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St Gregory by St St Pauls pub history index
Formerly known as The Horn Tavern, The Horn Coffee House and The Bugell. The earliest known mention of the Horn Tavern was by Samuel Pepys in 1663. All open to interpretation ; see below. *
The 1824 London parish guide states "The parish of St. Peter, Paul's Wharf begins on the west side of St. Peter's Hill, and extends from the Horn Tavern southward to Thames street". Peters Hill is at or about 5 & 6 Little Knightrider street. Thomas Bryant has a coffee and chop house here in 1851. There are also two references in the local newspapers which specifically state the address as St Pauls Chains (this name comes from the chains which are raised when services are being held at St Pauls). St Pauls Chain was a former name of the northern section of the latterly named Godliman Street; and the Horn tavern is referenced at this address in 1826 and again in 1834.
The earliest addresses of the newer premises are at 20 Little Knightrider street in 1856, and 20 - 23 Little Knightrider street in 1869, at or near the junction with Sermon Lane. This makes interesting reading because the licensee in 1856 is a baker at these addresses in the 1851 directory along with a Post office & Receiving House. Moving backwards to 1841 and 1842, again the address is a baker and other premises, and no public house here. By 1884 it is at 29 - 33 Knightrider street. In both 1934 and 1938, we have Hartridges Restaurant at 29 - 33, with the Horn Tavern at just 31 & 33; the entirety was the Horn tavern prior to this in 1921. The address appears to change to just 29 Knightrider street by 1971. Apparently, Guy Fawkes planned the destruction of the Houses of Parliament in the cellars of the "original pub".
The modern name for the pub is the Centre Page, which suggests that both Pepys and Dickens mention the Horns tavern, not necessarily this Horn Tavern.
I can’t cast any light on what its relationship was with the Horn Coffee House of Dickensian fame, except to say that the modern pub pretty much backs on to Godliman Street, so if it is not a direct descendent, it was at least very close to the site of the older pub. I had always tended to assume that there was a connection with the historic pub. The pub was re-named the Centre Page in 2002. **
A listing of historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in St Gregory by St Pauls parish, City of London. The St Gregory by St Pauls, City of London Public House Trade Directory uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.
Horn Tavern, 29, 31 & 33 Knightrider Street, St Gregory by St Pauls EC4
Kindly provided by Tris
Residents at this address
In 1724, we have the Castle Lodge of Harmony, at the Horn, Doctors Commons as a Masonic
Lodge
17 January 1727/London Jan 7. Some days since a corn factors clerk , having
received about £70 at Jacks coffeehouse on Bear Key, sat dow to write a
receipt for it, laying the bag of money before him on the table; when a
Sharper standing by, dropped designedly a piece of money iunder the table,
and then praying leave to stoop there to take up his shilling, he found
means to slip away the Money Bag at the same time and immediatley made off,
the bag not being missed till it was irreversibly gone. Some time after, a
Sharper cheated a young man of a bag with 30 Moidores, and 10 Guineas in it,
at the Horn tavern in Doctors Commons, by amusing him with a a wager upon a
card, till he found an opportunity to change the bag, leaving him in the
Room of it, a like bag filled with Halfpence, and pretending to go to the
Yard made his escape./../../../Caledonian Mercury
In 1731, we have the Sociable Lodge, at the Horn Tavern, Doctors Commons. as a Masonic
Lodge
1735/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../London Magazine
1769/Thomas Willis/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Political Register
1781/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../London Magazine
22 October 1781/Reference to prisoners being examined at the Horn Tavern,
Doctors commons before committed to New Prison, Clerkenwell/../../../Northampton
Mercury
1785/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Jachin and Boaz
1787/The dinner was well served by Mr. Griffith of the Horn Tavern, in
Doctors Common/../../../Gentlemans Magazine
24 November 1787/Death of a clergyman reported at Mr Griffiths, the Horn
tavern, Doctors Common/../../../Ipswich Journal
1790/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../European Magazine
1793/James Griffiths/../../../Universal British Directory, 1793-1798 **
1795/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Spirit of Masonry
1802/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Sporting magazine
1810/Marriage of Mr Lovegrove of the Horn tavern, Doctors Commons to Miss
Bantock, of Stratford, Essex/../../../Gentlemans Magazine
1811/Sam Lovegrove, Horn Tavern, Godliman street/../../Holdens Directory
Lodge of Peace and Harmony Freemasons membership initiated January 28th 1814, Samuel Lovegrove, Victualler, Horn Tavern, St Pauls, 1814 to 1817
1815/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Niles Weekly Register
1817/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Justice law
1818/Samuel Lovegrove / Tavern Keeper /../../Sun Fire Office records, held
at London Metropolitan Archives **
July 1819/Samuel Lovegrove/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Sun Fire
Insurance Records - Access to Archives
1822/Lately, at Stamford Hill, James Griffiths, Esq., formerly master of the
Horns Tavern, Doctors' Commons, and thirty-eight years a very active member
of the Common Council of London, iu which office he always shewed himself a
friend to the liberties of the people./../../../Monthly Repository -
Obituary
1822/Samuel Lovegrove/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Post Office
Directory
December 1824/Samuel Lovegrove/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Sun Fire
Insurance Records - Access to Archives
1825/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../New Monthly Magazine
