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Crown, 43 High Street, Erith

Directory of Pubs in the UK, London historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Erith, Kent . The Erith, Kent listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.

The following entries are in this format:

Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.

1832-34/John Milton/../../../Pigots Directory ****

1840/Elizabeth Milton/../../../Pigots Directory ****

1858/Thomas Deane/../../../Melvilles Directory ****

1862/J Hilliar/../../../Post Office Directory ****

1874/George Pay/../../../Post Office Directory ****

1882/Mrs Maria Elizabeth Daniels Kesterton/../../../Post Office Directory ****

1891/Mrs Mary Ann Jones/../../../Post Office Directory ****

1903/Mrs Elizabeth Hall/../../../Post Office Directory ****

1913/Arthur Harry Miller/../../../Post Office Directory ****

1922/Charles C Baumber/../../../Post Office Directory ****

1930/Joseph Addison/../../../Post Office Directory ****

1938/Joseph L Addison/../../../Post Office Directory ****

My Grandfather, Thomas Arthur House (b. 12/11/1896, Westminster) was killed at The Running Horses at 1930 hrs on 29/11/1940 during a bombing raid. He was an ARP Ambulance Driver, aged 44 yrs. He was killed with a Henry George Frederick Parry, aged 19 yrs, an ARP Stretcher Bearer and an Albert Sydney Humphreys, aged 50 yrs, a Fireman, AFS. They are commemorated in perpetuity by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The licensee of the pub, William Zachariah Coles, aged 49 yrs, was also killed in the blast.

I have been told that The Crown public House, which stood on the opposite corner to The Running Horses, was so severely damaged it was never used again and was later demolished. The landlord's wife, Mary Louisa Witherdon, aged 73 yrs was also killed along with a Joseph Lancelot Addison, aged 76 yrs. A local researcher remembers his father telling him "the Crown had got it" when he returned home from fire watching. Mr. Coles had been standing at the front door of the newly completed Running Horses and was killed instantly. Apart from the deaths of my Grandfather and his colleagues there were no less than twenty people injured. One of the wardens, a Henry Sims was slightly injured and reported that the victims in the pub were still seated at the table and had no visible injuries, they were typical blast victims. The landlord's wife, Annie Elizabeth Coles is understood to have continued to serve drinks out of the back of the pub after her husband was killed.

My Grandfather's widow, Flora McAlister Campbell House (McGregor) went on to marry Leslie James Holloway (16/05/1916 Erith d. Jul 1989 Dartford) Dec 1942. He became the landlord of the Kings Head public house in Erith and lived there for 42 years having moved there at the age of two. The pub used to belong to his uncle, Arthur Hewett, who lived next door. He had a club foot and used a crutch to get around the bar. Because of his uncle's disability, the pub was run by his parents, James William Holloway (b. Dec 1885 Dartford) and Emma Matilda Holloway (Hewett). Les remembered beer being 4d a pint and tobacco fourpence ha'penny a packet. He was a popular figure in Erith having run the Kings Head for over 10 yrs. He was once described as Erith's answer to Fanny Waldren - the famous Tottenham Hotspurs winger of the 1920's. ***

*** Provided By Graham R A Jansen

**** Provided By Kevan

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Crown, 43 High Street, Erith