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High Bridges (Crane Street )
Greenwich
Above painting by J T Wilson circa 1870. [This also shows the "Three
Crowns" (with the name-board with a raised centre section) , then
Moss's Wharf, then the old "Yacht"
before its mid-20th century rebuild] |
Above print, 1874. |
Above photo, 1890, showing the "Yacht" right also showing the "Three
Crowns" and the "Crown and Sceptre." |
Above painting, I believe by Lian O'Farrell to look like 30's style.
Showing the "Conservative Club" with "Crown and Sceptre" to the left.
[The painting is in the 'Trafalgar' collection but the 'Club' building
had gone by 1934] |
Above photo, 1882, kindly submitted by Richard Evans. |
Addressed as High Bridge east in 1862 & Crane Street in 1874 & 1882.
I was under the impression that the pub was demolished in the late
nineteenth century. However, my licensee list at present goes up to 1911 and
I am also told by Lynne Hampson that the Curlew Rowing Club which was formed
in 1866 in order to rent the "Crown and Sceptre" as their clubhouse, this
continued until it was demolished in 1934 and since then and till 2003 has
been operating from a clubhouse in the "Trafalgar
Tavern." Perhaps they financed a rebuilding in 1866. [This is wrong. The
Curlew started earlier and moved to the Crown and Sceptre in 1882, then from
1934, just before it was demolished, to the ground floor of the 'Trafalgar'
which was also flats on the upper floors until reconverted as a pub by
Watney's in 1966/7. At that point Greenwich Council were persuaded to buy
Moss's Wharf (11-13 Crane Street) and build the present Globe Rowing Centre
on the site, leasing the building to the Curlew and the Globe Rowing Club
(which had latterly shared the Trafalgar with the Curlew). That remains the
current situation.
Further information supplied by Pieter van de Merwe tells me the following:-
A largely weatherboarded timber building, but with a masonry facade to the
river on the ground floor, dating back as a pub to at least the 1770s. It
was out of use as such by 1882 when it became premises of the Curlew Club
until 1934.
In 1836 Samuel and/or James Lovegrove were joined in the proprietorship by
Thomas Quartermaine (d. 1867) who also ran premises in Blackfriars and they
rapidly added a large banqueting hall to the west in neo-classical style and
with large windows towards the river. This was designed by George Smith
(1782-1869) and his pupil/partner at that time, William Barnes, who showed
the design drawing for it at the 1837 Royal Academy annual exhibition (no.
1126) while it was being completed.
Smith - then based in Old Jewry in
the City - was well known and did a great deal of local work, including
building a house for himself ('Brooklands') in Blackheath. The new hall came
into use from May 1837: on 1 July the Duke of Wellington took the chair at a
prestigious charity dinner for 200 there, in aid of the Kent Dispensary, at
which he proposed the toast to the young Queen Victoria, then just over ten
days into her reign. For many years following, it vied with the 'Trafalgar'
as a public venue for grand dinners, under Quartermaine's sole management
from 1843, when his partnership with James Lovegrove ended, and in tandem
with the "Ship Hotel"
which he opened in 1855 on the present site, since 1954, of the 'Cutty
Sark'. (This was the final 'Ship' tavern, superseding both the 'old Ship' at
the east end of Fisher Lane and the 'Ship Torbay' built behind Greenwich
Pier at the west end in c.1840: the latter probably only lasted into the
1850s, as Greenwich Hospital finally cleared the Fisher Lane area
completely.)
From 1882, when the pub became the Curlew Rowing Club, the banqueting
hall became the Greenwich Conservative Club and is shown as such on the 1897
OS. The hall was demolished at a date as yet unclear in the early 1900s, and
possibly as late as the 1920s, ahead of the wooden pub/club building. That
was removed in about 1935/6. The utilitarian brick Highbridge Wharf
buildings still occupying its site and the hall's as far west as the
foreshore drawdock gates at north end of Eastney Street, were complete and
being advertised to let by the spring of 1937.
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From Perry's Bankrupt and Insolvent Gazette (London,
England), Saturday, May 20, 1843; pg. 341/342; Issue 788.
PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED.
James Lovegrove and Thomas Quartermaine, Hotel Keepers, Greenwich and
New Bridge-St., Blackfriars, 6th May. Debts By Quartermaine.
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From The Standard (London, England ), Wednesday, September 24, 1845; pg.
5; Issue 6600.
WHITEBAIT AT GREENWICH.
The season for this far-famed luxury being nearly concluded, the third
anniversary dinner of the friends of Thomas Quartermaine took place on
Monday, at the "Crown and Sceptre Tavern."
