DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Woolwich, August, 2024.

Page Updated:- Wednesday, 28 August, 2024.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1823-

Britannia

Latest ????

59a (60) Henry Street (Green Hill 1823Pigot's Directory 1823) (64 Francis Street 1952)

Woolwich

Britannia 1952

Above photo showing the 1952 Coronation celebrations. By Keith Murphy, who says:- "In the picture are my grandparents, Ivy Cracknell (nee Vickers in the middle row, sixth from the right), wearing the checker coat; and my grandfather Laurence Cracknell at the right end of the middle row. Also, Jack Baxter is in the tall hat, at the back of the picture, just below the Pub sign.

 

The 1881 census stated that Jane Rees, the niece of the proprietor was working behind the bar at the time of the census as the proprietor wasn't there.

 

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 21 November, 1857.

TRANSFER OF LICENSES, Nov. 14.

(Present — Sir T. M. Wilson, Bart. (Chairman), T. Lewin, J. Sutton, and E. Eagleton, Esqrs.)

Woolwich.

"Britannia," Elizabeth Russell to John Bardon Graham.

 

From the Greenwich and Deptford Chronicle and the Woolwich Gazette, Saturday, 17 July, 1869.

Another Disturbing Death At Woolwich.

It is our painful duty this week to record many sad and distressing cases, and not the least amongst them is the untimely death of a young man named William Valencia Saunders, who left his home at 5 o'clock on Monday morning to commence the duties of the week, and shortly afterwards was found a corpse. This young man was but in the spring tide of life, and yet has left a wife still younger to mourn over her early widowhood, and to bring up two small children as yet too young to comprehend the sad, sad loneliness of orphanage.

An inquest was held on Wednesday afternoon at the "Britannia" public house, Henry Street, Woolwich, on the body of William Valencia Saunders, who was accidentally drowned.

John Saunders, draftsman, 10, Oak Street, Woolwich, brother to the deceased, identified the body. He was 24 years of age, married, and a Stoker, living at 38, Henry Street.

Robert Wickham, Waterman, 5, Elizabeth Place, High Street, Woolwich, said he put the deceased on shore on Sunday night, and gave him the keys to enable him to go to work on Monday morning. He saw nothing more of him. On Monday morning he noticed the boat had been unlocked and the sculls loosened, deceased, dinner being on the boat, but he himself was missing.

John Skinner, 57, Church Hill, Woolwich, said he was night watchman on Woolwich Pier. At 5 o'clock in the morning he saw the deceased take his victuals to the boat. He was of opinion that deceased slipped into the river whilst reaching from the raft to the chain to undo the latter. Witness did not hear a splash or cry of alarm. Diseased was perfectly sober when he saw him.

Henry Evans, under waterman, 5, Rodney Street, Woolwich, said he received information of the deceased being drowned. He and his brother dragged the place, and witnessed found him in the 10 feet of water opposite the "Ship and Half Moon Tavern."

The brother was recalled, and said deceased belonged to the Erin Watermans' Steam Packet Company's boat. He left home at 20 minutes to 5 in the morning. He was sober, steady man.

The coroner said that there was no reason to suppose the deceased had committed suicide.

The jury returned an open verdict of "Found Drowned."

 

 

LICENSEE LIST

WRIGHT John 1823+ Pigot's Directory 1823

BROWNING William John 1832+ Pigot's Directory 1832-34

MARSH Henry John 1840+

WALLIS Emma to Aug/1855

LEE Thomas Vincent Aug/1855+

RUSSELL Elizabeth to 14/Nov/1857

GRAHAM John Bardon 14/Nov/1857+

WALLACE Ann Mrs 1858+

GORDON John 1861-66+ (age 42 in 1861Census)

MILES Thomas E 1874+

LETTON George Henry 1882+

WEAVERS James J 1891-96+ (age 32 in 1891Census)

WILLETT William H 1901+ (age 35 in 1901Census)

WILLETT Caroline Mrs 1901-05+

SMITH William 1908+

PAGE George Robinson 1921-34+

BYGROVE Leslie J 1938+

CREW Stanley Cyril 1944+ Next pub licensee had

WILLIAMS Arthur & Dorothy 1946-50

JAMES Laurence James & CRACKNELL Elizabeth Ivy 1952+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/Britannia.shtml

 

Pigot's Directory 1823From the Pigot's Directory 1823

Pigot's Directory 1832-34From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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