British Queen

2011

(Name to)

208 Woolwich Road / (1912+ Trafalgar Road)

East Greenwich

Above photo, circa 1920.

Above photo, date unknown.

The Closed Pubs website identifies a "British Queen" situated at 208 Woolwich Road. The road was renamed Trafalgar Road in 1912. They say the pub closed in 2011 and was converted into a betting shop. However, I have information showing it change name to "Rick's" before that happened. Further information suggests that it was previously known as the "White Hart," and probably changed to the "British Queen" some time around when Queen Victoria was made Queen of England on the 20 June 1837.

The Lost pubs website says this has also been called the "Greenwich Village" at some time during its existence, but no mention as to when exactly.

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 1 December, 1855.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

On Monday last, an inquest was held at the "British Queen," Woolwich-road, on the body of a collegeman, named Henry Anderson, who was found dead in his cabin at the Royal Hospital. The deceased was 84 years of age.

The jury returned a verdict of Died from natural causes.

From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 18 July 1863.

Warning to Publicans.

Eliza Hicks, age 19, a servant in the employee of Mr. Trafford, landlord of the "British Queen," Trafalgar Road, East Greenwich, was charged with stealing 1s. 5d., the money of her master.

The complainant was called and said, that for some time past, he had been missing money in small sums from his till. Acting on the advice of a friend, he placed a quantity of marked money in the till and had a constable concealed in order to discover who the thief really was.

P.C. Anderson, 263R, said that on the morning of the 16th., he was secreted in the bar parlour of the public house in question, when about 7 o'clock, before anyone was up, he saw the prisoner come down stairs, unlock the till, and take the money now produced. As he was leaving to go up stairs again, he "pounced" on her, and took the money away. Her box had since been searched, and in it was found a sovereign, together with £1 4s. in Silver.

The prisoner, in answer to the charge, said she was guilty of taking the 1s. 5d., but the remainder of the money was her own honest earnings. She implored the complainant to forgive her, and she would never do so again.

Mr. Trafford was recalled, and hoped his worship would be as lenient towards her as possible.

Mr. Maude inquired if the till was kept locked, and was answered in the affirmative, the key (with which the prisoner opened the till) being an old one lying about the house.

She was reminded till Tuesday next, the police having ordered to acquaint her parents of what had taken place, in the interim.

From the Kentish Gazette, 24 January 1865.

GREENWICH.

Death from Hydrophobia.

On Wednesday morning a boy named James Rivers, son of parents residing at Greenwich, died from hydrophobia, occasioned through being bitten by a mad dog on Wednesday, the 14th ult.

It appears that on the day in question a large dog, of the retriever breed, and which is supposed to have escaped from some gentleman’s residence in the neighbourhood of Woolwich, was observed in some market-grounds adjoining Greenwich marshes, rooting the earth up in a savage manner. The infuriated animal then made its way towards the town of Greenwich, first biting an old Greenwich pensioner in the arm, and then some children, as also other dogs, finally taking refuge under a table in the tap-room at the "British Queen" public-house, Greenwich, where police-constable Anderson, 263R, killed it. Among the persons attacked was the deceased, who, under medical treatment, appeared to progress favourably until a day or two ago, when he was removed to Guy's Hospital, where he died. It is feared that other children, who are still suffering, may likewise fall victims, the owner of a valuable dog, which was also similarly bitten, having been obliged to have the animal destroyed in consequence of its exhibiting all the symptoms of madness.

(May be the other "British Queen.")

LICENSEE LIST

BUCKLAND William John to 26/Sept/1846 (Licence Refused)

MINES James to Aug/1850

TRAFFORD Edward Aug/1850-67+ (also carpenter age 44 in 1851)