The chair was most ably filled by W. Shaw, Esq., who was supported by
Admiral Dundas, M. P. for Greenwich, Alderman John Johnson, Alderman Sir
James Duke, W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq, and upwards of 150 leading City
merchants and inhabitants of the borough. The entertainment was of the
most sumptuous and costly description, and fully sustained the high
character Mr. Quartermaine has acquired for himself as a caterer for the
luxurious comforts of his extensive connections. The chairman's
observations, in proposing the "Navy and Army," drew from the gallant
admiral present a graceful acknowledgement, with an earnest and most
gratifying assurance of the present efficient state of our naval
service. The health of Mr. Quartermaine was received by the company in a
manner which must have been highly flattering to him also.
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Kentish Mercury, Saturday 27 June 1846.
Greenwich Impudent Robbery.
An extensive and impedance robbery was committed one day last week at
the "Crown and Sceptre Hotel," Greenwich. The
following property was stolen.:- A silver plate, gadroon edge, marked on
the front, "Crown and Sceptre," with coat of arms and
four quarterings on the back, No. 49, 16oz; three plane-handled table
forks, marked "Crown and Sceptre" on handle; to ditto,
ditto, ditto; four fiddle-handled forks, marked "Crown and Sceptre," J.
S. M., on front of handle, and numbers 4, 17, 31, and 46;
two fiddle-handled forks, marked "Crown and Sceptre;" four
fiddle-handled tablespoons, marked "Crown and Sceptre" in the
Bowl, J. S. M. on handle, and numbered 15, 39, 40, and 50. A reward of
£20 has been offered on recovery of the property, or
conviction of the offender or offenders.
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Kentish Mercury, Saturday 27 June 1846.
Court of Conservancy for the County of Kent.
On Thursday week the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, accompanied by Alderman
Farebrother, the Common Sergeant, and the usual
civic offices, proceeded to Greenwich by water, landed at the "Crown and
Sceptre Hotel," when his Lordship proceeded to hold a
Court of Conservancy for the County of Kent. Mr. H. Mitchell, of the
"Admiral Hardy," Clarence Street, Greenwich, having been
elected foreman, and the jury sworn in, the Common Sergeant, in the
absence of the Recorder, who was detained by London by his
judicial duties at the Old Bailey, proceeded to address the jury on the
nature of their duties, and particularly called the attention to
the reckless manner in which the numerous steamboats when navigated
through the pool, as also the floating piers. It would be
their duty impartially to consider whether these latter were or were not
a nuisance and an obstruction to the River Thames. After a
few other observations of general character the learning gentleman
concluded his charge. The presentment will be made on Friday,
17th of July, to which day the court adjourned.
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From The Era (London, England ), Sunday, February 15, 1852; Issue 699.
CROWN AND SCEPTRE TAVERN. GREENWICH.
Thomas Quartermaine, informs the Nobility and Public, that he has taken
a fresh lease of the above House, and intends re-openming for the White
Bait Season, on Thursday, the 1st of April next when he respectfully
solicits a continuation of the Patronage he has now for Nineteen Years
been favoured with.
Orders taken at his London House, the York Hotel, New
Bridge-street, Ludgate-hill.
February 7th, 1852.
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From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 15 January, 1859.
"Crown and Sceptre," Greenwich.
The license of this favourite place of resort has recently changed
hands. The new proprietor is Mr. J. F. Gordon, late manager to Mr.
Quartermaine, and in his hands it is probable the house will fully
sustain its previous reputation.
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Kentish Mercury, Saturday 11 May, 1867.
Crown and Sceptre Hotel, Greenwich.
J. F. Gordon begs respectfully to inform the Nobility and Gentry, that
the above old establishment is now open, replete with every
accommodation for large or small dinners.
Wines of the finest vintages, and all charges 20 per Cent. below the
usual Taverns charges.
G. F. Gordon, proprietor and manager.
February 23rd.
Whitebait in Perfection |
LICENSEE LIST
LOVEGROVE Samuel 1826+
CLARK Joseph 1826-33+
LOVEGROVE Samuel & James 1832+
QUARTERMAINE Thomas 1833-58+
 (age 43 in 1851 )
PYCROFT Thomas T 1871+ (age 26 in 1871)
QUARTERMAINE Thomas 1862-69+
GORDON John Frederick Jan/1859-74+ (age 42 in 1871)
PYCROFT Thomas 1874+
WYLLIE John E to May/1881
McADAMS Robert Charles May/1881-82+ (age 30 in 1881)
BALE William Thomas 1882-1907+ (age 33 in 1881)
CATTANACH William 1908+
ABBOTT Walter John 1911+ (age 36 in 1911)
https://pubwiki.co.uk/CrownSceptre.shtml
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/crownsceptretavern.html
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
Census
Kentish Mercury
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