18 May 1826/Committee Elections at the Horns tavern, Pauls Chain/../../../..
4 April 1827/City Election, a meeting was held at the Horn tavern, Doctors
Commons/../../../Morning Post
February 1828/Samuel Lovegrove/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Sun Fire
Insurance Records - Access to Archives
1828/Samuel Lovegrove/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Post Office
Directory
1829/Leeds Paine, Horn Tavern, 10 Godliman street/../../Robsons Directory
1832/Richard Collier Battyll/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons, tavern & coffee
house keeper/../../Courts of Chancery
9 June 1832/R C Battyll/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons, tavern
keeper/../../Essex Standard Bankrupts
1833/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Mirror of Literature
21 May 1834/Fire - On Sunday morning, at two o'clock, a fire was discovered
by one of the Castle Baynard patrole in the sleeping rooms of the second
floor of the Horn tavern, St Pauls Chain, Doctors Commons. Mr Francom , the
proprietor, is insured in the Hand in Hand and Union Fire
offices./../../../Morning Post
24 June 1834/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Morning Post
Lodge of Confidence Freemasons membership initiated December 15th 1835, Basil Francis, Tavern Keeper, Doctors Commons, 1835 to 1836
1836/Francis Basil, Horn Tavern and Hotel, Godliman street, St Pauls/../../Pigots Directory
1837/../Horn tavern, Doctors Commons/../../Musical World
10 November 1837/../A meeting at the Horns Tavern, Doctors
Commons/../../../Hull Packet
2 June 1838/Basil Francis/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons, tavern
keeper/../../West Kent Guardian Bankrupts
8 June 1838/Francis Basil/Horn tavern, Doctors Commons, tavern
keeper/../../Stamford Mercury Bankrupts
1840/At Blackwall, aged 60, Mr. Samuel Lovegrove. Mr. Lovegrove has
contributed not a little to the good living of the worthy citizens of
London. He first kept the Horn Tavern, in Doctors' Commons; afterwards the
Crown and Sceptre, at Greenwich; then built two splendid taverns at
Blackwell, both of which he occupied, and at the same time kept the
well-known London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill/../../../Annual Register
1841/The will of the late Samuel Lovegrove, the proprietor of the Ludgate
Coffee-house and hotel, and of the Crown and Sceptre, Greenwich, has passed
the seal of the Prerogative Court to Samuel Lovegrove, Edward Lovegrove (the
sons), Isaac Churchyard, and James Toplis, executors. The personal property
was sworn to be under £35,000, The deceased in early life was a waiter to
Mr. Griffiths, of the Horn Tavern, Doctors Commons, and succeeded him in his
business. He was for many years a Common Councilman of Castle Baynard
Ward/../../../Gentlemans magazine
22 December 1843/Castle Baynard election - A Wardmote was held at the Horn
tavern, Sermon Lane for the elction of ward officers/../../Newspaper
#### I am not convinced that any of the earlier records refer to Knightrider
street, but more likely to Godliman Street, Doctors Common.
