OLD SHEER HULK Pub of Woolwich

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Woolwich, September, 2023.

Page Updated:- Monday, 11 September, 2023.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1823-

Old Sheer Hulk

Demolished 1957

3 Church Street

Woolwich

Above photo, date unknown.

Whilst under the rule of licensees Violet Caroline (nee Strange) and Arthur Wilfred Bond there was a pub log book dating back to the 19th century which had records of the then landlord being paid to give convicts a shot of rum (for medicinal purposes!) before they were deported to Australia, hence the name Sheer Hulk! Their daughter Mary Hibberd says when they left they left that log book at the pub. Be nice to think it still exists somewhere. However, Mary Hibberd, (daughter) says it was probably destroyed when the pub was demolished.

The Pigot's Directory of 1823 gave the name as simply the "Sheer Hulk."

From a travellers' account of 1862.

"Half an hour's journey along the North Kent Railway, past the rising meadows near Blackheath, and the bright toy villas, planted in the centre of the greenest conceivable lawns, which make the neighbourhood of Charlton - then through a long dark tunnel - will deposit the traveller within five minutes' walk of the Dockyard gates of Woolwich.

The sign of the public-house, the "Warrior," which shows a gaudy front close to the station, suggests at once the proximity of the hulks. The lazy men, in cotton-velvet-fronted waistcoats, leaning against the door-posts; strong musters of very dingy children; remarkably low shops, exhibiting all kinds of goods at wonderfully cheap prices; and street after street of little houses, where the wives of the regularly employed dock labourers advertise the nature of their industry in their parlour windows-indicate the neighbourhood of a great industrial establishment.

Turning from the entrance of the Dockyard - opposite which is a flourishing public-house, rejoicing in the suggestive sign of the "Old Sheer Hulk," which probably reminds some of its customers of peculiarly "good old times" - and keeping the high, dark walls of the yard on the left, the way lies past little shops and beer establishments on the right, towards the arsenal."

The Kentish Mercury reported that this held a full license in 1908.

I believe the building was demolished in about 1957 and in its place were put some flower beds.

LICENSEE LIST

HARWOOD P 1823+