Mount Road

Danson

Bexley Heath

020 8303 7707

https://whatpub.com/royal-oak

Above postcard, 1863.

Above photo circa 1906.

Above photo, 1910.

Above photo, 1951.

Above photo 1994.

Above photo, 2007 by Steve Thoroughgood.

The inn is three centuries old and has the intriguing name of Polly Clean Stairs, a tribute to a former house-proud landlady who washed the front steps every day. She has been conclusively identified as Mary Ann Elms, the second wife of the landlord Robert Elms whom she married in 1838. She continued to run the pub after his death in 1865 until 1894. She took great pride in keeping the white wood staircase, which led up from the bar, spotlessly clean. Mary was teased about her house-proud ways, but her hard work reaped dividends when customers came from as far away as Woolwich and Plumstead to view her staircase. Unfortunately, an old painting of Polly herself has been lost.

As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will be shown here.

Thanks for your co-operation.

LICENSEE LIST

CRAFTER George 1837-43

ELMA Robert 1843-65 dec'd (also agricultural labourer age 51 in 1861)

ELMS Mary Ann "Polly" 1865-94+ (widow age 60 in 1871)

COOK James Henry 1901-03+ (age 46 in 1901)

DAVIS Charles Edward 1913+

DAVIS Sidney Charles 1922+

CLEMENTS Charles Edward 1930-38+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/RoyalOak.shtml

From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Census