Search my many thousands of pubs and London history
Islington index
The address is Thornhill Bridge, Caledonian Road in 1856 and earlier, prior to street renumbering. It is also given as Upper Southampton Street in 1839 and earlier. * This pub now trades as the Canal Bar & Restaurant (2008). **
Historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels.
Swan Tavern, 125 Caledonian Road - Licensees in the picture are Basil Brooks and Elizabeth Clara Pape in circa 1911
Kindly provided by Jane Francis
Swan Tavern, 125 Caledonian Road, Islington N1
Swan Tavern, 125 Caledonian Road, N1 - in January 2008
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address.
1834/John Curtis/victualler and coal merchant/../../Sun Fire Office records held at the London Metropolitan Archives *
1839/John Curtis/../../../Pigot's Directory *
1848/John Curtis/../../../Post Office Directory *
September 1850/John and Wm Curtis/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era
September 1850/John Williams/Incoming Licensee/../../Era
1851/John Williams/../../../Finsbury Petty Sessions
1856/John Williams/../../../Post Office Directory *
July 1865/John Morley/Outgoing Licensee/../../North London News & Islington Gazette
July 1865/Thomas Bealby/Incoming Licensee/../../North London News & Islington Gazette
March 1866/Thomas Bealby/License renewal/../Clerkenwell News
1869/W L Fraser/../../../Post Office Directory
1880/Thomas Barstow/../../../Post Office Directory **
1881/Thomas Barstow/Licensed Victualler/42/Halifax, York/Census
1881/Ann Barstow/Wife/38/Ireland/Census
1881/Annie Perks/Barmaid/33/Upwell, Norfolk/Census
1881/Elizabeth Ranger/Barmaid/30/St Leonards, Sussex/Census
1881/Eliza Hart/General Servant/31/Strand, Middlesex/Census
1881/Geo Fisher/Potman/32/London, Middlesex/Census
1882/Thomas Barstow/../../../Post Office Directory
1885/Thomas Barstow/../../../Post Office Directory **
1891/Thomas Barstow/../../../Post Office Directory
1892/John Thomas Hembrey, Swan Tavern, 125 Caledonian Road/../../Post Office Directory
[The 1891 census lists a Sarah Janet Hill as manageress of a beer house at 2 Union road, Poplar. This is the Union Arms; whilst Frances Christopher Hill is at the Torrington Arms.]
My Grandmothers aunt was Lily Kate Allen aged just 17 years old; who was murdered by George Arthur Ward, the potman, aged 22 years, on St Patrick’s day 17th March 1894.
She was the daughter of my second great grandmother and step daughter of my second great grandfather.
They were Francis Christopher Hill and his wife Sarah Jannette. I do have the newspaper report of the day, it makes very sad reading.
1893 - 1898/Francis Christopher Hill, Swan Tavern, 125 Caledonian Road/../../Post Office Directory
[By 1901, Francis Christopher Hill has moved to the Royal Victor, 234 Old Ford road, Bow]
1899/Arthur Harris/../../../Post Office Directory
1901/Arthur Harris/Licensed Victualler/35/St Pancras, London/Census
1901/Lydia Harris/Wife/36/Great Waltham, Essex/Census
1901/Westbrook A Harris/Son/9/Marylebone, London/Census
1901/Jessie L Harris/Daughter/1/Paddington, London/Census
1901/Harry Gentry/Brother in Law, Coopers Warehouseman/28/Great Waltham, Essex/Census
1901/Martha Gentry/Sister/28/Great Waltham, Essex/Census
1901/Amy Wakeling/Sister/20/Great Waltham, Essex/Census
1901/Charles Clark/Barman/19/Great Waltham, Essex/Census
1901/William Root/Barman/16/Great Waltham, Essex/Census
1910/Robert Jas Mitchell/../../../Post Office Directory
Basil and Elizabeth Brooks are my grandfather and grandmother; listed in the 1911 Census as Basil Brooks and Elizabeth Clara Paper! ( spelling mistake by the recording Clerk) just before they were married along with Basil's sister Bessie Brooks. I believe that his father ( i.e. my great grandfather) bought the pub for them as a wedding present and I believe that the Jessie Harris on your website may later have become a Mrs Fry and was a witness at their wedding. ***
1911/Basil Brooks/Licensee/22/Lambeth/Census ***
1911/Bessie Bax/Sister, Housekeeper/27/Kings Cross/Census
1911/Frank Bax/Brother in Law, Hotel manager/25/Broadstone, Kent/Census
1911/Bessie Vax/Niece/1/Kings Cross/Census
1911/Ethel Brooks/Sister, Barmaid/18/Lambeth/Census
1911/Elizabeth Pape/Boarder, Cigarette Maker/18/Reading, Berkshire/Census
1911/William Cullen/Barman/18/Acton, Middlesex/Census
1912/Basil Brooks/125 Caledonian Road/../../Electoral Roll ***
1913/Basil Brooks/125 Caledonian Road/../../Electoral Roll ***
1915/George Stafford/../../../Post Office Directory *
1921/Albert E Austin/../../../Post Office Directory
In 1921 census at 125, Caledonian Road, Islington, London
Albert Edward Austin, Licensed Victualler, aged 24 years 2 months, born in Holloway, Middlesex, Employer
Nellie Austin, Wife, aged 27 years 3 months, born in Islington, Middlesex
Robert William Risdon, Brother-in-law, Head Man, To Albert E Austin, Licensed Victualler, aged 29 years 1 month, born in Acton, Middlesex
Emily Cornhill, Cook General, Albert E Austin, Licensed Victualler, aged 48 years 7 months, born in Islington, Middlesex
Florence Ellen Storey, Housemaid, Albert E Austin, Licensed Victualler, aged 17 years 8 months, born in Acton, Middlesex
Thomas Arthur Hughes, Barman, Albert E Austin, Licensed Victualler, aged 25 years 10 months, born in Louth, Ireland
Charles Samuel Roe, Potman Barman, Albert E Austin, Licensed Victualler, aged 26 years 11 months, born in Hackney, Middlesex
Holloway Press 09 October 1926 - License transfer
Swan, 125 Caledonian road, from Richard Collenson to Edward Joseph Collinson
1934/Edward Joseph Collinson/../../../Kellys Directory
1938/Wm B J Platt/../../../Post Office Directory
1944/Harold Jn Savage/../../../Post Office Directory
* Provided by Ewan
** Provided By Stephen Harris
*** Provided By Jane Francis
Provided By Denise Grist
Trying to avoid privacy and cookie settings overwriting content