Search my many thousands of pubs and London history
Charterhouse pubs history index
At 5 Little Saffron Hill by 1910
Saffron Hill takes its name from the saffron which was once
grown here on land owned by the Bishops of Ely. The land laid on an embankment
of the western edge of the River Fleet. Saffron was used in the Middle Ages to
disguise the taste of rancid meat and would have likely to have had a ready
market in the nearby Smithfield live meat market.
John Gerard was a skilled herbalist who lived in the area, carefully tended his
garden, and in 1596 published a list of all the plants that grew there.
The Herball or Generall Historie of Plants was the first catalogue of any one
garden, public or private. (Although some scholars claim that the original book
was essentially a translation of a popular earlier Flemish herbal.)
In the late 1930s Little Saffron Hill was renamed Herbal Hill after Gerard�s
work.
From light heart to light pockets: Saffron Hill later became an evil slum, and
features in Oliver Twist: �in an obscure parlour, of a low public-house, in the
filthiest part of Little Saffron Hill�sat, brooding over a little pewter measure
and a small glass�Mr William Sikes�.
A little snippet from a book.
Opposite our house was a timber yard that was infested with rats. A little
further up the hill on the left hand side there had been a pub named the City
Arms, run by the Cattini family. Other families I can remember who lived in our
street were the Danna�s who owned a shoe shop, the Moletti�s, Petrosoli�s,
Borlenghi�s, Falco, and Mancini�s. There was Mrs Day and next to her lived the
Finella�s. Old Mrs. Finella ran a little shop. On the left there was Leicester
Place, and further up Victoria Dwellings. At the top end of Little Saffron hill,
on the opposite side of the road, was St. Peter�s Italian School where I and
many of the Italian children went to school. ***
Historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels.
City Arms, 5 Little Saffron Hill, Charterhouse
Herbal Hill, Charterhouse
City Arms, looking up Little Saffron Hill, Charterhouse
Kindly provided by John Carnaby
Residents at this address.
1848/Mrs Hannah Virgint/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1851/Mrs Hannah Virgint/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1851/Givert Gerken/Beer House Keeper/31/Hanover, Germany/Census
1851/Caroline Gerken/Wife/25/Devon/Census
1851/Samuel Turner/Potman/20/Devon/Census
1851/Susan Turner/General Servant/27/Devon/Census
1856/Gevert Gerken/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1861/Gevert Gerken/Licensed Victualler/42/Hanover, Germany/Census
1861/Caroline Gerken/Wife/35/Stockland, Devon/Census
1861/Jane Turner/Sister in Law/10/Stockland, Devon/Census
1869/Charles Rapley/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1871/Charles Rapley/Beer Seller/34/Islington, Middlesex/Census ***
1871/Harriet J Rapley/Wife/32/Marylebone, Middlesex/Census
1871/Charles W Rapley/Son/10/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1871/Harriett E Rapley/Daughter/8/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1871/William H Rapley/Son/6/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1871/Albert F Rapley/Son/1/St Andrews, Middlesex/Census
1871/Emma L Eagling/Sister in Law/21/Islington, Middlesex/Census
1881/Harriet Rapley/Beerhouse Keeper, Widow/42/Marylebone, Middlesex/Census
1881/Harriet Rapley/Daughter/18/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1881/William Rapley/Son/16/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1881/Albert Rapley/Son/11/St Andrews, Middlesex/Census
1881/William Marlow/Lodger, Gas Fitter/49/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1881/William J Smith/Visitor, Cab Driver/20/Hackney, Middlesex/Census
1882/Mrs Harriet Raplay/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1891/Emmanuel Tiscornia/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1895/Antonio Spinetto/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1899/Antonio Spinetto/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1910/Andrew Cattini/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1911/Andrew Cattini/Beer House Proprieter/56/Italy/Census ***
1911/Adelaide Cattini/Wife, Assistant/49/Italy/Census
1911/John Cattini/Son, Marble Mason/26/London, Middlesex/Census
1911/Michael Cattini/Son, Stockeeper/18/London, Middlesex/Census
1911/Mary Bemazzoli/Grandmother, Widow/70/Italy/Census
1911/Severo Ughetto/Brother in Law, Tailor/32/Italy/Census
1911/Mary Ughetto/Sister in Law/30/London, Middlesex/Census
1911/Edera Ughetto/Niece/8 months/../Census
1911/Clementina Cattini/../24/../Census
1914/Andrew Cattini/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1915/Mrs Adelaide Cattini/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
* Provided by Ewan
*** Provided by John Carnaby
Trying to avoid privacy and cookie settings overwriting content