Sort file:- Bromley, October, 2025. |
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Page Updated:- Sunday, 26 October, 2025. |
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| PUB LIST | PUBLIC HOUSES | Paul Skelton | |||||||||||
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Earliest 1605 |
Prince Frederick |
Open 2024+ |
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31 (23 Plaistow Bromley 020 8466 6741 https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/prince-frederick https://whatpub.com/prince-frederick
In 1605 a John Nicholes was granted a victualler's license in Bromley, and Nichols Lane was probably named after him. In 1723 it appears on a survey of William Pasenger's lands, when it was known as the Prince Frederick's Head. At that time, it was a timbered beer-house and on its first fire insurance policy in January 1761, the purchaser was listed as Thomas Symonds. Bricks on the cottage show a date of 1739, which means that over the time the building was gradually upgraded. A later owner of the pub and tithed cottage, next door, was Thomas Symonds in 1761. The pub was rebuilt with a new frontage in 1890 and by that time all its original timber walls were gone. The building was modernised again in the 1930s. Opposite to the pub was Plaistow Brewery, which in the 1920s was converted into two cottages. During the 19th century the pub served a large rural area known as Hollow Bottom. There is a picture in the pub which shows the fire certificate which covered the pub and cottage (The cottage is inhabited by a relative of one of the original landlords who edited a book called "Not a Mile from Milk Street" giving the history of St Andrews Parish) Henry Burbridge was the first landlord when it was known as Prince Frederick's Head. The pub was named after Prince Frederick, Prince of Wales and father of George III. He was known by his nickname of "Prinny." The old inn sign was lost and a new one made, unfortunately this showed Frederick the Great of Russia. The latest inn-sign is a replica of the portrait of the Prince of Wales that hangs in the National Gallery. The area was known solely as Hollow Bottom in 1832-44 when Richard Addis was landlord. John Wallis (1862-1870). Henry Wittington (or Whiteington) (1874) when the address was given as 22/23 Hollow Bottom. John Fullex (1876). W Frisby (1878). R Knight (1880). In 1890 the Executors of Mr. Knight endeavoured to get a Mrs. Snelgrove's name included on the list of Licensees but the Bench did not agree this (Bromley Record 1890). William Jayes (1900). J B Botterill (1905). W Harcourt (1914) and A H Button (1922) During WW2, on the night of 17 April 1941, a bomb landed few metres away from the building. On Nichol Lane and its nearby Lychet Road 19 people lost their lives, 26 houses were destroyed and more were damaged. The bombing missed the pub, which survived intact and it is highly likely that the pub became a local point where the locals gathered to console and support each other. Apparently there is a ghost in the cellar which scares the staff (one even jumped out of the window!), for they often find the pump on the Abbots ale down with an empty glass by the side of it. Today (2025), under Greene King.
LICENSEE LIST NICHOLES John 1605+ BURBRIDGE Henry 1739+ SYMONDS Thomas 1761+ ADDIS Richard 1832-44+ WALLIS John 1862-70 WHITTINGTON/WHITEINGTON Henry 1874+ FULLEX John 1876+ FRISBY R 1878+ KNIGHT Richard 1880-82+ JAYES William 1900+ DAWSON C 1903+
BOTTERILL John Benjamin 1905-13+ (age 46 in 1911 HADDEN William J 1918+ HARCOURT W 1914+ BUTTON A H 1922-30+ HAWES Henry Charles 1938+ https://pubwiki.co.uk/PrinceFrederick.shtml
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If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-
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) Nichol Lane
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