2 Pier Road

Woolwich

Above photo by Graeme Fox, pre 2000.

Although North Woolwich is on the Essex side of the Thames the area was administered with the rest of Woolwich after the aftermath of the 1066 conquest and so was once part of Kent. The name North Woolwich became part of Essex after the opening of the now closed railway station with that name in 1847. In 1888 it became part of the County of London and in 1965 became part of Greater London.

The "Royal Pavilion Hotel" was built to serve railway and steamship travellers heading up to London. The hotel’s proprietor also built the Royal Pavilion Pleasure Gardens which existed from 1851 to 1890. The hotel was the only local riverside pub with a sun terrace, and was a popular stopping-off place for the Sun tugs.

It also had a giant COURAGE sign that lit up at night and was visible from the far side of the river. The sign is visible in the film 'A Prayer for the Dying' (1987).

Though the hotel closed and was demolished in 2003, the Gardens still exist today as the Royal Victoria Gardens.

The area also appears briefly in the background of the film "Four in the Morning" as the young couple take the ferry across the river.

LICENSEE LIST

DOWSING Isaac Churchyard to 8/Aug/1857

McNAMARA Edward 8/Aug/1857-62

BISHOP Charles 1866+