Above photo, circa 1900, kindly sent by John Hopperton.

"Old Amsterdam" circa 1900.

Above photo showing the "Three Daws," "Falcon Hotel," "King of Prussia," and "Old Amsterdam." 4 in a row.

Above photo date unknown.

Milton next Gravesend Burials from the register of St Peter & St Paul.

22 Jun 1620. ____ Evans, a Souldier that died at the Amsterdam.

15 Feb 1623/4. John ____ Tapster at the Amsterdam.

26 Oct 1623. John W__d*, Victualler at the Amsterdam.

5 Apr 1625. John Crosse, a stranger that died at ye Amsterdam.

21 Oct 1625. Robert Bassana, a Leiftenant of the low countreys who died at ye Amsterdam.

28 Oct 1628. John Talbott, a stranger who died at ye Amsterdam.

3 Aug 1667. A Seaman from the Amsterdam.

Loosely translated from Norwegian. https://www.sjomannskirken.no. Accessed August 2015.

The “Old Amsterdam” Gravesend

“The Old Amsterdam” was built in the 17th century with the function of a restaurant, party house and for lodging and had a rather bad reputation. When the current owner died in 1701 he gave the building to charity: 100 poor Gravesend boys were given new socks and shoes from the income made from “The Old Amsterdam” (Bud and Hilsen, July 1930).

There was a lot of “dirt and rags and wretchedness” that had to be taken care of, but “The Old Amsterdam” was completely altered, and soon sailors from the tankers had a nice and welcoming place to meet, with a library, a celebration hall and a chapel.

In Bud and Hilsen's April edition in 1929, this was typed in the “Latest News” section:

“Sometime in the near future there will be established a trial enterprise at the different loading areas by the River Thames, with Gravesend as the centre. The aim is to reach as many boats as possible, especially those which unload from Erith to Gravesend, and the big boats which unload by the oil refinery in Thameshaven, Shellhaven and Cory's Wharf. The last ones are normally from the Black Sea, spend ca, three weeks at sea, and unload their boats at a harbour far away from people. For safety reasons flames are not permitted on board, smoking is strictly forbidden, and the food is cooked on land. This trial enterprise, which is said to bring many difficulties, will be led by assistant Markmanrud.”

A wing of a building was rented at the old "Clarendon Hotel" in Royal Pier Road, right by the riverside. After a hectic remodelling job, assistant Thorlief Markman and his wife could on the 12th of May 1929 have an opening party for the reading room in Gravesend.

After a short while the leasing contract was terminated. For a long while it looked like the activity at Gravesend would have to stop, as new premises were hard to find. In the end the old, infamous pub “The Old Amsterdam” became a solution.

As in so many places, the shipping structure altered in time, and after a while most of the ships came to the other side of the River Thames. Established in 1929 as a subsidiary to London. It was moved to Stanford-Le-Hope in 1937.

Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser 02 January 1869.

To The WORKING CLASSES.

A Large and influential Meeting was held at the "Amsterdam," East-street, Gravesend, on Friday December 4th, 1868, for the purpose of Forming a Co-Operative Society.

For the benefit of the Working Classes, and a large number of Members enrolled.

A Call of Five Shillings was made on each Share, payable on or before the 1st day of January, 1869.

The Meeting Nights will be held on every Friday Evening at 8 o'clock.

All information can be obtained by applying at the "Amsterdam," East-street, Gravesend.

London Evening Standard 04 August 1884.

COLLISION IN THE THAMES. LOSS OF A STEAMER AND SEVENTEEN LIVES.

