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Erith pub history index
at 104 Bexley Road in 1903 and earlier, then 19 Bexley Road from about 1913
Directory of Pubs in the UK, London historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Erith, Kent . The Erith, Kent listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Residents at this address
1882/Mrs Annie Fulshaw/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/Harry Kyerday/House Decorator & Beer House Keeper/42/Bexley Heath,
Kent/Census
1891/Eliza Kyerday/Wife/37/Bradwell, Oxfordshire/Census
1891/Herman Kyerday/Son, Barman/13/Beckenham, Kent/Census
1891/Charles Kyerday/Son/11/Battersea, Surrey/Census
1891/George Kyerday/Son/9/Battersea, Surrey/Census
1891/Edith Kyerday/Daughter/6/Fulham, London/Census
1891/Daisey Kyerday/Daughter/3/Erith, Kent/Census
1891/Winefried Kyerday/Daughter/1/Erith, Kent/Census
1891/Eliza Colegate/Servant/18/Erith, Kent/Census
My Grandfather, Thomas Arthur House (b. 12/11/1896, Westminster) was
killed at The Running Horses at 1930 hrs on 29/11/1940 during a bombing
raid. He was an ARP Ambulance Driver, aged 44 yrs. He was killed with a
Henry George Frederick Parry, aged 19 yrs, an ARP Stretcher Bearer and
an Albert Sydney Humphreys, aged 50 yrs, a Fireman, AFS. They are
commemorated in perpetuity by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The licensee of the pub, William Zachariah Coles, aged 49 yrs, was also
killed in the blast.
I have been told that The Crown public House,
which stood on the opposite corner to The
Running Horses, was so severely damaged it was never used again and
was later demolished. The landlord's wife, Mary Louisa Witherdon, aged
73 yrs was also killed along with a Joseph Lancelot Addison, aged 76
yrs. A local researcher remembers his father telling him "the
Crown had got it" when he returned home from
fire watching. Mr. Coles had been standing at the front door of the
newly completed Running Horses and was
killed instantly. Apart from the deaths of my Grandfather and his
colleagues there were no less than twenty people injured. One of the
wardens, a Henry Sims was slightly injured and reported that the victims
in the pub were still seated at the table and had no visible injuries,
they were typical blast victims. The landlord's wife, Annie Elizabeth
Coles is understood to have continued to serve drinks out of the back of
the pub after her husband was killed.
My Grandfather's widow, Flora McAlister Campbell House (McGregor) went
on to marry Leslie James Holloway (16/05/1916 Erith d. Jul 1989 Dartford)
Dec 1942. He became the landlord of the Kings
Head public house in Erith and lived there for 42 years having moved
there at the age of two. The pub used to belong to his uncle, Arthur
Hewett, who lived next door. He had a club foot and used a crutch to get
around the bar. Because of his uncle's disability, the pub was run by
his parents, James William Holloway (b. Dec 1885 Dartford) and Emma
Matilda Holloway (Hewett). Les remembered beer being 4d a pint and
tobacco fourpence ha'penny a packet. He was a popular figure in Erith
having run the Kings Head for over 10 yrs.
He was once described as Erith's answer to Fanny Waldren - the famous
Tottenham Hotspurs winger of the 1920's. ***
1903/A F Hewitt/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1913/Arth F Hewitt/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1922/Arth F Hewitt/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1930/Arthur Frederick Hewett/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1938/Mrs Emma Holloway/../../../Post Office Directory
*** Provided By Graham R A Jansen
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