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The Curiosities of London - John Timbs 1868 states thus - "The public-house facing the iron gates leading to the Sadler's Wells Theatre, with the sign of The Clown, in honour of Grimaldi, who frequented the house, was, in his day, known as the King of Prussia, prior to which its Sign had been that of the Queen of Hungary. It is to this tavern, or rather to an older one upon the same site, that Goldsmith alludes in his Essay on the Vertatility of Popular Favour. "An alehouse-keeper," says he, "near Islington, who had long lived at the sign of The French King, upon the commencement of the late war with France, pulled down his own sign, and put up that of the Queen of Hungary. Under the influence of her red face and golden sceptre, he continued to sell ale till she was no longer the favourite of his customers; he changed her, therefore, some time ago for the King of Prussia, which may probably be changed in turn for the man that shall be set up for vulgar admiration." The oldest sign by which this house was distinguished was that of The Turk's Head.".
The Clown has been at 62 St John Street Road (e.g. in 1861) and 136 St John Street Road, and now stands at 370 St John Street. In its latter days it was called the New Clown - but it has been closed for a long time, serving now as a restaurant (2006). ** The address was at 62 St John Street Road in 1861 and earlier, and in 56 St John Street Road in 1842 and earlier, prior to street renumbering. It became 370 St John Street by 1910 following street renaming. *
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Clown, 370 St John Street - in December 2006
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address.
1823/George Dell / Victualler /../../../Sun Fire Office records, held by Guildhall Library **
1833-34/John Baker, Clown, 56 St John Street road/../../Pigots Directory
Morning Advertiser. 19 October 1837
Theatrical Licences to places of Public Entertainment within the County of Middlesex, to be applied for this day.
Pursuant to the Act of the 26th George II to grant licences for "public music, dancing, or other public entertainments of the like kind.
The Clown, St John street road - George Ellis
1839/James Williamson/../../../Pigot’s Directory **
1841/James Williamson/../../../Post Office Directory *
Morning Advertiser 24 August 1846
Transfer of Licences
New Clown, St John street road, Alfred Sims to William Tyler
1848/William Tyler/../../../Post Office Directory
1851/William Tyler/../../../Kellys Directory
1856/William Tyler/../../../Post Office Directory
1861/Susannah Agg/Licensed Victuallers Wife/34/Kennington, Surrey/Census
1861/Jane Groom/Mother in Law, Widow/71/Chippenham, Wiltshire/Census
1861/George Baker/Nephew/13/Hendon, Middlesex/Census
1861/John Henderson/Waiter/39/Islington, Middlesex/Census
1861/Mary Ann Verney/House Servant/20/Islington, Middlesex/Census
Philip Jagels is at the London Hospital Tavern, Whitechapel in 1861
1862/Philip Jagels/../../../Post Office Directory **
March
1866/Philip Jagels/License renewal/../Clerkenwell News
1869/Philip Jagels/../../../Post Office Directory **
1879/Mrs Mary Ann Jagels/../../../Post Office Directory **
1881/Mary Ann Jagels/Licenced Victualler, Widow/63/Mile End/Census
1881/Phillip John Jagels/Son/29/St Lukes/Census
1881/Kate Jagels/Daughter/24/Whitechapel/Census
1881/Eujune Mary Gee/Niece, Barmaid/20/Aldersgate/Census
1881/Esther Ada Tucker/General Servant/22/Rotherhithe/Census
1881/George Cork/Potman/28/St Johns Margate, Kent/Census
1882/Mrs Mary Ann Jagels/../../../Post Office Directory
1884/Mary A Jagels/../../../Business Directory of London **
1891/William Thomas Richardson/../../../Post Office Directory
1895/Robert Dove/../../../Post Office Directory
1899/Wallace Gardiner Lewis/../../../Post Office Directory
1900/Alfred Bear/../../../Post Office Directory **
Shoreditch Observer. 16 May 1908- License transfer
New Clown, 370 St Johns Street, Henry Edwin William Poole to William Edwin Hall
1910/Henry Skinner/../../../Post Office Directory *
Holborn and Finsbury Guardian. 31 October 1913 - License transfer
New Clown, 370 St John Street, Charles Batchelor to Herbert George Hancock
1915/Herbert Hancock/../../../Post Office Directory *
1919/Mrs Mary Hancock/../../../Post Office Directory **
1921/Mary Hancock/../../../Hughes Directory
In 1921 at 370 St John Street, Finsbury, London is the Clown
Herbert George Hancock, Licensed Victualler Assistant to Mary Hancock aged 42 years 8 months and born in Bath, Somerset
Mary Hancock, Wife, Licensed Victualler aged 37 years and born in London
Phyllis Maud Hancock, Daughter aged 4 years 4 months and born in London
Joan Mary Hancock, Daughter aged 1 year 10 months and born in London
Catherine Jane Hancock, Cook aged 69 years 2 months and born in London
Lilian Fielder, Nursemaid aged 24 years 5 months and born in London
Holloway Press 09 October 1926 - License transfer
New Clown, 370 St John Street, from William Percy Cook to Bessie Emily Smith (widow)
1938/William Martin Peters, New Clown, 370 St John street EC1/../../Post Office Directory *
In 1939 at 370 St John Street, Finsbury
Ernest J Morrick, Publican, born 15 Sep 1902
Margaret E P Morrick, Domestic Duties, born 10 Jun 1900
Abe Bloomfield, Book Makers Clerk, born 03 Dec 1896
Ethel Bloomfield, Domestic Duties, born 22 Oct 1897
1940, Ernest J Morrick, New Clown, 370 St John street EC1
The street directory of 1942 does not list a property at 370 St John street. Owen row does exist at this time.
I wonder if you know that the building was used for a period as a Sixth-form classroom for Owen's Boys' School. I attended Owen's in the early 1960s and, as far as I know, it continued to be used by the school until the latter's relocation to Potters Bar in 1973. *+
Interestingly in this context, the School had, and still has, the Worshipful Company of Brewers as Trustees. Pupils receive annual "Beer Money"
* Provided By Ewan
*+ Provided By Dr Colin Machin
** Provided By Stephen Harris
*** Curiosities of London - John Timbs 1868
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