A Correspondent telegraphs from Gravesend:— Shortly after midnight on Saturday the steam Ship Dione, of Stockton, Captain Hood, master, on her way down the river, bound for Middlesbrough, was in collision near the Oven's Buoy with another steamer, supposed to be the Camden, of London, on her way up the river from Falmouth, in tow of two tugs. The Dione sank in two or three minutes after being struck. Ten of her crew and seven passengers are reported to be missing. The Captain—who received some injuries in the head from falling wreckage—with nine of the crew and seven passengers were saved by various boats and landed at Gravesend. A preliminary inquiry has been commenced by the Board of Trade, Mr. J. M. Newman, one of the Receivers of Wrecks, resident in the town, having taken the depositions of some of the survivors. The Master is reported by his medical attendant to be quite unfit to make any statement at present, his injuries being of a serious character. The list of saved includes the first and second officers, Charles Jordan and George Driver; Mr. William Dives, a saloon passenger, Stockton-on-Tees, who has lost his wife, Eliza, aged 30, and infant daughter, Ethel, aged three months, and is himself badly injured; a fore-cabin passenger named James Watson, of Ratcliff, and his wife, named James Watson, of Ratcliff, and his wife, Harriet Ann, his daughter, aged eleven years, being missing. In both instances the children were struck out of the arms of their parents by the falling wreckage.

Mr. Dives, a passenger on board the Dione, in giving a narrative of the sad occurrence, said:— For some time I have been School Board officer at Stockton. A week ago I went on a holiday, with my wife and two children—a boy, three years of age, and a baby, three months old. Our destination at that time was Portsmouth; and having spent our time pleasantly we took train to London, and embarked on board the Dione, at Fret Trade Wharf, for Stockton. All went well until the fatality which took place bereft me of my wife and child, my little boy being saved. The pilot boat left us off Gravesend Pier, and we proceeded steadily. The place at which we struck was about two and a half miles from the pier, directly in mid-channel. Ten minutes before the collision I was on deck, my wife and children being below. The night was clear, and, as far as I remember, our proper lights were burning. At twenty minutes after twelve I was talking to my wife, the children having gone to rest. I had scarcely undressed, and was closing the scuttles to prevent the water coming in. A sound something like a heavy scraping followed, which I for a moment imagined was caused by our running aground. I did not feel particularly alarmed, but nevertheless ran up on deck. Even in that short time the water was level with the deck, and I at once shouted to my wife, “Eliza, make haste, were going down.” I seized her by the arm, and also my boy, my wife holding the baby close to her. The next second we were in the water. Being an excellent swimmer I believed that I could save them. Scarcely had I struck out, however, before a spar cut me over the eye. I let go my grasp for a moment, and they were swept from me. The vessel which struck us was piloted by two tugs, and they rendered all the assistance in their power. I was picked up by one of the tugs, and was overjoyed to see my little son, who was seized while floating on the hatch of the Dione, but how he got there it is impossible for me to say; his escape was marvellous. In less than two minutes the whole thing was over. There were simply one or two shrieks from the women, and down she went; the next moment all was as silent as death.

One of the crew of the ill-fated vessel, who declined to give his name, has stated that the Dione carried a valuable cargo, including brandy, oils, &c., and was bound for Stockton. There were 37 persons on board, 20 of the crew and 17 passengers, including children. Ten of the crew were lost and seven of the passengers. Directly the Dione was struck she began to fill, and the persons who perished were all below. He believed the two engineers were drowned, as it was almost impossible for them to have come on deck. An attempt was immediately made to lower a boat, and to get at the life belts, but there was not the slightest chance to do either. He saw Captain Hood, of the Dione, swimming, and when the captain was rescued he was bleeding profusely from wounds on his head and body. After steaming about in the hope that others might be saved, the survivors were conveyed by the tug to Gravesend Town Pier, where they landed, and were lodged at the "Old Amsterdam Tavern," East-street, Gravesend. The appearance of the unfortunate people the narrator described as heartrending. They were all more or less bleeding from wounds, dripping wet, and lamenting the loss of friends or relatives. The treatment they received at the hands of the landlord was most humane. They were immediately put to bed, fires lighted in their rooms, and clothing provided for them, as well as other comforts. The only lady passenger saved was among them and in addition to the distress she experienced in the loss of a daughter, about twelve years of age, she had two of her toes smashed and was severely injured in one of her legs. The captain, too, was somewhat delirious, and a medical gentleman who was called to attend him left orders for him to remain at the house.

Yesterday morning the bodies of two little girls, one about twelve and the other younger, were picked up off Thames Haven, and conveyed to the mortuary for identification.