market gardener. The gardener from this first plant produced hundreds more like it being prevalent amongst many English gardens as the flower we all become to love as the ,"Fuschia".
THE PROSPECT OF WHITBY
To get to the Wapping Wall, you can take the decision as to which end you take. You can either start by entering it from the St. Katherine Docks end, or you can take a DLR to Shadwell, then walk from there starting at the Prospect of Whitby.