94 London Road
Crayford
Above photo circa 1930, kindly submitted by David Clinker. |
Above photo circa 1930, kindly submitted by David Clinker. |
Above photo circa 2006, kindly submitted by David Clinker. |
I am informed by David Clinker that the pub closed ages ago and the
building extensively rebuilt to become a soap factory. Next it was a Trade
Union office, and finally a Chartered Accountant's office owned by David,
before being sold in 2012 and demolished.
It was a row of three Victorian cottages the left hand two being the beer
house.
Kentish Independent, 09 September 1865.
BREAKING THE PLEDGE.
Patrick Connolly, 27, of the "Printers' Arms," Crayford, was charged
with being drunk and assaulting Police Constable Sharpe, 284 R, at
Crayford.
The prisoner, who said that he had not tasted drink for three years
previously, was fined 20s. or 14 days’ imprisonment.
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The Kentish Independent, Saturday, 10 July, 1880.
A Paltry Theft.
Kate Crowley, 20, field hand, late of Crayford High Street, Woolwich,
was charged with stealing a purse containing 1s., the property of Joseph
Plowman, a painted, living at the "Printers Arms," Crayford.
Prosecutor said that he had been drinking with prisoner all the previous
day. At 8 o'clock she took the purse from his pocket and ran away with
it. The police proved that prisoner had been committed from this court,
and had suffered three months' hard labour for stabbing woman at
Woolwich some six months ago, and they Mr. Balguy sent her for 21 days'
hard labour.
Prisoner, on hearing the sentence, said "Thank you, Sir."
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From an unknown document.
Printers Arms - 94 London Road.
This pub is named after the local textile printing trade. The David
Evans Silk Printers were situated opposite this pub.
In January 1863 William Miskin purchased a plot of land from The United
Building and Investment Co. upon which this purpose-built beerhouse and
shop was erected. The shop (a rag shop and warehouse) was later combined
or, as the brewers property register notes, “have since been thrown
together." In his historical book 'Memories of Crayford,’ (1958),
Barnett suggested that there was a fire at the Printers Arms, which
caused the greatest loss of life in Crayford. Although Barnett reckons
the fire was said to have taken place around the end of 1889, or the
start of 1890, I have been unable to trace such an incident. However, in
September 1893, there was indeed a fire in one of three caravans at the
back, which were used as lodgings. As it happened at 9pm, no one was in
bed and the landlord with his neighbours prevented the fire from
spreading, using buckets of water, until the Bexley heath, Erith and
Sidcup fire brigades arrived. The landlord was only insured for £30
though the damage was estimated to be £50. This was an unfortunate loss
as the caravans accommodated between 15 to 20 lodgers at a time. The
Census enumerator for 1901 recorded that the caravans’ residents were
“all casual tramps and lodgers - best information that could be
obtained." The lodgers who held various occupations, including navvies
and organ-grinders, gave the enumerator incomplete places
of birth and someone even gave his name as “Cock Robin."
The pub was referred to the Compensation Authorities and was closed in
December 1921. Compensation of £2,210 was paid to the freeholder and £200
to the tenant. The tenant, Mr Pearce, immediately purchased the freehold
for £550.
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LICENSEE LIST
KILLICK John 1861+ (age 46 in 1861)
LURRIDGE Alfred to July/1892
TANNER James July/1892+
DANN Mr July/1894+
PEARCE Arthur 1901-22+ (also lodging house age 45 in 1901)
https://pubwiki.co.uk/PrintersArms.shtml
Census
Maidstone
and Kentish Journal
Bromley and District Times
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