The 1851 Aberdeen Evening Express advertisement is very interesting. The
William Younger brewery was a major Edinburgh brewery founded in 1778. You
can read about the brewery at this Wikipedia link, including references to
the beer’s popularity in London in the 19th century, although there is no
suggestion that any of the generations of William Youngers were ever
actually London licensees. We can also see from your records that the pub
was still owned by Wm. Youngers in 1938. Interesting that Scottish brewers
were investing in London properties as early as 1851. **
13 June 1851/William Youngers/Horn Tavern, Knightrider street
EC/../../Aberdeen Evening Express Advertisement
1856/John Pullar/../../../Post Office Directory
1860/John Pullar/../../../The Draper & Clothier, Travellers’ Hand-Book **
13 February 1865/Another robbery took place in London on Saturday morning,
About half past 2 Police constable Johnson 309, while on duty near Doctors
Commons, fancied he heard a strange noise proceeding from the extensive
premises known as the Horn Tavern and luncheon and dining rooms, and to
which a post office is attached. Johnson stationed himself at one of the
doors, when the sound of somebody hammering and talking became clear. The
policeman asked them what business they had there, and the men at once
attempted to escape. Securing his prisoners with one hand, however, Johnson
sprang his rattle with the other, until Sergeant Pearson came to his
assistance, when the men were taken to the station house. When taken the
burglars had only in their possession several articles of plate and other
small things of less value. There were over £143 worth of postage stamps in
the place at the time, besides receipt and other stamps and upwards of £150
in cash./../../../Western Daily Press
17 February 1865/Another robbery took place in the City on Saturday morning.
It seems that at about half past two, PC Johnson 309, while on duty in
Little Knight Rider street, near Doctors Commons, fancied he heard a strange
noise proceeding from the extensive premises belonging to Mr Pullar, known
as the Horn Tavern and luncheon and dining rooms, and to which a post office
is attached./../../../Nottinghamshire Guardian
18 February 1865/As Police constable Johnson was emerging from an obscure
street called Sermon lane, leading from the south side of St Pauls
Churchyard to Little Knightrider street, he observed some marks in the newly
fallen snow on the window sill of the Horns tavern, kept by Mr Pullar, which
has an extensive frontage in Little Knightrider street, and looks also into
Sermon Lane./../../../South London Chronicle
3 February 1866/Sale of the 35 year lease of the Horn tavern, 20, 21, 22 and
23 Little Knightrider street, Doctors Commons./../../../London City Press
26 May 1866/J Pullar/Outgoing Licensee/../../London City Press
26 May 1866/T Foster/Incoming Licensee/../../London City Press
23 March 1867/T Foster/License not renewed in consequence of convictions for
short or unjust measures, Horn tavern, Little Knightrider
street/../../London City Press
20 April 1867/T Foster/Outgoing Licensee/../../London City Press
20 April 1867/N Monk/Incoming Licensee/../../London City Press
1869/Nathaniel Monk/../../../Post Office Directory
1871/Eliza Harley/Manageress/39/Somerset/Census
1871/Thomas Cox/Barman/20/Cripplegate/Census
1871/Charles Falmer/Barman/16/Bilsworth/Census
1871/Jane Kipp/General Servant/23/Poplar New Town/Census
1871/Emma Bennett/Barmaid/23/St Andrews Holborn/Census
1871/Charlotte Freeman/Barmaid/20/Great Yarmouth/Census
24 August 1873/Died - on the 19th August, at the Horn Tavern, Knightrider
street EC, Nathaniel Monk, aged forty seven years/../../../Era
1874/Martha Monk/Horn Tavern, Little Knightrider Street, Doctors
Commons/../../Licensed Victuallers Directory
1877/Frank Cutler/../../../P.O. Directory **
1884/William M Hartridge & Son/../../../Post Office Directory
1899/John Evans & Sons/../../../Post Office Directory
1901/J R Lindsay Daisch/Wine Merchant/38/Shanklin, Isle of Wight/Census
1901/Ada H Daisch/Wife/29/Edmonton/Census
1901/Marjory R Daisch/Daughter/1/London/Census
1901/Francis A Cauldron/Housekeeper, Widow/52/Sutton, Kent/Census
1901/Emmeline Bruley/Barmaid/28/Shortlands, Kent/Census
1901/Ada M Dawson/Barmaid/29/Wandsworth/Census
1910/John Evans & Sons/../../../Post Office Directory
1917/Richard & William Partridge/../../../P. O. Directory **
1921/John Evans & Sons/../../../Hughes Directory
1921/Richard William Partridge/../../../Post Office Directory
3 August 1933/Premises near St Pauls Cathedral, London, were in danger last
night when a fire broke out at the Horn Tavern in Knightrider Street, a
narrow turning off Cannon Street. A district call was circulated, and doors
were broken down in an endeavour to gt at the seat of the outbreak. So dense
was the smoke that firemen wore gas masks. The premises were unoccupied at
the time that the discovery was made by the policeman who noticed smoke
issuing from the back of the building. The fire was ultimately traced to the
basement of the building beneath the restaurant. The Horn Tavern, well known
to lovers of Dickens, is the inn which Mr Pickwick sent for a supply of wine
when he was in Fleet Prison./../../../Evening Telegraph
1938/Wm Younger & Son/../../../Post Office Directory
1971/../Horn Tavern, 29 Knightrider Street EC4/../../Pub Directory
1991/../Horn Tavern, 29 Knightrider Street EC4/../../Pub Directory
* Provided By Tris
** Provided By Stephen Harris
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